A vendor that only takes orders through third-party marketplaces is renting its entire online presence. A hosted website with a direct ordering widget changes that: the vendor owns the page, keeps the guest relationship, and on AUANI's Monthly tier, pays 0% marketplace fee on anything ordered through it. This guide covers what that setup actually includes and what makes it convert once it's live.
Why Owning the Website Matters
A third-party ordering page can't be customized to match a vendor's brand, doesn't build search rankings the vendor keeps long-term, and disappears the moment the vendor stops paying for that specific service.
The full breakdown is in Why a Hosted Website Beats a Third-Party Order Page.
What 0% Marketplace Fee Actually Means
A 0% fee claim deserves a real explanation rather than a headline. Not every order type or scenario is covered the same way, and it's worth knowing exactly what qualifies.
The full breakdown is in What a 0% Direct Ordering Widget Actually Means Here.
Reducing Checkout Abandonment
A hosted website and a 0% widget only pay off if guests actually complete checkout once they land on it. Abandonment usually traces back to a small, fixable set of friction points, not a guest simply changing their mind.
The full breakdown is in What Actually Makes a Guest Abandon Checkout Midway.
Fixing those friction points tends to matter more the closer a guest gets to actually finishing an order, since abandonment at the very last step wastes far more of a guest's effort, and a vendor's opportunity, than a guest simply leaving early before committing to anything.
Where AUANI Fits
The hosted website and 0% direct ordering widget are included on the Monthly tier, and setup can be handled either way: a vendor can configure it directly, or have AUANI's team build and configure it instead.
| Plan | Price | Marketplace Fee | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo, no setup fee | 10% | Pickup, dine-in, real courier delivery, loyalty, POS sync, exportable guest list, verified-order-only reviews |
| Monthly | $300/mo | 5% (3% at 2+ locations) | Everything in Free, plus a hosted website, a 0% direct ordering widget, the full Google visibility suite, and menu analytics |
| +Locations | +$100/mo per added location | 3% across the whole account at 2+ locations | Same feature set as Monthly, extended per location |
How These Pieces Actually Fit Together
Owning a hosted website, having a genuine 0% path for direct orders, and keeping checkout friction-free aren't three separate projects, they're one connected system. A vendor could build an excellent hosted website and still lose orders if checkout has unnecessary friction, or fix checkout perfectly on a rented third-party page that provides no lasting search value. Getting real value out of the 0% widget depends on the website that hosts it actually converting the traffic it earns, which is exactly why this category treats all three as one guide rather than three unrelated topics.
What belongs above the fold, whether the site runs a blog, and how the mobile menu behaves on a phone all feed into that same conversion outcome too, since each one either helps or hurts a guest's path from landing on the page to finishing checkout.
Every Guide in This Series
- Why a Hosted Website Beats a Third-Party Order Page
- What a 0% Direct Ordering Widget Actually Means Here
- What Actually Makes a Guest Abandon Checkout Midway
- What Belongs Above the Fold on a Restaurant Homepage
- Should a Restaurant Website Actually Run a Blog Too
- Designing a Mobile Menu That Actually Works on a Phone
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a hosted website required to use AUANI at all?
No, the Free tier covers pickup, dine-in, real courier delivery, loyalty, and POS sync without a hosted website. The hosted website and 0% widget are Monthly tier features.
Does the 0% widget apply to every order type?
It applies to orders placed directly through the widget on a vendor's own site; the full breakdown covers exactly how that's defined.
Can a vendor keep its existing website and just add the widget?
That depends on the vendor's existing setup; AUANI's team can advise on the best way to integrate depending on what's already in place.
Does a hosted website replace social media for a vendor?
No, it works alongside social media and search, as the destination a vendor actually owns rather than one it's renting from a platform.
What is the cheapest way to start on AUANI?
The Free tier, at $0 a month with a 10% marketplace fee and no setup fee.
Do the hosted website, 0% widget, and checkout conversion need to be handled separately?
No, they work together as one system; a website is only as valuable as the checkout it leads to, and a 0% fee only helps on orders that actually complete.