<p class="articletext">As a restaurateur, your needs are different than other retailers. For example, when was the last time you tried to tip the salesperson that helped you in the shoe store? In the restaurant industry, that's standard operating procedure, but it takes a special kind of merchant account to accommodate tips and other practices.<br />
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What you need is a restaurant merchant account that can make life easier for you and easier for your customer. The right solution can make all the difference to you and your customers. And a happy customer is going to be a loyal customer. <br />
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A merchant account is the hardware, software and support you need in order to accept credit card payments for the meals served in your restaurant. It works like this: <br />
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The merchant account lets you accept credit cards for your meal. That account has a business relationship with a bank or similar institution, which agrees to pay your restaurant for valid credit card transactions. It is the job of that bank or institution to collect the money owed by your customer. The credit card companies – Visa, MasterCard, etc. – work through merchant accounts because it collects its money through the bank or other stable financial institution – not from you. These companies know they will get their money from the bank. After all, not every business is equally reliable.<br />
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Getting the right restaurant merchant account requires a lot of decisions. There is a host of equipment to choose from, applications to fill out, and you need to find the right financial institution to work with you. You need a proven processing solution to help you make the right decisions.<br />
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The best merchant solution firm will be able to review the kind of restaurant you run and suggest the right equipment and program. Remember, it's more than just accepting a credit card for the meal. Your customers are most likely going to present debit cards and electronic checks, as well. You undoubtedly want your happy customers to spread the word about your eatery, so you will want to offer gift cards. And if you are trying to build your business on loyal customers, loyalty cards are good to consider.<br />
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Here are some additional ways a merchant account can work for you and your restaurant:<br />
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Add the server's tip after the transaction has been authorized<br />
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Let your customers run a tab<br />
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Create single bills from several credit cards<br />
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Track all transactions using a name or tracking number<br />
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Combine the bar tab with the dinner bill for one simple transaction<br />
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Offer wireless credit card terminals so you can deliver food curbside or accept credit card payments for deliveries<br />
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No matter what kind of restaurant you run – or size of the business – there is a merchant account that is right for you and your customers. It can be a small mom-and-pop operation that knows their customers want to be able to use a credit card. Adding a merchant account will keep your customers happy and it will grow your business. Or it could be a large chain of eateries that need to standardize the operation, something the right merchant account can easily accomplish.<br />
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All types of restaurants need a merchant account. For example, fast food is great, but not when the checkout process is slow. In order to keep the line moving, you need a quick connection, instant approvals and no signature required. <br />
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If you have a casual eatery that does a big lunch business, you also need to keep the checkout process moving. At most, people have an hour for lunch and they do not want to spend it waiting at the register for the transaction to go through. <br />
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If yours is a full-service restaurant, you need to be able to meet your customers' needs – like combining the bar tab with the dinner bill. You might be asked to provide single checks for a large gathering. And, of course, you want to be able to add a tip at any time in the transaction process.<br />
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Look for payment processing system that can meet all your needs – and also has an eye to the future and can see what you may need down the line. Compare the hardware and software choices. And review the fees charged. They will differ with each merchant account provider. Standard processing fees include a:<br />
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Monthly statement fee<br />
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Chargeback fee<br />
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Per-transaction fee<br />
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Batch closing fee<br />
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You should also check for hidden fees, such as the application fee, termination fee, account maintenance fee, monthly minimum fee and gateway access fee. Those are pretty standard fees, but they are not always visible. You should also ask about other hidden fees. They may be legitimate fees, but you should still know up front what you are facing.</p>
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<p class="article-resource">
Andrew Kilmeade is a freelance writer who writes about a range of topics including merchant services and companies that offer them such as <a href="https://www.agentinfocenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">North American Bancard</a>. </p>
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