Why Upselling at Checkout is Crucial for 1st-Party Online Ordering

Most restaurants focus on getting the first order. But the smartest ones know: the real magic happens at checkout.
Upselling—offering guests a little extra before they complete their order—can dramatically increase revenue, boost guest satisfaction, and create a more personalized dining experience. And when you control the ordering platform? Upselling becomes even more powerful.

At Open, we help restaurants turn checkout into a profit center with easy, smart upselling built directly into your first-party ordering experience.

Why Checkout Upsells Work

Higher Average Order Value (AOV) Without Extra Marketing Spend

You’ve already paid to acquire the customer.
Upselling turns that one-time sale into a bigger one—without spending another dollar on ads or marketing. A well-timed suggestion ("Add fries for $3?" or "Make it a combo for $5 more?") can lift AOV by 10–20% with almost no effort.

Personalized Recommendations = Better Guest Experience

First-party ordering platforms know your menu—and often your customer. That means you can surface personalized upsells based on order behavior ("Add a chocolate chip cookie?") instead of throwing random offers at them. Thoughtful upselling feels helpful, not pushy—and guests appreciate it.

Higher Satisfaction (and More Repeat Orders)

When you recommend popular add-ons, guests often enjoy a fuller experience. Instead of a lonely taco, it’s a taco with chips and salsa. Instead of just coffee, it’s coffee plus a fresh muffin. These small additions can turn a good experience into a great one—and happy guests are more likely to come back.

The 1st-Party Advantage

Third-party marketplaces (like DoorDash or Uber Eats) also upsell at checkout—but for their benefit, not yours.
When you own the platform, you control the upsells, the offers, and the profit. First-party upselling ensures every extra dollar stays in your pocket, not someone else's.

The Data Behind Smarter Upselling

• 10–20%: The typical AOV increase from effective checkout upsells
• 70%: Of guests say personalized experiences influence their loyalty
• 2x: Higher conversion rate when upsells are simple, low-friction add-ons
• 3x: More effective upselling when it happens before payment, not after

How Open Makes Upselling Easy

Our platform automatically suggests the right items at the right time—based on the guest's cart, past orders, and your top-performing add-ons. No complicated setup, no heavy lifting. Just bigger checks and happier guests.

• Smart item pairing: Surface the add-ons that guests actually want
• Dynamic pricing: Offer bundles, upgrades, or deals right at checkout
• Seamless guest experience: No clunky pop-ups or disruptive screens
• Full analytics: Track what works and optimize your upsells over time

Final Thoughts

If you're not upselling at checkout, you're leaving serious money on the table.
First-party ordering gives you the power to increase ticket sizes, personalize guest experiences, and build loyalty—all without relying on costly third-party marketplaces.

Open’s upsell tools help you do it automatically: bigger checks, better experiences, and more profit—right at the moment it matters most.

Make every checkout count.
Own your upsells. Grow your revenue.

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