Documents You'll Need (Both Platforms)

  • FSSAI license (mandatory — apply first if you don't have one; a basic registration takes ~7–30 days).
  • GST registration certificate, or a GST declaration if you're under the threshold.
  • PAN card (business or proprietor's).
  • Bank account details / cancelled cheque for payouts.
  • Menu with prices, and photos of 5–10 hero dishes (shot in daylight, on plain backgrounds — listings with real photos convert measurably better).
  • Shop establishment proof / address proof.

The Registration Process, Step by Step

  1. Register on the partner portal. Zomato: 'Partner with Zomato' page. Swiggy: 'Partner with Swiggy'. Fill outlet details, upload documents.
  2. Verification call and, in some cities, a physical or video verification of the outlet.
  3. Menu digitisation — the platform team or you load the menu. Check every price yourself before going live; transcription errors are common.
  4. Sign the partner agreement electronically. Read the commission clause and the termination/penalty clauses — this is a contract, not a formality.
  5. Receive your partner dashboard login, go live, and place one test order end-to-end.

Onboarding Costs

Both platforms have charged one-time onboarding fees that vary by city and campaign — anywhere from zero (waived during acquisition drives) to a few thousand rupees. Ask explicitly whether a waiver is running before paying. Commission rates are negotiated at onboarding: everything in your agreement is a starting point. Owners with order history renegotiate later from evidence.

Five Settings to Get Right on Day One

1. Online Prices

Set the online menu as a separate price list with commission built in per dish — do not mirror counter prices. This is how you maintain margins across channels.

2. Serviceable Area and Hours

A too-large radius produces late deliveries and rating damage in week one, which follows the listing for months. Start narrow.

3. Auto-Accept

Only switch it on when your kitchen reliably meets prep-time promises; missed-commitment penalties compound quickly.

4. Discount Enrollment

Decline blanket enrollment in restaurant-funded discount programmes during onboarding; opt in dish-by-dish later when you know your margins.

5. Packaging Charge

Set it to actual packaging cost; owners who skip this donate ₹10–20 on every order.

After You're Live: The First 30 Days

Ratings in the first weeks weigh heavily. Keep the menu short (your 15–20 most reliable dishes), quote honest prep times, and fix any recurring complaint immediately. Add the rest of the menu once the operation is stable.

From the very first payout, reconcile — the habit is easiest to build when the volumes are small. See the reconciliation method →

Once you're live, every order matters. Track commission and profitability from day one.

See how F&Bos tracks aggregator orders →