Packaging & Delivery Charges on Bills

The Small Charges That Quietly Go Missing

A takeaway order leaves with three containers, a carry bag and cutlery. If the packaging charge was added by hand — and only when the cashier remembered — some orders carry it and some don't. Over a month, that is real money spent on packaging that was never billed.

The same happens with delivery charges, small-order fees and other extra charges that depend on the order type.

Common Charges Restaurants Add

• •Packaging charge — For takeaway and delivery containers
• •Delivery charge — For orders delivered by your own riders
• •Small-order fee — For orders below a minimum value
• •Optional service charge — Only if the guest agrees to pay it

Rules Worth Following

1. Show Every Charge on Its Own Line

Never hide a charge inside item prices or the total. A separate line on the bill avoids disputes and keeps your GST records clean.

2. Apply Charges by Order Type

Packaging belongs on takeaway and delivery, not on a dine-in table. Setting rules per order type means staff don't have to decide each time.

3. Keep Service Charge Optional

Under the Central Consumer Protection Authority guidelines, service charge cannot be added automatically or made mandatory. If you mention one, make it clear that it is voluntary.

4. Be Consistent Across Channels

The counter, QR orders and your website should all charge the same way. Different charges on different channels confuse regular guests.

5. Remember Tax on Charges

Extra charges on a bill can attract GST. Confirm the correct treatment with your accountant and set it once in your billing software.

A Monthly Example

A restaurant sends out 40 takeaway and delivery orders a day. Packaging — containers, lids, bag and cutlery — costs about ₹25 per order.

• •Packaging cost per month: 40 × ₹25 × 30 = ₹30,000
• •If packaging is charged on only half the orders because staff forget, the restaurant absorbs about ₹15,000 every month.

Setting the charge as an automatic rule for takeaway and delivery recovers that amount without any extra effort at the counter.

How to Set the Right Charge

• •1. Calculate the actual cost of packaging for a typical order — container, lid, bag, cutlery and napkins.
• •2. Consider different sizes — A single meal and a family order use very different packaging.
• •3. Keep it simple — A flat charge per order, or two levels (small and large), is easier for guests to understand.
• •4. Check what local competitors charge — Very high charges look like hidden pricing.
• •5. Review every six months — Packaging prices change.

Communicating Charges to Guests

• •Show charges on the menu or website before checkout, not only on the final bill.
• •Use clear names — "Packaging charge", "Delivery charge", not "Misc. charge".
• •Train staff to explain charges politely if a guest asks.
• •Never mix optional and mandatory charges — If a service charge exists, it must be clearly optional.

Common Mistakes

• •Adding charges to dine-in by mistake — Guests notice and complain.
• •Forgetting tax on charges where it applies.
• •Different charges on different channels without a clear reason.
• •Hiding charges inside item prices for some orders and not others.

Clear, consistent charges protect your margins and avoid arguments at the counter.

Key Takeaways

• •Unbilled packaging can quietly cost a restaurant thousands of rupees every month.
• •Calculate the real cost of packaging and set simple, clear charges by order type.
• •Show charges before checkout and on separate bill lines.
• •Service charge must always be optional, and tax should be applied correctly to charges.

How RasoeeCloud Helps

RasoeeCloud has an Order Fees setting where you define your charges once — packaging, delivery or any other fee — and the rules apply automatically on the POS, QR orders, your website orders and offline billing on the desktop and Android apps. Each fee appears as its own line on the bill and receipt, so guests see exactly what they are paying for.

Related reading: Restaurant Billing Mistakes That Cost You Money and Restaurant GST Billing Guide.

Start your 7-day free trial at rasoeecloud.com and stop losing money on unbilled packaging.