Apply for FoodChat

FoodChat sign-up & service agreement

Between ChatOrder (Pty) Ltd t/a FoodChat (registration 2026/616766/07, 655 Marine Drive, Brighton Beach, Durban, info@foodchat.co.za, 082 451 1604) and the store ("you"): the business whose details are given in this application.

WhatsApp ordering, delivery and loyalty for your restaurant: R590 per month, no commission on your sales. Cancel with 2 months' written notice.

1. What you get for R590 per month

• WhatsApp ordering: your full menu with photos, choices (e.g. fried/grilled, sizes), specials, upsell suggestions, delivery zones from the customer's location pin, driver tips and order tracking, all inside WhatsApp, with no app for customers to download.
• Payments: card, Instant EFT and SnapScan through your own PayFast account. Delivery orders are paid online through PayFast before they reach the kitchen; cash is accepted only at the counter for collection orders.
• Order Station: kitchen screen for any Android device, tablet or PC (e.g. Feitian F100): new-order chime, printed tickets, Ready/Collected buttons.
• Drivers: your own drivers get delivery jobs on WhatsApp (first to accept gets it), with nightly pay-out per driver.
• Loyalty club: digital stamp card for online and walk-in customers (by cellphone number), with automatic rewards.
• Specials broadcasts: send your poster or flyer (JPEG or PDF) to opted-in customers, with preview, test-send and PIN protection.
• Reports: nightly WhatsApp report: orders, card vs cash, delivery fees, tips, driver pay-outs, loyalty and broadcasts.
• Setup & support: we load your menu and photos, help set up Meta/WhatsApp and PayFast, train your staff, host and back up the system, and install updates. Support by WhatsApp; problems that stop orders get priority, 7 days a week. Reasonable menu and price changes are included.

2. Not included in the R590

• Meta (WhatsApp) fees: customer orders are free. Messages you start, such as specials broadcasts, are charged by Meta to your card (about R1.50 per message in South Africa; Meta sets the price). FoodChat shows the estimated cost before every broadcast.
• PayFast fees: PayFast's fee on each card/EFT payment and on payouts (see payfast.io/fees).
• Equipment & data: the optional Order Station device (see section 3), ticket paper, and internet or mobile data.

3. Fees and payment

• Monthly subscription: R590 per month (including VAT where applicable).
• First month: R590, paid when you apply. Your first month covers your full setup; there is no separate setup fee.
• After that: R590 is billed every month by card through PayFast, renewing automatically.
• Counter device (optional): R4,600 per device [INCL./EXCL. VAT: TO CONFIRM], paid once-off with your first month if you order one. The device is yours once paid for.
• Price changes: the monthly fee increases by 10% each year on the anniversary of your start date, with 30 days’ written notice of the new amount.

FoodChat takes no commission on your sales.

4. Term and cancelling

• Either side may cancel with 2 months' written notice (WhatsApp or email is fine). The subscription continues to be billed during the notice period.
• When you leave, we give you your customer list (numbers, names, opt-ins, loyalty balances) as a spreadsheet, remove ourselves as admin from your Meta account, and help move your WhatsApp number back to the WhatsApp Business app if you want. Your number and Meta account always remain yours.
• Your data is deleted from FoodChat's systems 60 days after the service ends, unless the law requires us to keep it longer.
• If a payment is more than 14 days late, we will remind you and may pause the service after a further 7 days' notice. It restarts as soon as the account is up to date.

5. Your customers' information (POPIA)

• Your customers' details belong to you. You are the "responsible party"; FoodChat is your "operator" and processes the information only to run your ordering service.
• FoodChat will not sell, share or use your customers' information for anything else, and will not contact your customers for its own purposes.
• The system is hosted with reputable cloud providers, which may store data outside South Africa under appropriate security safeguards. Access is protected by PINs and passwords.
• FoodChat only sends specials to customers who opted in, and stops immediately for anyone who replies STOP. You agree not to ask FoodChat to bypass this.
• If FoodChat becomes aware of a security breach affecting your customers' information, it will tell you without delay.

6. Your responsibilities

• Keep your menu, prices, trading hours and specials correct (we can update them for you on request).
• Prepare and deliver orders, and look after your customers, food safety and your drivers' conduct.
• Follow WhatsApp's Business policies and the Consumer Protection Act in what you sell and send.
• Keep your Order Station charged and online, and keep your PINs private (change them if staff leave).
• Keep your Meta and PayFast accounts in good standing (verification, card for Meta fees).

7. Service and liability

• FoodChat aims for the service to run 24/7 and does maintenance outside trading hours where possible, but cannot guarantee uninterrupted service: it depends on Meta (WhatsApp), PayFast, mobile networks and the internet, which FoodChat does not control.
• If a fault on FoodChat's side stops ordering for more than 24 hours in a month, you may ask for a pro-rata credit for that time.
• FoodChat is not responsible for decisions Meta or PayFast make about your accounts, or for lost profits. FoodChat's total liability is limited to the fees you paid in the 3 months before the event.

8. General

• South African law applies. This agreement is the whole agreement; changes must be in writing (WhatsApp or email counts).
• FoodChat may update these terms with 30 days' written notice; you may cancel without penalty before a change takes effect.
• Notices go to the addresses, emails and WhatsApp numbers given in this application.
• You accept this agreement electronically by ticking the boxes and typing your name below. The date, time and IP address of your acceptance are recorded, and a copy is emailed to you.

Start your Meta verification now. It can take up to 14 days.

FoodChat runs your orders through Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform, and Meta must verify your business before your ordering number can go live. Meta decides how long this takes, usually a few days but up to 14 days, so start today. Open Meta in a new tab, do the three steps below, then come back here and tick the boxes to continue.

Open Meta Business Suite (new tab)

Step 1. Log in and create your business portfolio

1. Log in with the owner's personal Facebook account.
2. If you have no business portfolio yet, create one. Use the business name exactly as on your CIPC documents, your name and a business email address.
3. If you already have a portfolio for this business, use it. Do not create a second one.

Step 2. Submit business verification

1. Click the Settings gear, then Security Centre (or Business info), then Start verification.
2. Enter the registered name, registration number, address and phone number exactly as they appear on your CIPC and proof-of-address documents.
3. Upload your CIPC registration document and proof of business address when asked, and confirm by the method Meta offers (phone, email or domain).

Step 3. Add FoodChat as an admin

1. In Settings, go to Users then People, and click Invite people (or Add).
2. Enter info@foodchat.co.za.
3. Give Full control (admin) access and send the invite. We accept it and connect your ordering number.

Tips: the name and address must match your documents exactly, or Meta may reject the request. If Meta asks for a website, you can leave it or use your Facebook page. Stuck? WhatsApp Robin on 082 451 1604. Meta's screens change from time to time, so the button names may differ slightly.