Restaurants & Food Service
Complete Payment Solutions for Dining
From quick service to fine dining, your restaurant needs payment technology that keeps up with your kitchen. Unison Payment Solutions delivers integrated POS systems and processing that streamline operations and delight guests.
Payment Processing for Restaurants & Food Service
Restaurant payment technology has evolved far beyond simple card terminals. Today's solutions are complete operational platforms that manage orders, inventory, employees, customers, and payments as an integrated system. Unison Payment Solutions provides these comprehensive solutions tailored to every type of food service operation.
The right POS system for your restaurant depends on your concept. Quick-service operations need speed above all—big buttons, minimal screens, and transactions completed in seconds. Full-service restaurants require table management, course timing, and tableside payment capability. Bars need tab management and speed ordering. We match you with the right system for how you actually operate.
Our restaurant partnerships include industry leaders like Aloha, Clover, and other restaurant-focused platforms. Each has strengths for different concepts. Aloha brings decades of full-service refinement. Clover offers versatility and modern design. Toast provides cloud-native architecture. We help you evaluate options and implement the right fit.
Tableside payment with devices like Clover Flex transforms the guest experience. Bring the check to the table, process payment on the spot, and turn tables faster. Studies show tableside payment increases tips while reducing wait times. It's technology that pays for itself.
Online ordering integration is essential in today's environment. Orders from your website, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and other channels should flow directly to your kitchen without tablet farms or manual entry. We integrate ordering channels with your POS for unified operations.
Kitchen display systems eliminate ticket confusion and improve timing. Digital screens in the kitchen show orders clearly, track prep time, and coordinate courses. Integration with the POS means information flows automatically from order to kitchen to expo.
Tip management for restaurants is complex—tip pooling, service charges, credit card tip distribution, and tip reporting all require careful handling. Our systems support flexible tip configurations while maintaining compliance with labor regulations.
Industry Challenges
- Complex tip management and distribution
- Peak hour transaction speed requirements
- Online ordering integration across multiple platforms
- Table management for full-service operations
- Staff training with high turnover
- Kitchen communication and order timing
- Delivery service reconciliation
- Menu updates across multiple channels
Our Solutions
- Restaurant-specific POS systems (Aloha, Clover, Toast)
- Tableside payment devices for faster turns
- Unified online ordering integration
- Digital kitchen display systems
- Flexible tip pooling and distribution
- Easy-to-learn interfaces for quick training
- Delivery platform integrations
- Centralized menu management
Benefits for Your Business
What We Offer for Restaurants & Food Service
Comprehensive solutions designed for your specific industry needs.
Tableside Payment
Clover Flex and similar devices bring the check to the table. Complete transactions faster, turn tables sooner, and increase tips with customer-facing payment.
Online Ordering Integration
Orders from your website and delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub) flow directly to your POS and kitchen. No tablet farms, no manual entry.
Kitchen Display Systems
Digital kitchen screens replace paper tickets. Clear display, timing visibility, course coordination. Integration with POS for automatic order flow.
Tip Management
Flexible tip configurations—pooling, individual assignment, service charges. Compliant distribution and reporting. Credit card tip processing built in.
Menu Management
Update menus across all channels from one dashboard. Price changes, item additions, 86'd items—all synced automatically.
Table Management
Visual floor plans, waitlist management, reservation integration. Optimize seating and track table status in real-time.
Recommended Hardware
Recommended Services
Apply for Restaurants & Food Service Payment Processing
Getting started is quick and easy. The entire application takes less than 10 minutes.
What You Need to Apply
- Basic business details (name, address, EIN)
- Recent processing statement (if switching providers)
- Voided check for deposit setup
Approval Timeline
Most businesses get approved within 24–48 hours. No hard credit pull. No obligation. Our team matches you with the right bank and setup for your business.
Setup & Onboarding
Once approved, we configure your terminal or gateway with your settings:
- Tax rates and tip options
- Receipt branding and employee access
- Software integrations
- Free training for your team
Transparent Pricing
We use interchange-plus pricing. You pay the wholesale rate plus a small markup. No hidden fees. No long-term contracts. No early termination penalties.
Your dedicated account manager monitors your account. They help optimize your setup and are always a call away.
Payment Methods for Restaurants & Food Service Businesses
Customers expect to pay their way. Accept every major payment type through one account.
