Big tech companies like Owner.com promise to help restaurant owners grow their businesses, but their sales tactics often hide the truth. One common trick is citing massive revenue increases without context to make their platform seem like a game-changer. In this article, part of our series Big Tech Sales Tricks: How They Fool Restaurant Owners, we’ll break down how Owner.com uses this tactic, why it works, and how you can protect your restaurant from falling for it.
What Is Owner.com’s Revenue Claim Tactic?
Owner.com claims to help restaurants boost their online sales with a commission-free ordering platform. Their sales reps often highlight impressive numbers, like “increase your sales by 270% in three months.” It sounds incredible, and for a busy restaurant owner, it’s tempting to believe. But there’s a problem: these claims lack context, making them misleading.
For example, Owner.com might say a restaurant saw a 270% sales increase after joining their platform. What they don’t tell you is whether that restaurant expanded from one location to 20 during that time, which would naturally boost sales regardless of Owner.com. Or, the restaurant might have been a popular local spot that added online ordering for the first time—growth would happen with any platform, not just Owner.com. By leaving out these details, Owner.com makes it seem like their platform is the sole reason for the growth, which isn’t true.
Examples of Owner.com’s Misleading Claims
We’ve seen this tactic in action. Owner.com’s marketing often highlights success stories without the full picture. They might claim a restaurant doubled its revenue, but fail to mention it was already a well-known brand with a loyal customer base. Another example is their branded mobile app, which they say drives growth. But as we noted in Is Owner.com a Scam?, the app for Talkin’ Tacos had 411 reviews on Google Play, with only 13 in the first half of 2025, suggesting many reviews were incentivized, not organic. If the app isn’t driving real growth, their revenue claims are even more misleading.
Why This Tactic Works on Restaurant Owners
This tactic is effective because it plays on your emotions and challenges as a restaurant owner:
- You’re busy: Running a restaurant is demanding. You don’t have time to dig into the details of every sales pitch, so a big number like “270% sales growth” grabs your attention and seems trustworthy.
- You want growth: With rising costs and competition from third-party apps like DoorDash, you’re eager for solutions that promise more revenue. A claim of massive growth feels like the answer you’ve been looking for.
- Trust in authority: Owner.com’s polished marketing, backed by Y Combinator funding, makes them seem credible. You’re more likely to trust their claims without questioning the context.
This tactic exploits your trust and time constraints, making it easy to sign up without realizing the full picture. But as we’ve seen in What Happens to Restaurants If Third-Party Apps Like DoorDash Win?, big tech often prioritizes their profits over your success.
The Risks of Falling for This Trick
Believing these revenue claims can lead to costly mistakes:
- Unrealistic expectations: You might expect similar growth, but if your restaurant doesn’t match the conditions of their success story (e.g., a new location or existing popularity), you’ll be disappointed.
- Hidden costs: Owner.com charges a 5% service fee at checkout, which violates California law, as we noted in Is Owner.com a Scam?. This fee, plus potential legal risks from non-ADA-compliant websites, can hurt your profits.
- Loss of control: Focusing on Owner.com’s platform might distract you from building direct customer relationships, leaving you vulnerable to third-party apps, as discussed in How Third-Party Apps Like DoorDash Steal Your Restaurant Customers.
How to Protect Your Restaurant
Don’t fall for revenue claims without context. Here’s how to protect your restaurant:
- Ask for details: If a sales rep cites revenue growth, ask for specifics—how many locations did the restaurant have? Was it their first time offering online ordering? Dig deeper to understand the real impact.
- Choose transparent platforms: Use white-labeled, no-commission platforms like Food Order Pro, which avoids deceptive tactics and prioritizes your privacy.
- Read the fine print: Look for hidden fees or risks, as we’ve warned in articles like Is Toast Online Ordering a Scam?.
Stay Smart and Protect Your Restaurant
Owner.com’s tactic of citing revenue increases without context is a clever way to trick restaurant owners into signing up. By playing on your desire for growth and lack of time, they make their platform seem like a miracle solution—but the reality can be far less promising. Stay educated about these sales tricks to protect your restaurant’s future.
Explore the rest of our series, Big Tech Sales Tricks: How They Fool Restaurant Owners, to learn more deceptive tactics and how to avoid them. Check out related articles in our How Data Scientists Took Over the Restaurant Industry series, like How No-Commission Ordering Systems Sell Your Customer Data to Big Tech.
Ready to take control of your online ordering? Contact Food Order Pro for a demo to find a solution that prioritizes your restaurant’s success.
