Choosing the ideal card machine usually raises a lot of questions, especially when the restaurant is still just starting out.
Evaluating the different options on the market can be a big challenge. After all, several aspects must be considered: from the fees charged per transaction to the device's features.
In this article, we'll see how to choose the best card machine for those just starting out. Follow along!
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How can the card machine impact your restaurant?
Offering different payment options is essential to giving customers a good experience. Consumers expect convenience and speed when it is time to settle the bill, which is why card machines are indispensable.
They make it possible to take credit and debit card payments, food or meal vouchers, and some of them also accept PIX and digital wallets.
Anyone just starting out should choose carefully, since the card machine can impact different aspects of the business. Among them:
operational efficiency
An efficient card machine can significantly improve the restaurant's operation, providing more mobility and speed in service.
This cuts the time customers wait to pay the bill and increases table turnover, allowing the restaurant to serve more customers and increase revenue.
Mobile machines also let payments be made right at the table, avoiding lines at the register and streamlining the waiters' workflow.
Customer satisfaction
The payment experience is a crucial part of customer satisfaction. A poor choice can lead to long waits caused by connection problems and slow transactions.
On top of that, if the restaurant does not accept a wide variety of card brands and other payment methods (such as PIX or digital wallets), it can frustrate customers and even cost you sales.
Financial control
Choosing the right machine can help with your restaurant's financial control, especially when it comes to the fees charged per transaction.
Machines with competitive rates help maximize profits — which is especially important in a business that is just starting out, where every cent counts.
Beyond that, a good card machine makes financial management easier by automating sales records and generating detailed reports.
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Flexibility and scalability
A restaurant that is just starting out needs flexible, scalable solutions. The card machine has to keep up with the growth of the business, able to handle a larger volume of transactions while offering good rates and additional features.
Machines that offer integration options with management systems, for example, allow you to adapt quickly to new demands and market trends.
safety
Finally, transaction security is essential to protect both the restaurant and the customers.
Machines with advanced encryption technology and fraud protection help prevent fraudulent transactions and protect customer data.
Long-term costs
A bad choice can result in additional costs over the long term.
Some card machine options on the market have hidden fees that, down the road, can end up eating a good chunk of the restaurant's profits.
Another point has to do with the quality of the devices. A card machine may have a low upfront cost, but if the quality is poor, it can generate additional costs in maintenance and replacements.
So you need to choose your restaurant's card machine carefully. See below which aspects you should look at.
What to consider when choosing a card machine?
For those just starting out, it is important to choose a card machine that meets your immediate needs without losing sight of the future, when the restaurant will be handling a larger volume of transactions.
That is because, depending on the card machine, the rates may get higher and the technology may fall short, which can hurt profitability and operational efficiency down the line.
Below, understand which aspects to consider when choosing the best card machine for those just starting out:
Ease of use
A card machine with an easy-to-use interface cuts down staff training time and minimizes errors during transactions.
Also, the payment process should be fast and efficient, with few steps to complete a transaction. That is essential for quick service and a good customer experience.
Mobility and connectivity
Mobile machines are essential for restaurants with table service, letting payments happen without the customer having to walk over to the register, which can create lines. Mobility also makes the waiters' work flow better.
You also need to make sure the machine works well under different network conditions, in order to avoid interrupted transactions, errors and delays in processing payments.
So go for mobile card machines with Wi-Fi and mobile network (3G / 4G) connectivity.
payment methods
The machine should accept a large number of credit and debit card brands.
It is also indispensable to accept different meal and food vouchers, PIX payments and digital wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, for example.
That way you will be offering maximum convenience and practicality at payment time, which is essential for a good customer experience.
Learn more: Which payment methods should you offer in restaurants?
CHARGES
Acquirers (card machine companies) charge fees on every transaction. They usually vary according to the type of payment (debit, credit, installment credit and so on).
So choosing an option with competitive rates, taking into account the most common type of payment at your establishment, is essential to reduce operating costs and increase profitability.
Those just starting out usually look for the lowest possible rate, but that is not always the best decision. Some promotional plans offer attractive rates in the first year, for example, but after that period they go up.
Contracts with hidden fees are also very common, so you need to look at every offer carefully.
Additional costs
You also need to watch for other fees and costs involved. Among them:
- Implementation costs
- Administration fees
- Receivables advance fees
- Card machine rental / monthly fee
- Account fees
In other words: beyond the transaction fees, you should carefully look at all the other fees and costs involved. In some cases, even if the per-transaction fees are lower, the other costs drive up the total.
Receivables advance
To keep a healthy cash flow, it is also important to check the payout time for your sales. There are several options: instantly, the next day, in 14 days and in 30 days.
But watch out: advance fees vary according to the payout time and that can increase your costs.
For restaurants that are just starting out, the best thing is to get paid as soon as possible, since that lets you restock inventory and invest in other initiatives that can boost sales and contribute to the growth of the business.
Management system
Integration with a good restaurant system also helps simplify management, making it easier to control sales and analyze results.
One great option is smart POS, which lets you install the POS right on the card machine itself. This streamlines service from entering the orders to charging the bill. The waiter does everything with a single device, more easily and quickly.
These are the main points to consider when choosing the best card machine for your restaurant. Next, check out some popular models on the market!
Which is the best card machine for those just starting out?
As you can probably imagine, there is no definitive answer as to which is the best card machine for those just starting out.
Among the most recommended are:
But of course there are many other excellent options available on the market.
The most important thing is to compare them — weighing the aspects we covered earlier — and figure out which one makes the most sense for your business.
Gain efficiency from orders to payment with EPOC
Choosing the best card machine for your restaurant is strategic, since it can impact everything from operating costs to the customer experience.
With the tips you have seen in this article, you will be able to make a better-informed decision and find the ideal solution for your business.
Beyond the card machine, it is essential to have an efficient management system that lets you deliver fast service and optimize your operation.
EPOC is a restaurant platform with everything you need for your restaurant to grow: POS, ERP, Analytics, Digital Menu, Self-Service, Payment Solutions and much more!
It can be used on Smart POS card machines, delivering more efficiency from orders all the way to payment.
Fale com nossos consultores, tell us what your goals are and find out how we can help.
