If you know a restaurant that would benefit from a direct online ordering link, you can introduce its owner to OmNom through the Referral Partner program. The useful first step is a conversation: ask whether the owner wants another way for customers to order, explain the costs, and get permission before preparing anything for them.
Under OmNom’s current reward schedule, you and the restaurant can each earn $0.50 per eligible order, up to $500 per side per referred restaurant. Earnings depend on qualifying orders during a defined 90-day window. A signup alone does not earn the maximum reward.
Here’s how to make an introduction that respects the owner’s time and keeps the reward expectations clear.
Start with a restaurant that wants direct ordering
A good referral begins with an actual need. Perhaps regulars call to place pickup orders, or the owner wants a direct ordering option alongside existing services. Ask what currently works and what they would like to improve before recommending a change.
Useful questions include:
- Where do regular customers order today?
- Would a direct ordering link help them?
- Who would receive and manage incoming orders?
- Does the owner want to explore setup now?
Explain the fees accurately. OmNom charges no monthly platform fee or restaurant commission, but restaurants pay payment-processing fees. Refunds, disputes and delivery contributions can involve additional costs where applicable. Customers also pay a service fee shown before payment. Share the current cost answer and customer service-fee answer rather than describing every transaction as free.
Already-live restaurants and duplicate leads are not eligible for automatic referral attribution. If a restaurant may already be in the system, resolve that with support instead of creating another draft.
Ask permission and choose the right referral option
Get the owner’s permission before creating a restaurant draft or uploading menu photos, even when those details are publicly available. Permission to discuss OmNom is a good opening; ask separately whether they want you to prepare their details or menu.
OmNom offers two paths:
- Quick referral: Start with a restaurant contact number and get a personal link to share. This suits an owner who wants to handle setup themselves.
- Assisted referral: With the owner’s permission, help prepare restaurant details, hours and menu photos. This suits someone who wants help gathering the basics.
Choose based on the help the owner wants. Both paths use the referral’s assigned reward schedule. Assisted setup does not automatically pay more. See the quick versus assisted referral answer.
Before sending the link, be clear that you may receive referral rewards if eligible orders follow. Keep the invitation short, give the owner room to decide, and avoid repeated unwanted messages.
Share your link and leave protected setup to the owner
Share the personal invitation from your own device and messaging account. OmNom provides Copy link, Copy message and Open Messages options; it does not send the Referral Partner invitation for you.
Ask the owner to use your link when they are ready. If they sign up without it, support may review the introduction, but credit is not guaranteed. Keeping track of when you made the introduction can help you explain what happened if a question arises.
The verified owner must claim the restaurant and personally complete legal, identity and payment setup. A referral does not make you the owner, and your prepared draft can only be edited before the owner claims it. Don’t ask the owner to send you passwords, verification codes or bank details so you can finish on their behalf.
For assisted setup, a practical handoff is a short list of what you prepared and what needs review: menu names, prices, options and opening hours. The owner should check those details before accepting orders.
Understand when rewards can begin
There are three separate milestones to keep straight:
- A referral or draft exists. This gives the owner a starting point. It does not make the restaurant live.
- The restaurant goes live. The owner has completed the required setup. The first live activation starts the 90-day reward window.
- Eligible orders are completed. Successfully paid, completed pickup or delivered orders placed within that window can earn rewards under the applicable terms.
The window runs from the first live activation through the instant immediately before the same time 90 days later. Only the first 1,000 eligible orders earn rewards, with a $500 cap for each side.
Practice, invalid, fraudulent, canceled, refunded and disputed orders do not qualify. A later refund or dispute can reverse a reward. Don’t place or arrange artificial orders to increase the total.
For example, 200 eligible orders within the window would produce $100 for you and $100 for the restaurant, before any later reversals. Reaching $500 for each side requires 1,000 eligible orders within the window. These are arithmetic examples, not forecasts of restaurant demand or promised earnings.
The Referral Partner terms govern eligibility. The version assigned to a referral controls its reward amounts and caps; a future schedule does not silently change earlier referrals.
Separate earned rewards from money ready to transfer
Rewards have a 30-day hold before they mature. OmNom sends a monthly Stripe transfer when the recipient’s net mature referral balance is at least $10 and their Stripe account is ready. That minimum applies separately to you and the restaurant. Stripe transfer timing and bank payout timing can differ.
A balance below $10 carries forward and remains owed. If no further rewards are expected, contact support about the remaining balance. Don’t treat a pending reward total as money already available in your bank account.
You do not have to provide ongoing training or promotion to earn. Rewards depend on eligible orders during the earning window. Optional help can still be useful, such as reminding the owner to review the menu and decide where to share their ordering link.
Questions before your first referral
Who can join?
The current FAQ says the program is for US residents aged 18 or older with a verified email. Employees and agencies can refer restaurants they do not own. Check the current participation requirements before joining.
Can I refer the restaurant where I work?
Yes, if you do not own it and have the owner’s permission. Self-referrals are not allowed. See the employee and ownership answer.
How many restaurants can I refer?
You can refer multiple restaurants over time, with up to five referrals that have not gone live at once. See the current program terms.
What if someone else referred the same restaurant?
Contact support for a review. Neither partner is guaranteed credit, and creating another draft will not resolve the attribution question. See the duplicate referral answer.
Make one useful introduction
Start with one owner who wants to explore direct ordering. Explain the fees and conditional rewards, ask what help they want, then share your personal referral link. Let the owner complete the protected setup and make the final decisions for their restaurant.
Ready to begin? Review the program and start your OmNom referral partner signup.