For restaurants, credit card processing fees can quickly add up and cut into profit margins. With more customers opting for cashless payments, these fees can get overwhelming.
Luckily, there are tricks to minimize these fees without sacrificing convenience. Here are 5 ways restaurants can save on credit card processing fees or even eliminate them!
Negotiate Lower Rates
Many restaurant owners don’t realize that credit card processing rates are often negotiable. Reach out to your current payment processor and discuss your options. If you have a high transaction volume or long-term relationship with the processor, you may be able to secure lower rates or additional perks. Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare rates from different processors.
Consider Flat-Rate Pricing
Some processors offer flat-rate pricing, which can help you avoid the fluctuations that come with variable percentage fees. This pricing model charges a fixed fee for each transaction, making it easier to predict your monthly expenses and potentially lowering your overall processing costs, especially for smaller transactions.
Encourage Debit Card Usage
Debit card transactions typically come with lower processing fees than credit cards. Encourage customers to use their debit cards by offering small incentives like discounts or highlighting the benefits of using debit. This small change can help reduce the overall processing costs without inconveniencing your customers.
Optimize Your POS System
Many modern point-of-sale (POS) systems offer integrated payment processing, which can reduce transaction fees by cutting out third-party processors. Upgrading to a POS system that offers direct processing can streamline transactions and lower costs by eliminating middlemen.
Pass the Fees to Customers
Some restaurants choose to pass credit card processing fees onto their customers by adding a small surcharge for card payments. While this option may not be popular with everyone, it’s a way to directly offset processing costs. Be sure to clearly communicate any fees upfront to avoid customer dissatisfaction.
