If you talk to anyone who runs a successful restaurant, you’ll quickly learn how positively crucial it is to accept credit and debit card payments. You need a merchant account, pronto. Here are all the details you need to know to pump up your restaurant business with the convenience of merchant services.

Customers who visit your restaurant want a convenient experience. Sure, they also want great food, but if the payment process isn’t quick and easy, then those customers are as good as gone. Your servers will thank you for accepting credit and debit cards, as well. This greatly increases their chances of earning better tips. If you don’t start processing credit and debit cards, both your customers and servers might soon head out in search of greener pastures. Don’t risk it!

So, if you’re ready to take this effortless plunge into the world of credit and debit cards, then you’re ready to learn some important details about merchant services. You’ll certainly want to choose a reputable provider.

There are many providers out there, but they’re not all the same. Just like great customer service is important to your restaurant, it’s equally important that you select a merchant services provider with great customer service, as well. This will aid with your business transactions. Should you happen to encounter any snags, or simply have some questions, it’s smart to select a company that has readily-available customer service representatives that will help you eliminate any downtime and help you secure smooth payment transactions. When you select a company that provides you with great service, you can breathe much easier.

So many processing systems… which one should you choose? There are many payment methods out there. It’s not just about credit cards anymore. Customers are now paying with debit cards, pre-paid check cards and gift cards, among other methods. Would you like to accept these forms of payment? That’s just another reason why you need a merchant services account. If a customer only has a pre-paid check card, and she can’t use it at your restaurant, then you lose that business, and the restaurant owner who accepts that payment method earns the business. See the pattern here?

A reputable merchant services company should offer you the latest features for the restaurant industry. Here are some of the most popular.

Tip Inclusion

This allows you to include tips into the total amount after the transaction is authorized.

Tabs

Customers love the ability to keep tabs open during their visit, especially if your establishment serves alcohol.

Bill Splits

How often have you witnessed a group of diners wanting to split credit card processing iso programs  the tab up between them all? This feature makes it quick and easy.

Individual Tracking

Quickly and easy monitor and follow each individual transaction.

Bar and Meal Merge

Combine the bar tab and food total into one bill. Customers love this!

Take-Out and Delivery Terminals

Wireless technology allows you to bill purchases for these services quickly and easily, tips and all.

Clearly, you’re seeing the value of choosing to use a merchant services account. If you don’t feature these great perks, you’re going to lose a ton of business, plain and simple. The restaurant business is all about customer service. The more conveniences you offer them, the more likely they are to return.

Is yours an elegant, sit-down restaurant? All the more reason to offer the conveniences that accompany a merchant services account. These customers are willing to pay for a great experience, and it’s up to you to provide it. If they can’t, say, merge their bar and meal tabs, they’ll be none too pleased. That other restaurant down the street will let them do it.

Even fast-food joints run smoother and reap more profits if they have merchant service accounts. Their customers are all about speed. They want to get in, get fed and get out. More and more often, the last thing these customers want to bother with is paper money, and especially change. If a drive-through window is involved, this is especially relevant. Drive-through customers want to hand the cashier a card and end the transaction. Treat your customers right: give them the option to use credit, debit or alternate forms of payment.