Quick commerce also known as Q-commerce is redefining how we shop for daily essentials. From groceries to snacks, everything arrives at your doorstep within minutes. And with the rise of platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, Q-commerce is not just about convenience anymore it’s a high-potential business model with multiple revenue streams.
If you’re thinking of building your own Q-commerce platform, understanding how to make revenue is the key step to success. Let’s break down the different ways Q-commerce platforms make money.
Revenue Streams of Q-Commerce Apps
1. Product Markup
This is one of the most straightforward revenue streams.
Quick commerce platforms buy products at wholesale prices and sell them at a slightly marked-up price. The markup covers the cost of operations and the speed they offer.
For example, Blinkit and Zepto often list products at a marginally higher rate than your local retail stores.
Why?
Because you’re not just paying for the product you’re paying for the convenience of getting it in under 10 minutes.
2. Delivery Fees
Even if the markup is low, the platform makes money from delivery charges.
Customers pay a small delivery fee for every order. It helps offset the logistics costs like fleet maintenance, fuel, and delivery personnel.
Dunzo Daily is a great example. They charge a base delivery fee, which may increase during peak hours or based on the order value. This ensures profitability while maintaining rapid delivery service.
3. Subscription Fees
This is where long-term revenue comes in.
Platforms offer subscription plans that promise perks like free delivery, cashback, early access to deals, and exclusive discounts.
These subscriptions build customer loyalty and provide recurring income for the platform. For instance, Zepto could offer a monthly plan where users get unlimited free deliveries above a certain order value.
4. Ad Fees
While ads are not the main focus in quick commerce, they’re still a potential income stream.
Q-commerce platforms can offer in-app advertising slots to brands that want to promote their products. A snack brand, for example, could pay to appear at the top of search results or get featured on the homepage.
Even though this isn’t widely adopted yet, platforms like Swiggy Instamart may use this revenue stream as they scale further.
5. Brand Partnerships
Q-commerce companies also generate revenue through strategic partnerships.
They collaborate with local vendors, private labels, or big brands to expand their offerings or reduce inventory costs. This improves the product mix and increases profit margins.
Swiggy Instamart, for instance, leverages Swiggy’s existing ecosystem and partnerships to make product sourcing more efficient and diverse.
Conclusion
Quick commerce is more than just fast delivery it’s a smart business with layered income opportunities.
From product markups and delivery fees to subscriptions and partnerships, each stream adds to a stable, scalable revenue model. And if done right, you could be the one turning lightning-fast delivery into long-term profits.
So, if you’re planning to launch your own Q-commerce platform, now’s the time to build smart and earn smarter.