How to Sell Cakes Online in Pune Without Swiggy or Zomato

Delivery apps are good at one thing: putting your cakes in front of people who've never heard of you. They're much less good for the customer who already loves your truffle cake and orders it every birthday. Every time that person orders through an app, you pay commission on a customer you already earned.

This guide is about building a direct channel in Pune that sits next to the apps, not one that replaces them overnight.

What the apps actually cost you

Swiggy and Zomato usually charge restaurants a base commission of around 15% to 25% per order, plus 18% GST on that commission. (DineOpen) Then there are payment charges and any discounts you run.

On a ₹1,000 cake at 20% commission, that's ₹200 plus ₹36 GST before anything else. Sell 60 cakes a month through the app and you're giving up over ₹14,000. Some of that buys you new customers. A lot of it is just a tax on your regulars.

Step 1: Get one link customers can order from

Your customers need a single place to see your menu, prices and how to order. A WhatsApp number isn't enough on its own, because every order turns into a long chat about sizes and flavours.

The link can be a simple online menu or store. It needs to show:

• Every cake with a photo, weight options and price
• Eggless and add-on options with their prices
• How much notice you need (same day, 24 hours, 48 hours)
• Delivery areas and charges
• How to pay

Put that link everywhere: your Instagram bio, WhatsApp Business profile, Google Business Profile, cake box stickers, and your society's WhatsApp group.

Step 2: Sort out delivery in Pune

This is what stops most home bakers. The apps bring a rider. On your own, you need a plan.

You have three realistic options:

1. Customer pickup. The cheapest. Works well for customers within 3 to 4 km. Give pickup slots so people don't all turn up at once.
2. Your own delivery person. A family member or a part-time rider. Fine for nearby areas, hard to scale.
3. Book a same-day courier. Both Borzo and Porter run same-day two-wheeler deliveries in Pune. You book a rider from the app, they pick up from you and drop at the customer's door. (Borzo Pune)

Pack for Pune roads. A cream cake on a scooter over the speed breakers of NIBM Road needs a sturdy box, a cake board that fits properly, and a non-slip mat at the bottom. Tell the rider it's a cake and must stay flat.

Charge delivery separately and show it upfront. Customers mind surprise charges far more than they mind a clear ₹80 delivery fee.

Step 3: Make payment simple

UPI is enough to start. Ask for full payment or at least 50% advance before you bake, especially for custom cakes. Don't bake a ₹2,000 fondant cake on the strength of an "ok done" message.

Step 4: Show up when Pune searches for cakes

When someone in Kharadi types "cake shop near me" at 9 p.m., Google shows a map with three shops. You want to be one of them.

• Create or claim your Google Business Profile, even if you're a home baker. You can hide your exact address and show a service area instead.
• Add your order link, opening hours and real photos.
• Ask happy customers for a Google review. Ten honest reviews change a lot.

Step 5: Bring app customers back directly

The apps find you new customers. Your job is to make the second order direct.

For walk-in and direct orders, put a small sticker on every box with a QR code to your menu. For app orders, read your platform agreement first, because rules on what you can put inside the box vary.

The simplest trick is to ask for birthdays. A customer who gives you their kid's birthday is telling you when they'll need a cake next year. Message them a week before. One line, a photo and your link.

Should you leave the apps completely?

Usually not, at least not at first. Treat the apps as paid advertising: useful for discovery, too expensive for repeat business. As your direct orders grow, you can keep fewer items on the app or price them higher there to cover commission.