Restaurant loyalty programs in Australia: types, ideas and examples
Updated 2026-10-27
A loyalty program rewards your regulars for coming back, and it's one of the few marketing tools that delivery apps can't take from you. This guide covers the main types, what they cost and how to run one fairly.
Types of restaurant loyalty program
| Type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp card | Buy X, get one free | Cafés, takeaway, bakeries |
| Points | Points per dollar, redeemed for credit | Venues with varied order values |
| Tiers | Better perks the more you spend | Groups, high-frequency diners |
| Paid membership | A fee for ongoing perks | Strong brands with very loyal regulars |
| Direct-order perks | A reward for ordering on your own page | Venues moving customers off the apps |
Restaurant loyalty program ideas
- A free coffee or side after a set number of orders.
- A birthday reward (with consent to store the date).
- Double points on your quietest night.
- A "regulars' menu" or early access to specials.
- A small credit for ordering direct instead of through an app.
- A refer-a-friend reward for both people.
Paper card, POS or app?
Paper cards cost almost nothing but give you no data and are easy to copy. POS loyalty features (in many Australian POS systems) tie rewards to purchases automatically. Dedicated loyalty apps add marketing tools for a monthly fee. Compare the fee with the extra visits you'd need to cover it.
Making it pay
Work out the reward's cost, not its menu price. A free coffee might cost under a dollar in ingredients. Then check the program is bringing customers back more often: track redemptions and repeat visits for a few months.
Rules to follow in Australia
- Spam Act 2003: only send marketing SMS or email with consent, identify your business, and include an unsubscribe.
- Privacy: collect only what you need, say why, and keep it secure. Check whether the Privacy Act applies to your business.
- Australian Consumer Law: state reward terms clearly, including any expiry.
Loyalty and direct ordering
Loyalty works best when you know who's ordering. On delivery apps, the customer belongs to the app. On your own ordering page, you get the customer's details. Read restaurant marketing ideas for how loyalty fits a wider plan.
Loyalty works best on orders you own. Run rewards on your own online ordering system, offer them at the table with QR ordering, and compare what a flat-fee plan costs with the commission you'd save. For every published Uber Eats and DoorDash rate with sources, see our Australian delivery-app commission report. Put your monthly sales into the commission calculator to see your cost.
More guides
- GloriaFood migration guide for Australian restaurants (2026–27)
- Menulog has closed: a guide for Australian restaurants a year on
- How to move your regulars off Uber Eats and DoorDash (without losing them)
- Running your own delivery drivers in Australia: a practical guide
- GST and online orders: what Australian takeaways should know
- Public holiday surcharges and online orders in Australia
- Food safety for takeaway and delivery orders in Australia
- Pricing your menu for delivery apps vs your own ordering page
- Restaurant marketing ideas for Australian venues (2026)
- How to price menu items: food cost percentage formula and examples (AU)
- Menu engineering matrix: stars, plowhorses, puzzles and dogs (with a worked example)
- How to start a takeaway business in Australia: a step-by-step checklist
- Restaurant POS systems in Australia: Chefzi POS vs Square, Lightspeed and others
- Cloud kitchens in Australia: how they work, costs and rules
- Restaurant booking systems in Australia: Chefzi reservations vs the alternatives
- Restaurant software in Australia: the tech stack a venue actually needs
- Food supplier ordering systems for Australian restaurants and cafés
- GloriaFood is shutting down: what Australian restaurants need to do
- How to add an order button to your Google Business Profile in Australia
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of loyalty program for a small restaurant?
Usually the simplest: a stamp card or "buy 9, get the 10th free". It is easy for staff and customers to understand. Move to points or an app once you want data and targeted offers.
Do loyalty programs work for takeaway shops?
Yes. Takeaway customers order often, so a reward for frequency suits them, and it gives them a reason to order direct instead of through an app.
What rules apply to loyalty programs in Australia?
If you collect personal information, handle it in line with the Privacy Act where it applies to you. Marketing messages need consent and an unsubscribe under the Spam Act 2003, and reward terms must not mislead under Australian Consumer Law.
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