Terry Tote

Terry Tote

Hungry for More Customers? What Every Restaurant Business Should Know about Payment Processing

You've opened up a restaurant – and business is good.

You're seeing repeat customers. You're getting some buzz in the community. You're even seeing a few mentions of your establishment in blogs and newspapers. And you've noticed your bottom line creeping upward every week.

And all this is happening without accepting credit card payments. Just imagine how incredible business could be if you did!

The fact that your eatery is making a splash on people's radar is nice. But once they start measuring you up against other restaurants in your area who do take credit cards, you'll have a strike against you. Because people don't always want to pay with cash – and they don't want to have to worry about having enough money on hand when they eat out.

Here's the good news: merchant services providers, the entities who make credit card processing possible, offer dozens of packages which are tailored to suit any type of dining establishment.

Quick serve restaurants place a premium on speed. You want to do everything in your power to keep the checkout lines moving swiftly. Today's credit card processing systems can authenticate transactions within seconds, and you can choose a setup where no signature is required.

Fast casual restaurants appeal to people who want the best of both worlds. They are looking for a place to relax, eat, and socialize; but may not have the time (or the money) for a lengthy multi-course meal. So these businesses might opt for equipment that is both fast and easy-to-use, but would also permit tips to be added after the transaction has been processed.

Full service restaurants pride themselves on superior customer service. Their clientele has a higher level of expectations than they would with regard to a quick serve or fast causal dining experience. Therefore, a processing system that allows waitstaff to split dinner bills or combine bar tabs with meals would be the most ideal choice for establishments who serve discerning customers.

So what are the advantages to acquiring a merchant services provider so you can process your credit card payments?

Customers can start a tab. It can become a hassle for a customer to keep digging into his wallet or her purse every time an extra drink or appetizer is ordered. Patrons would rather just hand you a credit card and let you put all the charges on it. Then they only need to complete a single transaction at the end of the night instead of having to interrupt their conversations repeatedly to pay as they go.

You can separate a bill onto multiple credit cards. If a group of diners wants to split the check evenly or pay for only what they ate or drank individually, someone will have to break out a calculator if cash is their only payment option. Then they'll ask their server to make change and you'll have to sift through a wad of bills to see if the check was properly paid. But with a merchant services account, your waitstaff can easily separate any bill onto any number of cards – either by items ordered or by amount.

You can allow tips to be added onto the bill after it has been processed. Most people want to leave an appropriate tip to show their appreciation for good service. But they don't welcome the hassle of having to carry smaller bills or ask for change to do so. A merchant account can be configured to permit your waiters and waitresses to authenticate a credit card and then present it to the customer who can add on a suitable gratuity just before signing the credit slip.

You can merge the tab from the bar with the check from the meal. It can be a pain for customers to have to pay twice: once at the bar before sitting down to eat, and again when they are ready to leave. This is exacerbated when they have to provide cash for both transactions, especially when a group is involved. But a single merchant services account can let you combine the charges of drinks and/or food from one location in your restaurant with those from another – which your customers will appreciate.

You can use wireless terminals for flexible functionality. Let's say you want to set up an extra drink station or offer take out or curbside food service. You don't have to saddle one of your staff with the responsibility of carrying a huge amount of cash that will be needed for every completed transaction. Battery-operated mobile credit card swipe terminals can go wherever your servers need to – and these devices can fit in an apron pocket or belt clip.

You might be worried about the additional costs that come with the implementation of a merchant services account. Instead, you should try and focus on all of the additional business you can potentially receive from customers who prefer paying with credit cards. Or to put it another way, you should consider how much business you will lose from customers who don't like toting cash around or paying for meals with paper money.

The restaurant business is all about good offerings and excellent customer service. Accepting credit cards will help you serve your diners better, faster, and more conveniently. After all, the last thing you need is a customer's dining experience to be ruined because of hassles with the check.

About the Author

Terry Gonzalez is a freelance writer who writes about a range of topics including merchant services and restaurant merchant account options.

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