Key takeaways
- % off scales with the bill: gentle on small orders, generous on big ones. Cap it for takeout.
- $ off feels bigger on cheap items and costs you a fixed, predictable amount.
- 2-for-1 pulls hardest and costs the most per plate. Best for groups and quiet hours.
- Something free with an order costs you its food cost, while the diner values it at its menu price.
- Tax is charged on the price after your own discount, the way a store coupon works.
The short answer
There's no best deal type, only the best one for the job. A percentage off scales with the bill. A dollar amount off is predictable. 2-for-1 is the strongest pull and the most expensive per plate. Something free with an order often gives the most perceived value for the least cost. Pick by the hour you're filling and the dish, then check the numbers.
The four types on FIG
On FIG a deal can be any of these, on the whole order or on specific dishes from your menu:
- Percentage off, e.g. 20% off.
- Dollar amount off, e.g. $3 off.
- 2-for-1: buy one, get one.
- Something free with an order, e.g. a free drink with any bowl.
Side by side on a $14 dish
| Deal | Diner saves | Diner pays | Your contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full price | $0 | $14.00 | $9.80 |
| 20% off | $2.80 | $11.20 | $7.00 |
| $3 off | $3.00 | $11.00 | $6.80 |
| 2-for-1 (two bowls) | $14.00 | $14.00 for two | $5.60 for two |
| Free $5 drink that costs you $1.25 | $5.00 | $14.00 | $8.55 |
Round example numbers: use your own menu prices and food costs. Contribution is what the diner pays minus the food cost.
Notice the last row: the diner saves the most money of the single-dish deals, and you keep the most. That's the quiet strength of "free with an order": the diner values the item at its menu price, and you pay its food cost.
Percentage off
Good for: deals on the whole order, groups and higher-priced menus. It feels fair at any size.
Watch out for: large takeout orders, where 20% of a big order is a lot. On FIG you can set the most one takeout order can take off, so a percentage deal can't run away on a $150 order.
Dollar amount off
Good for: single dishes and lower prices. "$3 off any bowl" reads bigger than "20% off" on a $14 bowl, and it costs you exactly $3 every time.
Watch out for: very cheap items, where $3 can be most of the margin. Put it on dishes with room.
2-for-1
Good for: bringing in pairs and groups in your quietest hours. It's the easiest deal to share in a group chat.
Watch out for: peak hours (it halves the price of a table you'd have filled anyway) and dishes with a high food cost. Cap it daily.
Something free with an order
Good for: low-cost, high-value extras: a drink, a dessert, a side. It also introduces diners to something they'd never have ordered.
Watch out for: extras with a high food cost, or a free item so big that it competes with the main dish.
How tax works on a deal
In Ontario, HST is calculated on what the diner actually pays after your own discount, the same way a store's coupon reduces the price before tax. On a $14 dish with $3 off, HST at 13% is charged on $11.00: $1.43, not $1.82. If you're registered, the HST you remit follows the discounted price. (This is general information, not tax advice: ask your accountant about your situation.) HST registration for small restaurants.
Which one should you pick?
| Your goal | Try |
|---|---|
| Fill a dead afternoon with pairs and groups | 2-for-1, capped |
| Get people to try one dish | $ off that dish |
| Bigger orders, takeout | % off, with a most-off limit |
| Feel generous, protect margin | Something free with an order |
| A surprise quiet hour | A flash deal with any of the above |
Whatever you pick, run it in your quiet windows, cap it, and judge it by new and returning diners. The slow-hour math.
Questions
Is % off or $ off better?
$ off reads bigger on cheaper dishes and costs a fixed amount; % off scales with the bill and suits whole orders. Run both on your own prices.
Is 2-for-1 a good idea for a restaurant?
In quiet hours, for pairs and groups, it can be: it pulls hardest. It costs the most per plate, so cap it and keep it away from peak hours.
Why offer something free instead of a discount?
The diner values the free item at its menu price; you pay only its food cost. It often feels generous while keeping more margin.
Is HST charged before or after the discount?
After your own discount: HST is calculated on what the diner actually pays, the way a store coupon reduces the price before tax.
Can I put a deal on specific dishes?
Yes. A FIG deal can apply to the whole order or to specific dishes from your menu.
Can I limit a percentage deal on big takeout orders?
Yes. You can set the most one takeout order can take off.