Credit & Debit Cards
- Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover
- EMV chip, contactless tap, and swipe
- Over 70% of in-person transactions use cards
- Interchange-plus pricing keeps debit rates low
Contactless & Mobile Wallets
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay
- Faster checkout and shorter lines
- Qualifies for lower card-present rates
- All our POS terminals support NFC out of the box
ACH & Bank Transfers
Great for large transactions, recurring billing, and B2B invoices. Fees are a fraction of credit card rates. Learn about ACH processing →
Online & Invoice Payments
Need eCommerce, virtual terminals, or pay-by-link invoices? Our payment gateway handles it all. Add buy now, pay later (Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna) to boost order values.
Reducing Payment Processing Costs for Restaurants & Food Service
Processing fees rank among the top business expenses — right behind rent and payroll. Most owners don't realize they're overpaying.
See What You're Really Paying
Flat-rate and tiered pricing hide the real costs. Interchange fees, assessment fees, and markup get bundled together. You can't tell what goes to the card networks versus your processor.
Interchange-plus pricing separates these costs. You see the wholesale rate on every transaction plus a clear markup. No guessing.
Real Savings Examples
- Processing $30K/month? A 0.5% rate cut saves $1,800/year
- Typical savings when switching: 20–40% of total fees
- Annual savings often reach $3,000–$10,000+
Eliminate Fees Entirely
Our cash discount program lets you pass processing costs to card users. Cash customers get a discount. Card customers pay the listed price. It's legal in all 50 states.
- Configured on your terminal by our team
- No ongoing management needed
- Redirect savings into payroll, marketing, or growth
Payment Security for Restaurants & Food Service Businesses
Every transaction must be secure. We keep your restaurants & food service business PCI-compliant and protected.
Built-In Security Features
- Point-to-point encryption (P2PE) — Card data is encrypted the moment a card is tapped, dipped, or swiped
- Tokenization — Stored card numbers are replaced with non-reversible tokens. Safe for recurring billing
- PCI DSS compliance — Pre-certified hardware and guided questionnaires make certification simple
- Real-time fraud monitoring — Suspicious activity is flagged before it becomes a dispute
Why Compliance Matters
A data breach can cost $5,000–$100,000/month in fines. It also damages customer trust. We make compliance easy with pre-certified hardware, secure processing, and step-by-step guidance.
Chargeback Protection
Our chargeback protection adds another layer of defense:
- Early warning alerts before disputes are filed
- Automated evidence gathering for faster responses
- Dispute management to help you win cases and recover revenue
Best POS Systems for Restaurants & Food Service Businesses
The right POS system speeds up checkout, cuts admin time, and gives you real business insights. We carry the top brands.
Clover POS
- Options from mobile (Clover Go) to full station (Clover Station)
- App marketplace for loyalty, inventory, scheduling, and more
- Cloud dashboard — manage sales and reports from anywhere
PAX Technology
- Reliable, fast, and affordable
- PAX A920 and A920Pro — Android-based smart terminals
- Great for businesses that want a solid terminal without a full POS overhead
Dejavoo
- Compact, durable, and fast
- Handles high-volume periods without slowing down
- Supports chip, tap, and swipe payments
Not Sure Which to Pick?
Our team reviews your volume, workflow, features, and budget. We recommend the best fit. Every terminal ships pre-configured with free setup and training. Browse all POS systems →
How to Switch Your Restaurants & Food Service Payment Processor
Switching payment processors sounds complicated. It is not. Most restaurants & food service businesses complete the transition in under a week with zero downtime. Here is exactly what happens when you move to Unison Payment Solutions.
Step 1: Free Statement Analysis
Send us your most recent processing statement. Our team breaks it down line by line. We identify your effective rate, hidden fees, and exactly where you are overpaying. Most merchants discover they are paying 30 to 50 percent more than they need to. This analysis is free and comes with no obligation.
Step 2: Custom Pricing Proposal
Based on your transaction volume, average ticket size, and card mix, we build a pricing proposal specific to your restaurants & food service business. We use interchange-plus pricing so you see the wholesale cost and our markup separately. No bundled rates. No surprises.
Step 3: Application and Approval
The application takes less than 10 minutes. We need your business name, EIN, owner information, and a voided check for deposits. Standard accounts are approved within 24 to 48 hours. No hard credit pull required.
