Uber is buying ezCater: what it means for your office catering

Uber has agreed to buy ezCater, which Uber calls “a leading U.S. platform for catering and workplace meals,” for about $2.3 billion in cash. Nothing changes for restaurants on day one: the deal still needs regulatory approval, and neither company has announced new fees. This is a good moment to check what ezCater costs you today and to give your repeat office clients a simple way to order from you directly.

What Uber and ezCater announced

Here are the facts from the companies’ own filings and announcement:

• The deal. Uber’s quarterly SEC filing says that on October 5, 2026 it agreed to acquire ezCater, Inc. “for approximately $2.3 billion in cash.” The companies announced it publicly on October 6.
• Status. The deal is “expected to close in the coming months, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.” We found no closing announcement as of November 11, 2026.
• The plan. Trade coverage of the announcement says ezCater will come onto the Uber Eats platform. Uber also plans to use Uber for Business, which it says more than 300,000 companies use, to bring ezCater to more workplaces.
• ezCater’s size. The announcement says ezCater orders from more than 140,000 restaurants, had over $2.5 billion in gross bookings in the past 12 months, and has an average order value of over $400.

Uber’s CEO said catering “can be a huge revenue stream for restaurants.” That is true, and it is also why your catering clients are worth protecting.

What ezCater charges restaurants today

These numbers come from ezCater’s Restaurant Partner Help Center, in articles dated September 2026. Check your own partner agreement for your exact terms.

Fee	What ezCater says
Signup or monthly fee	None. You pay fees only on orders you accept.
Commission, marketplace orders	15% of the meal subtotal plus your delivery fee. Not charged on tips or tax.
Commission, ezCater Online Ordering on your website	7%
Payment transaction fee	2.99% of meal subtotal, delivery fee and tax. Not on tips.
Preferred Partner Program (optional)	An extra 2%–20% of food subtotal that you choose, to rank higher. In some states, Sponsored Listings has replaced it.
Rewards (optional)	Buyers earn points; you can offer up to 5x points on your orders. Fees apply on every order while you are opted in.
Dispatch (optional delivery)	$30 minimum for orders up to $300, or 10% of subtotal above $300. The customer still pays your delivery fee. Tips go to the driver.

A worked example

Say an office orders lunch for 25 through the ezCater marketplace:

• Meal subtotal: $400
• Your delivery fee: $20
• Sales tax: $28 (the rate depends on your state)

Line	Math	Cost to you
Commission	15% × ($400 + $20)	$63.00
Payment fee	2.99% × ($400 + $20 + $28)	$13.40
Total standard fees		$76.40
Add Preferred Partner at 5% (optional)	5% × $400	$20.00
Use Dispatch instead of your own driver (optional)	10% × $400	$40.00

ezCater notes that with Automatic or Configured Dispatch, commission on delivery is a flat fee instead of a percentage, so your exact numbers may differ a little.

Standard fees alone take about 18% of the $420 you charged for food and delivery. With both options turned on, fees reach $136.40, about 32%.

For a brand-new client, that can be a fair price for an order you would not have had. For an office that has ordered from you every week for a year, it is worth asking whether they would order direct. Try your own numbers in our delivery fee calculator.

What the Uber deal could mean for independents

Nobody outside the two companies knows the plan in detail, so treat this as a list of things to watch, not predictions.

• More buyers. Uber says it will promote ezCater to Uber for Business companies. That could mean more office orders for restaurants listed on ezCater.
• New terms. Big platform changes often come with updated partner agreements. Read any new terms before you accept them, and note the fee lines above so you can compare.
• Ranking changes. ezCater already sells better placement through paid programs. Watch your order volume and placement after the deal closes.
• Who owns the relationship. On any marketplace, the office manager is the platform’s customer first. If the platform changes, your best clients go with it unless they also know how to reach you.

None of this means you should leave ezCater. It means you should not depend on it alone.

How to keep office clients ordering direct

Office lunch is repeat business. ezCater’s 2025 workplace survey found 43% of organizations had a recurring meal program. The person ordering wants one thing: no problems. Make direct ordering easier than the app.

Before you market to anyone you met through ezCater, read your partner agreement for any rules about customer contact. Then build these five things.

1. A catering menu on your own website

Put a short catering menu on your site with per-person packages, trays, minimums and lead times. Price it from your costs, not your dine-in menu. Our guide on how to price catering shows the math.

2. One direct order link

Give every office one link they can bookmark. It should take a card, confirm the delivery time, and send the order straight to your kitchen. Print it on your menu cards, invoices and bag stickers.

3. Group orders for team lunches

Many offices let each person pick their own meal. A group order link lets the organizer share one link, each person adds their meal with their name, and you get one combined ticket. Our office lunch group orders guide covers labeling and packing.

4. Quotes and deposits for bigger events

For all-hands meetings and holiday parties, send a written quote with headcount, menu, delivery time and a deposit. A deposit protects you from late cancellations.

5. Paperwork offices expect

Keep these ready to send the same day:

• A signed IRS Form W-9 (many companies ask new vendors for one)
• A sample invoice with your business name, address and order details
• Your payment terms and cancellation policy
• An allergen and diet label sheet

A simple script for repeat clients

When a regular office orders, put a card in the bag:

“Thanks for ordering again! Next time you can order from us directly at [link]. Same food, same team, and you can call us at [number] any time.”

Keep it friendly and simple. Then make sure the direct path really is easier.

Your 30-day plan

1. Week 1: Pull your ezCater reports. List your top 10 repeat offices and what they paid in fees last quarter.
2. Week 2: Publish a catering menu and order link on your website. Add catering to your Google Business Profile.
3. Week 3: Prepare your W-9, sample invoice and diet label sheet.
4. Week 4: Follow your partner agreement, and invite repeat clients to order direct next time.

Want to know how easy it is to order from you today? Our free growth check looks at whether diners can find you, call you and order from you.

How WhatsTable helps

WhatsTable puts catering and group ordering on your own website for Clover restaurants. Offices get one shared group order link, and your kitchen gets one pickup ticket. For bigger events, guests enter a headcount and budget and get tray plans, and you send quotes with deposits. A kitchen production plan shows what to cook and when.

Orders go into Clover, card money goes to your own Clover account, and nothing is added to the client’s bill. WhatsTable is $0 a month plus 5–10% of sales that come through WhatsTable. It works with Clover POS only today.

See group orders.