♥ TL;DR
Valentine's Day is one of the biggest dining days of the year, and most food trucks and indie restaurants treat it like any other day. Big mistake.
Pre-orders let you lock in revenue in advance, prep efficiently, and avoid the chaos of everyone ordering at once. Customers get a stress-free experience; you get predictable volume and way less waste.
Outbites charges a flat $1 per order. No monthly fees, no commission. You get a mobile-friendly ordering link, optional time slots, SMS reminders, and you keep every dollar except that $1. Perfect for "dinner for two" boxes, dessert specials, and Valentine's catering.
Bottom line: If you're not running Valentine's pre-orders, you're leaving money on the table. If you're running them on a commission app, you're giving away a chunk of it. Fix both.
Why Valentine's Day Is a Revenue Goldmine (If You Plan for It)
Couples want something special, and they're willing to pay. Fancy dinners, dessert boxes, "dinner for two" kits, and last-minute treats all spike. The problem? Most operators either wing it (chaos, waste, missed orders) or ignore it entirely (money left on the table).
Pre-orders change the game. You set a menu, a pickup or delivery date (Feb 14 or the weekend before), and a cutoff. Customers order and pay upfront. You know exactly what to prep, what to order from your supplier, and how many people are showing up. No guessing. No 9pm rush of walk-ins you can't handle.
Valentine's without pre-orders vs with
- Last-minute rushes, long waits
- Overprep or run out: both cost you
- Phone/DM orders, spreadsheets
- Commission fees if using apps
- One link, one order list
- Paid upfront, $1/order flat
- Time slots optional: smooth pickup
- You keep the rest of the revenue
The Revenue You're Probably Leaving on the Table
If you're not promoting Valentine's pre-orders, you're relying on walk-ins and day-of orders. That means you're either underprepping (turning away customers) or overprepping (wasting food and labor). Both are expensive. And if you're using a commission-based app for those orders, you're handing over 15–30% of every "dinner for two" or dessert box.
With Outbites, you pay $1 per order. A $80 Valentine's dinner for two? You keep $79. A $25 dessert box? You keep $24. Scale that across 50 or 100 orders and the difference between Outbites and a 20% commission is hundreds or thousands of dollars in your pocket.
Quick math (40 Valentine's orders, $75 avg)
How Valentine's Pre-Orders Work on Outbites
Set up in minutes. Add your Valentine's items (dinner for two, dessert boxes, specials), set the pickup date (e.g. Feb 14) and optionally a cutoff (e.g. order by Feb 12). Share your link on Instagram, email, or in-person. Customers order and pay; you get one clear list and can send SMS reminders as pickup approaches.
- Create your Valentine's menu and set pickup date/cutoff.
- Share your link and/or QR code (Instagram, stories, email).
- Orders roll in; you see them in one place.
- Optional: use time slots (Menu Drops) so pickup is staggered.
- You keep every dollar except $1 per order.
Valentine's Menu Ideas That Sell
Think beyond the usual sit-down. Pre-orders work great for takeaway and pickup, which is exactly what busy couples want. No reservation stress, no wait. Just order ahead and pick up.
- Dinner for two. Prix fixe or build-your-own. Pickup Feb 14 (or 13/15).
- Dessert boxes. Chocolates, pastries, mini cakes. Perfect for pre-order.
- Special entrees. One or two elevated items, order by Feb 12, pickup Feb 14.
- Brunch for two. If you do weekend brunch, add a Valentine's slot.
Pro tip: time slots
Use Menu Drops (advance orders with time slots) so customers choose a pickup window (e.g. 5–5:20 PM), 5:20–5:40 PM. You prep in batches, avoid a single huge rush, and everyone knows when to show up. Same $1 per order; way smoother execution.
Why Outbites for Valentine's (and Every Holiday)
Outbites is built for food trucks and independent restaurants. No enterprise contracts, no percentage of your holiday revenue. Just $1 per order and a platform that ranks on Google and converts.
- Flat $1 per order. No commission. No 15–30% taken from your Valentine's orders.
- Zero monthly fees. You're not paying when you're not running a promotion.
- Mobile-first ordering. Your brand, your menu, your link. Works on every device.
- SEO-friendly. Your site can rank for "Valentine's dinner [your city]" so new customers find you.
- QR codes. Put a code on flyers or social so people can order without typing a URL.
- SMS reminders. Send pickup times so no one forgets.
- You own the customer. Every order builds your list for next Valentine's and beyond.
Get Started Before Valentine's Day
Set up your Outbites site in minutes. Add your Valentine's menu, set your pickup date and cutoff, and start sharing your link. No credit card required to try. When Feb 14 hits, you'll have a system that actually works and leaves your margins intact.
Ready to own your Valentine's Day revenue?
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Valentine's Pre-Orders FAQ
Why should I offer Valentine's Day pre-orders?
Valentine's Day is one of the busiest dining days. Pre-orders lock in revenue in advance, reduce day-of chaos, and let you prep efficiently. You keep more profit with a flat-fee platform like Outbites instead of commission-based apps.
How do Valentine's pre-orders work with Outbites?
Set your Valentine's menu, pickup date (e.g. Feb 14), and share your link. Customers order and pay online. You get one order list, can set a cutoff, and send SMS reminders. $1 per order, no commission.
What does Outbites cost for Valentine's orders?
$1 per order. No monthly fees, no percentage. Whether the order is $30 or $150, you pay $1 and keep the rest.
Can I use time slots for Valentine's pickup?
Yes. Menu Drops let you run advance orders with time slots. Customers choose a pickup window; orders are grouped by time so you know what to prep and when. You can set limits per slot to control volume.