As a restaurant owner or operator, you want to make sure that customer service in your establishment is at its peak, keeping people coming back for more. This includes offering multiple ways for customers to pay. While some older restaurants can use their history for cause as being a cash-only merchant, there is a greater pursuit for small businesses to make sure that a customer can cover the check with more than just paper.
Traditional Credit Terminals
Just like the appliances in your kitchen and the plates and glasses you purchase, your credit card processor is a valuable piece of restaurant equipment. If you find yourself Googling “restaurant equipment Wenatchee” for lease options for affordable ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerators, you may also want to look into getting a traditional credit card terminal for installation.
A credit card terminal is usually plugged in behind the counter or connected to a POS system to process a payment through the swipe of a magnetic stripe, a chip reader, or the ability to tap a credit or debit card and go. This traditional credit card reader is a good option for diners and cafes, allowing a cashier to handle receipts so that servers can focus on directly working with the kitchen. With the right internet connection and wiring, you can make credit card transactions in no time at all. If a customer uses a debit card, they can easily punch in their code on a PIN pad to make sure that they can go through checkout seamlessly.
Mobile Credit Devices
Restaurant customers no longer need to go to the counter or wait for their server to come back with the check. You can conduct payment right at the table with a wireless credit card machine. With a WiFi connection to the POS system, servers can allow customers to tap, swipe, or put their card in a wireless chip reader and settle the bill within seconds.
Some of these wireless terminals feature a screen that will allow you to go through an invoice every step of the way, process your tip along with clearing the check, even offering up approvals and ratings of service to better help small business owners understand their strong suits and potentially some weak spots in accommodating customers.
Smartphone Apps
Thanks to innovations like Apple Pay and Google Pay, credit card processing is easier than ever to get the tab settled. Offering these services for restaurant to-go services or even tableside makes processing transactions a breeze for the customer through contactless payments. With access through a mobile wallet, a digital receipt is sent directly to the customer’s email, limiting your paper use, making you a greener retailer. Apps like Venmo and Cash App can also be utilized in certain circumstances where a customer may not have cash at the checkout counter. These apps work in conjunction with an integrated POS or mobile POS and are a great choice for quick customer turnaround.
Crypto Payment
While cryptocurrency and its use through retailers, restaurants, and other services is being worked out, there are some small business owners who are embracing Bitcoin. There are now credit card options that team up a customer’s crypto account with their credit or debit cards. By allowing temporary access to a crypto account, your friendly staff can scan that credit card just like any other customer’s regular account. You’ll have to consider how you want to deal with this emerging market, especially when it comes to exchanging fees and transaction fees.
Think about what you want to tackle as a network administrator in dealing with receipts. When it comes to making payments, take a page from similar businesses and figure out the right approach for your restaurant’s needs.
