Restaurant payment processing that keeps the line moving
Restaurants run on thin margins, so card fees matter more here than almost anywhere. PayVault sets up restaurants on PayVault Signature, built for hospitality, with the POS and payment tools a busy floor needs and pricing explained line by line.
By Josh Elsass, PresidentLast reviewed November 4, 2026
What your floor needs from payments
| Need | How PayVault handles it |
|---|---|
| Pay at the table | Handheld devices such as Clover Flex and Genius handhelds, so the card never leaves the guest's sight |
| Tips and tip-outs | Tip prompts on the device, tip adjustments after the sale, and tip reports by server |
| Split checks | Split by seat, by item or evenly from the POS |
| Online ordering | Online orders flow into the same POS and the same deposit on Clover, Genius and Square |
| Counter service and kiosks | Countertop systems and self-order kiosks for quick-service spots |
| Card fees | Interchange-plus or flat-rate pricing, or a compliant surcharging or dual pricing program |
| Security | PCI DSS Level 1 platforms, point-to-point encryption and tokenization (how we protect card data) |
Set up for how you serve
Full service
Dining rooms and bars
Pay-at-table handhelds, tip adjustments, split checks and a kitchen display or printer.
Quick service
Counters and cafes
Fast countertop checkout, a kiosk or online ordering, and a customer-facing screen for tips.
Restaurants run on PayVault Signature, our hospitality platform. Comparing systems? See Clover vs Square vs Genius, or every way we help restaurants take payments.
Can a restaurant pass card fees to guests?
Yes, if it's done the compliant way. A credit card surcharge is capped at 3% and isn't allowed on debit cards. Dual pricing and cash discounts have no percentage cap, but the menu must show both prices clearly.
Surcharging & dual pricing
The rules, state by state, with menu examples
Our surcharging guide covers what to post, what goes on the receipt, and which states restrict surcharges.
Read the surcharging guideCommon questions
What is the best payment processor for a restaurant?
The one with the lowest effective rate on your card mix that also supports pay-at-table and tips. A rate review shows you both.
Can I keep my current POS?
Usually not if you're changing processors, because POS hardware is generally set up for the provider that sold it. We look at what you have before recommending anything.
How do I lower restaurant card fees?
Pass the fee to guests with a compliant dual pricing or surcharging program, move to interchange-plus pricing, tap or dip cards instead of keying them, and batch every night.
Can online orders go into my POS?
Yes. On Clover, Genius and Square, online orders flow into the same POS and the same deposit.
About the author
Josh Elsass
President, PayVault Solutions
Josh Elsass is President of PayVault Solutions, where he leads merchant sales and the agent and ISO partner channel. A payments executive with more than two decades of sales leadership in payment processing and business financing, he has worked with thousands of small businesses and enterprises nationwide and has been part of three successful company exits, building the sales channel behind each one. Before PayVault, he served as Chief Sales Officer and then President, Operating Companies at Simpay, where he strengthened every sales channel and oversaw day-to-day operations. Josh has built his career on one conviction: the best companies value clients, partners and employees equally. At PayVault, that means pricing explained line by line for every merchant and terms in writing for every sales partner.
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