Step 4: Equipment Setup
Your new equipment arrives pre-configured and ready to process. We program your tax rates, tip settings, receipt branding, and menu items before shipping. Plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and start accepting payments. Our team walks you through everything by phone or video call.
Step 5: Ongoing Support
Your dedicated account manager monitors your account after setup. They review your statements monthly, flag any rate increases from the card networks, and suggest optimizations. You have direct phone and email access. No call centers, no hold queues, no ticket systems.
Common Payment Processing Mistakes in Restaurants & Food Service
Most restaurants & food service business owners lose money on payment processing because of avoidable mistakes. Here are the most common ones we see and how to fix them.
Staying on Flat-Rate Pricing Too Long
Flat-rate processors like Square and Stripe charge a single rate on every transaction, typically 2.6 percent plus 10 cents for card-present transactions. This is convenient but expensive. Once you process more than about $5,000 per month, interchange-plus pricing almost always saves money. The more you process, the bigger the gap.
Ignoring Your Processing Statement
Your monthly statement tells you exactly what you are paying. Most merchants never read it. Look for your effective rate by dividing total fees by total volume. If the number is above 2.5 percent for card-present transactions, you are likely overpaying. Unison clients typically achieve effective rates between 1.5 and 2.2 percent.
Not Using EMV Chip Readers
If a customer uses a chip card and you swipe instead of dip, you are liable for any fraud on that transaction. EMV chip readers also qualify transactions for lower interchange rates. Every terminal we provide supports chip, tap, and swipe payments.
Overlooking PCI Compliance
PCI compliance is required for every business that accepts cards. Non-compliance fees range from $20 to $100 per month. A data breach can cost $5,000 to $100,000 or more. Our PCI-certified terminals and guided compliance questionnaire make certification straightforward.
Signing Long-Term Contracts
Many processors lock merchants into 3-year contracts with early termination fees of $300 to $500. We do not require long-term contracts. Process month to month. If you are not happy, you can leave at any time without penalty.
Restaurants & Food Service Payment Processing FAQs
What POS systems do you offer for restaurants?
We provide Aloha, Clover, Toast integrations, and several other restaurant-focused systems. The right choice depends on your concept—quick service, full service, bar-focused, etc. We help you evaluate options and recommend the best fit.
Can you integrate with delivery apps?
Yes, we integrate with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and other delivery platforms. Orders flow directly to your POS and kitchen, eliminating manual entry and tablet clutter.
How do you handle tip adjustments?
Our systems support pre-auth with tip adjust, tip prompting at checkout, and various tip pooling configurations. Tips are tracked by server, distributed according to your policies, and reported accurately for payroll.
Do you offer tableside payment devices?
Yes, devices like Clover Flex enable tableside payment. Bring the check to the table, process payment, print receipt—all without returning to a fixed terminal. Faster turns, better tips.
How difficult is staff training?
Modern restaurant POS systems are designed for quick training. Intuitive touchscreen interfaces, clear button layouts, and visual workflows mean new staff become productive quickly—critical with restaurant turnover.
Can I manage multiple locations?
Yes, our restaurant solutions support multi-location management. Consolidated reporting, menu sync across locations, and enterprise dashboards provide visibility across your operation.
Your Trusted Restaurants & Food Service Payment Partner
Unison Payment Solutions has worked with hundreds of restaurants & food service businesses across the United States. We understand the specific challenges, compliance requirements, and payment workflows that restaurants & food service merchants face every day. Our goal is simple: give you the lowest possible rates, the best hardware, and support from someone who actually knows your industry.
Unlike aggregators that treat every business the same, we build custom solutions. Your pricing is based on your actual transaction data. Your terminal is configured for your menu, your tax rates, and your workflow. Your account manager works with restaurants & food service merchants regularly and can answer questions specific to your business.
Whether you are opening your first location, switching from another processor, or expanding to multiple sites, we make the process straightforward. Apply in minutes. Get approved quickly. Start saving from your very first batch.
Ready to see how much you could save? Request a free statement analysis or use our savings calculator to estimate your potential savings right now.
Ready to Transform Your Payment Processing?
Get a free consultation and discover how much you could save with Unison Payment Solutions. No obligation, no pressure.