Tabs, pre-authorizations, tips and late hours: cost, support and POS integration weigh more.
Weigh more here than in the overall ranking: 12-month cost of the reference restaurant, works with restaurant POS systems, offers dual pricing or a surcharge program, works without the vendor's own POS, 24/7 support, and support channels. Weigh less here: what leaving in month 12 costs, contract term, no equipment lease you can't cancel, automatic renewal, and equipment works with another processor.
The ranking
Heartland
By Heartland (Global Payments)
Heartland's card processing (Global Payments), sold with or without its Genius and Heartland Restaurant POS: an advertised starting rate for in-person sales (your rate is quoted), a 36-month agreement with a $295 early termination fee per location in its posted terms, next-day deposits, and surcharge and cash discount programs. Its monthly, PCI, statement and batch fees aren't published.
RTC SCORE
5.1
#1 for Bars and nightclubs
Pros
- Publishes a fixed early termination fee in its posted terms ($295 per location).
- Next-day deposits, with same-day and instant options.
- 24/7 support by phone, chat and email.
Cons
- The monthly Service and Regulatory Mandate fee and the PCI, statement, batch, annual and chargeback fees aren't published, so the full cost can't be calculated before you get a quote.
- 36-month term that renews for 12 months unless you give 60 days' written notice.
- Fees can rise with 15 days' notice, and the posted terms offer no way out without the early termination fee when they do.
- Initial term
- 36 months
Strongest on standard deposit speed, what leaving in month 12 costs, and 24/7 support. Weakest on published pricing.
Shift4
By Shift4
Shift4's card processing, required with Shift4 POS: 2.75% + 15¢ in person on Standard Pricing, or its Advantage Program (dual pricing) so your customers pay the card cost. The processing agreement runs 36 months, with annual fees per device, $0.40 per batch and liquidated damages per device for each month left.
RTC SCORE
4.4
#2 for Bars and nightclubs
Pros
- The Advantage Program (dual pricing, a supplemental fee or a cash discount) covers every card, so your customers pay the card cost.
- Deposits the next business day by default, and same-day funding is available.
- 24/7 in-house phone support.
Cons
- 36-month term with automatic one-year renewals; leaving early costs a monthly amount per device, from $100 to $750 by volume, for each month left.
- Annual fees per device: $250 program fee and $189.99 regulatory (PCI) fee.
- The monthly administration and premium support fees vary by merchant, and online and keyed-in rates aren't published, so we can't calculate its full cost.
- Initial term
- 36 months
Strongest on standard deposit speed, 24/7 support, and published pricing. Weakest on what leaving in month 12 costs.
Not enough verified data to rank
We only rank a processor once we've verified enough of its key facts. These are listed so you know we looked at them.
This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.