Restaurant ordering in Waterloo: what the numbers say
Waterloo grew 15.7% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, one of the fastest rates among Canada’s large municipalities. New subdivisions fill up before new restaurants open, so new households are often looking for places that deliver to them. Check your delivery zones every few months as new streets fill in.
Waterloo has about 1,896 people per km², which is typical of a busy suburban city. Most customers will drive or have food delivered, so a radius of a few kilometres with distance-based fees is a good starting point.
Delivery zones across Waterloo
You can draw separate zones and fees for the parts of Waterloo you serve. Restaurants here often think in terms of areas like these:
- Uptown Waterloo
- University District
- Beechwood
- Laurelwood
Local facts for Waterloo restaurants
Waterloo is home to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, which together bring more than 80,000 students to the city.
Sources: City of Waterloo; University of Waterloo; Wilfrid Laurier University.
Nearby cities you can reach
The closest large municipalities to Waterloo are Kitchener (6 km), Cambridge (20 km), Guelph (24 km), Brantford (40 km), Halton Hills (49 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). For rebates on small purchases and the full rules, see sales tax in Ontario.
Chefzi shows tax on the checkout and receipt using the rates you set.
How Chefzi works for Waterloo 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 Waterloo?
No. Chefzi charges a flat monthly fee. Card processing fees still apply to card payments, as with any payment provider.
Can I deliver from Waterloo to Kitchener?
Yes, if it fits your kitchen. You choose your delivery radius or draw zones on a map, and you can charge a higher fee for longer trips.