In the hustle and the bustle of the average restaurant, it can be a significant challenge to think creatively about what your employees need to do their job better. This is especially true when it comes to operations technology. When there is an initial investment needed, along with the time investment that is required to learn a new system and implement it, it can just feel easier to keep going with what you have. Still, if you’re thinking about the next steps for your business, here are three avenues that practically any restaurant can benefit from going down.
For higher-cost orders, people tend to overwhelmingly prefer to pay with a card. That’s because it’s inconvenient, and risky, to lug around a lot of cash. People demand convenience when they pay, but as technology progresses, just accepting credit cards as a small business probably won’t get you all the way for long. With novel payment methods becoming standard, consumers are increasingly comfortable paying through apps, QR codes, NFC payments, and possibly more in the future.
Whether ordering is going on in your restaurant, or online, getting the order right is essential for customer satisfaction. Next generation hardware makes it possible to add an incredible amount of convenience to the process of getting an order right. Any tablet can be co-opted to assist the wait staff in getting the order placed quickly, and with another tablet in the kitchen displaying the orders as they come in, it can mean that the whole operation runs more smoothly.
The same goes for online ordering, which has come into vogue with restaurants in the grey area between fast food and nice sit-down restaurants. With any business, it’s all about giving your customers options, especially when those options are becoming the norm. With a digital infrastructure that allows your customers to order from their mobile and pick up at the store, you’re promoting yet another way for your customers to interact with you conveniently.
Some restaurants are late in the game to getting a social media presence, possibly because they are wary of the time commitment they think it might be. The thing is, it’s not just a way to put pictures of your steaks online. Social media has become far more integral in the marketing sphere, with the myriad tools that Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter use to advertise. If you’ve been dragging your feet, it may be time to take the plunge and see what you can realistically do. There are services designed just for small businesses, such as SproutSocial, which can take some of the effort out of getting it going.
If you’ve already started accepting credit cards as a small business, you’re doing well! But be sure to stay on top of all the useful technologies that have become available to restaurants, and get on board with the ones that can save you time and money.
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A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.
No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.
Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.
Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.
Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.
No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.
Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.
Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.
Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.
If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.
This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.
If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.
Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.
Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.
Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.
Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.
Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.
In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.
If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.
Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.
Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.
Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.
By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.