What is the Preferred Partner Program?
The Preferred Partner Program (PPP) is an optional marketing program that lets you boost your position in Marketplace search by adding an extra percentage fee (that you control) based on the food subtotal of each order.
Key points:
You set a percentage fee between 2% and 20% on the food subtotal
The higher your spend, the more your potential boost in search ranking
Applies only to Marketplace orders
The extra fee acts like an added commission on food, not on delivery fees or tax
This program does not show a customer‑facing deal or promotion. Instead, it is used behind the scenes to help improve your placement in search results, which can lead to more views, clicks, and orders.
PPP is only available in certain states. In others, Sponsored Listings has replaced PPP as the primary placement tool
How PPP helps with Marketplace placement
Search ranking and visibility
In eligible states, PPP is one of the main levers ezCater uses to help determine where you appear in Marketplace search when customers are browsing for catering.
When enrolled:
Your restaurant can be boosted higher in relevant search results
Increased placement typically leads to
More views of your listing
More clicks into your menu
More opportunities to convert shoppers into orders
PPP works alongside other factors such as:
Location and delivery radius
Cuisine and menu match
Reliability and reviews (i.e. star rating, cancellation/rejection history)
PPP and other marketing tools
PPP can be used on its own or in combination with other programs
PPP + Rewards
PPP improves placement
Rewards (if enabled) help your listing stand out to buyers who care about earning extra points
Eligibility and availability
Eligibility criteria
To use PPP, locations must:
Have at least a 4.0+ star rating on ezCater
Have at least one rated order
These requirements help ensure that locations promoted via PPP already meet a baseline of reliability and quality for customers.
Where PPP is available
PPP is available where Sponsored Listings has not replaced it.
In select “expansion” states (e.g., AZ, CO, DC, KS, MD, NM, OK, TX, VA, WV), PPP has been replaced by Sponsored Listings as the primary visibility tool
In all other states, PPP remains an active option to improve Marketplace placement
In states where Sponsored Listings is available, PPP is being phased out in favor of Sponsored Listings for placement
If you are unsure whether PPP is available for your location, check the Marketing tab in the Partner Portal or contact Partner Success
Viewing PPP spends
You can view your PPP participation and spend in two main places:
Order details page in the financial breakdown
Negative line item labeled "Preferred Partner Program"
Payment order report or completed order report
In column "W" labeled Preferred Partner Program
See how to create order reports here
Payment breakdown in Financials tab
Click into a payment to see a breakdown
Preferred Partner Program spend amount will show under Marketing Spend
How to opt in and manage PPP in the Partner Portal
You have full control over PPP participation and levels in the Partner Portal.
Opting in
To enable PPP for a location:
Log in to the Partner Portal
Navigate to Marketing
Select the location you want to manage
Find the Preferred Partner Program section
Here you can:
Turn PPP ON for that store
Choose your PPP percentage (for example, 2%–20%)
Use the estimator tool
Changes take effect quickly and will begin influencing your Marketplace placement on future orders.
Adjusting PPP settings
You can adjust PPP at any time if:
You want to increase visibility during key periods
Launching a new store
Competing in a dense market
Seasonal or quarter‑end pushes
You need to pull back spend to balance margins
Reduce your PPP percentage
Or temporarily turn PPP OFF
Because PPP is self‑serve, you are always in control of:
Whether a location participates
The exact percentage you want to apply
Using the estimator tool
The estimator tool helps you understand how changing your percentage may impact your search ranking before you commit to a new setting.
You can use it to:
See how different PPP percentages might affect your estimated visibility in search
Choose a PPP setting that fits your budget and growth goals
How to use it
Add different addresses within your delivery area
include corporate office parks, hospitals, and any other relevant commercial areas.
Start with your current PPP percentage to see where your listing is landing in the search
current ranking shows the search ranking for your listing for that specific address
Use the drop down menu to change your PPP percentage
The chart will update to show the estimated change in search ranking for that address
Best practices for using the estimator
Find an opt-in level that gets you on the first page of search results
Any ranking of 1-32 estimates that your listing will fall on the first page search results
This should be your goal for the majority of addresses in your delivery area if you want to see an increase in order volume
This is our recommendation because the majority of orders are placed from the first page of search results
Treat the estimator as a planning guide, not a guarantee – it uses your recent history and typical behavior in similar markets
Test a moderate increase first (for example, from 0% to 5% or 5% to 10%), then
Run it for a few weeks
Monitor actual orders, revenue, and PPP spend in your Marketing and Financials tabs
Revisit the estimator regularly to
Increase PPP when you want more visibility (openings, busy seasons, new markets)
Decrease or pause PPP if you need to temporarily reduce spend
Always remember to "save changes" to have your settings updated
When to use PPP vs other programs
Use PPP when:
Your primary goal is better placement in Marketplace search (in states where PPP is available)
You want a simple, always‑on lever you can adjust yourself
You already have solid reviews and reliability metrics and want more exposure
Combine PPP with Rewards when:
You not only want more views, but also stronger reasons for buyers to choose you
You want to both attract and convert high‑intent shoppers
If you have questions about the Preferred Partner Program, its availability for your locations, or how to choose a PPP percentage, reach out to Partner Success