Restaurant ordering in Hamilton: what the numbers say
Hamilton grew 6.0% between 2016 and 2021, faster than the national average of 5.2%. Growth like that brings new customers every year, so it pays to collect their contact details with each direct order and build a list you own.
Hamilton is spread out, at about 509 people per km² over 1,118 km². Set delivery fees by distance so long trips pay for themselves, and give pickup customers a reason to choose it.
Delivery zones across Hamilton
You can draw separate zones and fees for the parts of Hamilton you serve. Restaurants here often think in terms of areas like these:
- Downtown
- James Street North
- Locke Street
- Westdale
- Ottawa Street
- International Village
- Dundas
- Stoney Creek
- Ancaster
Nearby cities you can reach
The closest large municipalities to Hamilton are Burlington (20 km), Brantford (24 km), Cambridge (29 km), Milton (31 km), Oakville (33 km). Distances are straight-line from the city centre. If your kitchen sits near a boundary, one Chefzi delivery zone can cover customers on both sides of the line.
Sales tax on online orders in Ontario
Restaurant meals in Ontario carry the 13% HST (5% federal plus 8% provincial portion). Qualifying prepared food and drinks with a combined price of $4 or less get a point-of-sale rebate of the 8% provincial portion (CRA GI-064), so check how your menu prices fall.
Chefzi shows tax on the checkout and receipt using the rates you set. Rates can change, so confirm them with the Canada Revenue Agency or your accountant.
Language
English is the main language of business. Ottawa, Sudbury and parts of eastern Ontario also have large francophone communities, so a French menu can help there.
One system for Hamilton restaurants
- Online ordering on your own site with no commission per order; guests order in the browser, with no app to download.
- POS and kitchen display, so online orders are never retyped.
- Table reservations and a loyalty program.
- Delivery by your own staff or by Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers.
- A staff order-taking app on Google Play (App Store coming soon).
- Card payments go straight to your restaurant. Menu setup and onboarding are free, plans are month-to-month, and pricing is $17 or $35 CAD a month. See pricing.
Ontario and Hamilton rules for restaurants
- Business licence: Hamilton requires a business licence to operate a food premise, and you must notify Public Health Services and Building before you build or renovate (City of Hamilton, food premises and food handling).
- Inspections: Hamilton posts a green (pass), yellow (conditional pass) or red (closed) inspection sign (City of Hamilton, food premises and food handling).
- Food handler on site: a food handler-trained person must be on the premises whenever it is open (O. Reg. 493/17, s. 32; O. Reg. 493/17, Food Premises).
- Calories on menus: chains with 20 or more locations in Ontario must post calories, including on online menus (Ontario, calories on menus).
- Tax: orders carry 13% HST (Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST rates).
How Chefzi works for Hamilton restaurants
Pricing is a flat monthly fee: see plans in CAD. Moving from GloriaFood? Read our GloriaFood migration guide.
- Your own ordering page and app, with your name and menu, and no commission per order.
- Delivery, pickup and table ordering from one menu.
- Orders go to a tablet or printer in your kitchen.
- Customer list and offers you control, for repeat orders.
- Card payments paid out to your own account.
Frequently asked questions
Does Chefzi take commission on orders in Hamilton?
No. Chefzi charges a flat monthly fee. Card processing fees still apply to card payments, as with any payment provider.
What do the green, yellow and red signs mean in Hamilton?
Green is a pass, yellow is a conditional pass and red means the premises is closed (City of Hamilton).
Can Uber Eats and DoorDash orders print in my Hamilton kitchen?
Yes. Chefzi pulls Uber Eats and DoorDash orders into the POS, so they print and show alongside your own online orders.
Do my customers need to download an app?
No. Customers order on your website, in the browser. The Chefzi app on Google Play is for your staff to take orders.
How much does Chefzi cost in Hamilton?
$17 CAD (Cash and pickup) or $35 CAD (Card payments) per location per month. Setup is free and plans are month-to-month.