— For the restaurant marketer, owner, or finance lead
How should a restaurant separate its own promotional funding from discounts funded by DoorDash or another party?
DoorDash-funded versus restaurant-funded promotions
A promotion can have more than one funder. DoorDash reporting separates customer discounts funded by the restaurant, DoorDash, or a third party, and it can also show credits that offset marketing costs. Record those components separately before calculating restaurant-borne channel cost.
If the restaurant funds $300 and DoorDash funds $200, the operator should not call the full $500 a restaurant cost. The campaign may still affect order mix and margin, but the funding ledger must be correct before anyone evaluates performance or assigns an owner.
— What working formula does this answer use?
Restaurant-borne promotion cost = restaurant-funded discounts + marketing fees − applicable platform or third-party credits
— Field checks
- 01Separate each promotion by funding party.
- 02Tie credits to the campaign and statement period.
- 03Measure sales and contribution only after the funding split is correct.
— Evidence to keep
- • Promotion detail
- • Funding-party fields
- • Marketing credits and campaign dates
Sources checked August 21, 2026. Independent operational guidance—not marketplace-endorsed legal, tax, or accounting advice. Read the evidence and corrections standard.