Touted to be India’s biggest food delivery and restaurant discovery platform, Zomato is among the country’s list of unicorn startups. Started in 2008, it has now expanded to over 24 countries with thousands of restaurants following the Zomato registration process to become a part of the platform.
Zomato operates through multiple revenue channels but the primary business model focuses on restaurant registration and food delivery. Its restaurant partners are able to get a better reach and visibility through the platform as well as food orders.
The Zomato registration process details the steps to help cafes and restaurants reach a wider audience and generate higher business and revenue through online food delivery services.
How to sell food on Zomato: Eligibility for Zomato restaurant registration
A restaurant should have the following prerequisites to be able to partner with Zomato
- A business entity in India with either a Private Limited Registration or Partnership or LLP Registration
- An FSSAI Registration or Licence, based on the terms and conditions such as turnover and business size
- GST Registration and Shop Act Licence
- Pan card copy and bank account details
- Restaurant menu with dish images of the top five items
Documents required for Zomato registration
The process can be carried out in two ways
1. Add the restaurant to Zomato restaurant listing
2. Claim your restaurant from the existing list of restaurants
The restaurant details can be added with the help of the following steps
To add: Visit the restaurant registration page and fill in the registration details such as name, phone number, location, etc.
Add the restaurant type & timings along with establishment & cuisine type, opening hours, menu, restaurant and food images.
Proceed to click on the Add Restaurant button to add it successfully to the Zomato Listing.
Upon submitting the details, a Zomato executive should connect to collect documents such as PAN Card, Aadhar card and copy of FSSAI registration along with restaurant images, menu and other details. Once the verification is successfully completed, the restaurant will be added to the Zomato platform.
To claim: Visit the restaurant registration page and follow the steps to check through the search bar if your establishment is already listed with Zomato
Once the restaurant is found in the search bar proceed to claim the listing.
You will have to upload a document of proof such as a certificate of registration or an equivalent document.
Upon submitting the details, a Zomato executive should connect to verify the details, post which the restaurant will be activated on the platform.
For any queries, during the process, you can also get in touch with Zomato for Business at +91–8039654500.
How to start a business with Zomato from home: You will need to follow all the above-mentioned steps, however, it is important to note that an FSSAI registration/licence is mandatory even if you are selling homemade food.
Zomato Business App
Once you have registered/claimed your restaurant, you can start to manage it through the Zomato Business app from your mobile phone.
As a registered partner with Zomato, you can avail the following services
- Receive real-time notifications and restaurant reviews
- Reply to the feedback and reviews
- Manage and update information regularly
- Promote your restaurant through promos to the Zomato users
- Upload your menus
- Promote events and celebrations held at the restaurant
Zomato registration fees: How much does Zomato charge
Registering a restaurant on Zomato does not incur any charges and is completely free.
However, Zomato does charge a commission to restaurants in the food ordering business. The fees vary depending on the type of restaurant (very popular, moderately popular, relatively new) and the number of orders it receives.
Restaurants Guidelines
Restaurant Name
Restaurant names on Zomato should be the same as names at the restaurant’s physical location
Restaurants should not mention the establishment type. The tagline should also be avoided unless it is a part of the registered name
The restaurant name must not include abbreviations
Restaurant Address
The address must be mentioned in a standardised format and should be easily understood by the users.
Abbreviations should not be used and more than one landmark should be avoided.
The address should not mention any other restaurant (for landmark reference) as it may affect the latter’s search results.
Details such as floor number, building name, etc should be prominent to easily locate the establishment.
Restaurant Features
Pure Veg tag implies restaurants that serve only vegetarian food (no meat and egg)
Smoking Area tag is only for restaurants that have a designated smoking area apart from the non-smoking sections.
Happy Hours is to be used by restaurants if they offer special offers and discounts on alcohol during a specified period in the day.
Wi-Fi Available tag can be used if the internet services are available for visitors and diners at the restaurant.
Business Hours
Zomato uses a 24-hour clock for restaurant timings which appears on the restaurant page in a 12-hour format.
The restaurant timings added by Zomato are for dine-in hours. In case they differ from the delivery timings, owners can write to them at restaurants@zomato.com to have them mentioned.
The timing options allow only numerals. Timings help customers check if the restaurant is available using the Open filter before placing an order.
Photos
Zomato follows a standard and specific order for images to appear in the photo stream which is facade/exterior shots followed by ambience/interior shots and then food shots.
Food items should cover 75% of the image and should be placed in the centre.
Ambience shots should have restaurant interiors including the seating, various dining areas, lighting and so on
Food shots constitute images of the various dishes mentioned in the menu
The images should not be from the internet such as stock photos or google images to avoid copyright infringement.
Stock photos even are discouraged owing to the possible misrepresentation of the food and ambience
Photo collages should not be added since they do not clearly depict the restaurant
Logos should not be a part of the images
Menus
The menu page dimensions should not exceed 650×700 pixels.
Menu image should retain only the relevant part of its page
The image order for menus is appetisers/soups followed by entrées, main course and desserts.
The images must clearly mention the names of the dishes as well as the prices against each one of them.
Cover Photos
The image should be at least 1200×500 pixels or greater in resolution.
Zomato allows both vertical and horizontal pictures, however, horizontal are preferred based on the page layout.
The images should not include any other information such as the website address, contact numbers, etc.
Raw ingredients should not be included in the images except when the ready dish contains them.
New Listing Creation Guidelines
If an already listed restaurant has undergone significant changes (mentioned below), it may be added as a new listing.
A completely new cuisine is introduced
The type of establishment is changed
The location of the outlet has changed
Why become a Zomato restaurant partner?
Better reach: Zomato offers restaurants a platform to increase their visibility and reach the maximum target audience. Users often discover new places and dining experiences through the platform.
Maximise Return on Investment (RoI): Customers often prefer ordering in and Zomato delivers a smooth and quick delivery experience. Registering with Zomato can help restaurants maximise their orders and eventually the revenue.
Save time and costs: Zomato takes the ownership of receiving the order, communicating it to the restaurant and delivering the meal on time. This helps the restaurant focus completely on the food and improve the meal experience for their customers.
Promote your establishment: Zomato helps restaurants market themselves through various deals and offers. Restaurants can extend special prices and discounts to new and regular customers to further promote the establishment.
Wrapping up
Zomato is certainly a game changer for restaurants irrespective of their size, location or type. The online delivery app has given eateries a credible platform to serve more customers and expand their reach.
Along with a presence on Zomato, it is also good to leverage other platforms including social media to directly reach out to your customers for food orders. You do not need a website to facilitate transactions.
Paytm Payment Links allow you to accept payments online, instantly and without a website. You can have multiple payment sources and without the need for any coding. Paytm Payment Links makes instant payments possible and is a smart way to grow your business.
