Running a restaurant is relentless. The last thing you need is an eftpos terminal that slows down service, doesn't talk to your POS, or costs more than it should. But that's exactly what happens when you set up payments without thinking about what your venue actually needs.
We work with restaurants and cafes across Australia every week, and the same issues come up constantly. Here's what to look for — and what to avoid — when choosing eftpos for your restaurant in 2026.
POS Integration Is Non-Negotiable
If your eftpos terminal doesn't integrate with your point-of-sale system, your staff are manually keying in every transaction amount. That means mistakes, slower service, and extra reconciliation at the end of every shift.
Integrated eftpos means the POS sends the transaction amount directly to the terminal — no manual entry, no typos, no discrepancies. The payment is automatically matched to the order, which makes your end-of-day reporting clean and your accountant happy.
Most modern POS systems (Lightspeed, Square POS, Kounta, Impos, H&L) support integration with multiple eftpos providers. But not every provider supports every POS. This is one of the first things we check when we compare providers for a restaurant — because if the terminal doesn't integrate with your POS, it's a non-starter.
Tipping Functionality
Tipping culture in Australia has shifted. More customers are tipping — but only if it's easy. If your eftpos terminal doesn't prompt for tips, you're leaving money on the table for your staff.
The best restaurant eftpos setups allow you to configure tipping prompts that appear before the customer taps or inserts their card. Common options include percentage-based tips (10%, 15%, 20%) or a custom amount. Some terminals also support tip-on-receipt for table service.
Not all providers handle tipping the same way. Some include it by default; others charge extra for the feature. Make sure you ask about tipping before you sign up.
Split Bills and Multi-Tender
Tables of six that want to split three ways. Someone paying half on card and half cash. The couple who want separate bills. If your eftpos system can't handle split payments smoothly, your Friday night service is going to suffer.
An integrated POS-and-eftpos setup makes split billing significantly easier. The POS splits the bill, sends each portion to the terminal separately, and everything is recorded automatically. On a standalone terminal, your staff have to manually calculate and key in each split — which is slow and error-prone during a busy service.
Speed at the Table
In hospitality, every second counts. A terminal that takes 10 seconds to process a transaction instead of 3 is the difference between clearing a table for the next booking and running behind all night.
Things that affect terminal speed include the connection type (Wi-Fi vs 4G vs Ethernet), the provider's processing infrastructure, and whether the terminal has the latest firmware. Portable terminals that staff can bring to the table are standard now for sit-down restaurants — nobody wants to queue at a counter to pay.
If your current terminal feels sluggish, it might not be the terminal's fault. Sometimes it's the internet connection, sometimes it's outdated software. But often, switching to a newer terminal or a different provider can dramatically improve processing speed.
Settlement Speed and Cash Flow
Restaurants have thin margins and high daily costs — wages, food orders, utilities. Waiting two or three days for your eftpos funds to settle can create cash flow problems, especially early in the week when you've just paid for a big weekend's worth of stock.
Same-day settlement is available from several providers we work with. Instead of your Saturday night's takings arriving on Tuesday, they hit your account on Saturday. For a busy venue, that's a significant difference.
Not every provider offers same-day settlement, and some charge extra for it. Through our network of 20+ providers, we can find the ones that offer it as standard for your transaction volume.
Free Eftpos vs Traditional — What Works for Restaurants?
A lot of restaurants use free/surcharging eftpos to eliminate processing fees entirely. The surcharge is passed to the customer, and the business keeps the full sale amount.
For casual dining, takeaway, and cafes, surcharging has become standard and customers rarely push back. For fine dining or premium venues, it's a different story — some owners feel surcharging doesn't fit their brand.
The good news is you don't have to choose blindly. We compare both models side by side for every restaurant we work with, so you can see the real dollar difference for your specific transaction volume and mix.
What Restaurants Often Get Wrong
After working with hundreds of hospitality businesses, here are the mistakes we see most:
- Signing up with their bank by default. Your bank's eftpos offering is rarely the best fit for hospitality. Independent providers like Tyro, Zeller, and others are purpose-built for high-volume, fast-paced environments.
- Ignoring integration. A standalone terminal might be cheaper upfront, but the labour cost of manual entry and reconciliation adds up fast.
- Not negotiating. Eftpos rates aren't fixed. They're negotiable — especially if you process decent volume. Most restaurant owners just accept the first rate they're quoted.
- Forgetting about perks. Some providers offer Qantas Points, cashback, or other rewards on your processing volume. A busy restaurant earning points on every transaction can accumulate serious value.
Let Us Do the Comparison
At Eftpos Brokers, we compare over 20 providers and specialise in hospitality. We'll check POS compatibility, tipping support, settlement speed, and overall value — then present you with the options that genuinely fit your venue.
The service is completely free (providers pay us a commission), and if we can't beat your current deal, we'll tell you straight.
Book your free consultation here or call us free on 1800 595 340.