The Canadian government’s recent announcement of a holiday tax break on GST/HST for meals is a game-changer for the restaurant industry. This initiative is designed to make dining out more affordable, encouraging Canadians to visit their favorite restaurants more often. This is a golden opportunity for restaurant operators to attract new customers and strengthen relationships with existing ones.

At Smooth Commerce, we understand that navigating policy changes like this can be challenging. That’s why we’re here to ensure your restaurant takes full advantage of this tax break while continuing to offer an exceptional dining experience.

The Opportunity for Restaurants

With reduced GST/HST on meals, the policy provides two immediate benefits:

  1. Increased Affordability for Customers: Lower tax rates mean customers can enjoy their meals at a reduced overall cost, making pick-up and delivery out more attractive, especially during the busy holiday season.
  2. Boost in Restaurant Visits: Lower prices often lead to increased foot traffic, helping restaurants boost revenue and improve customer loyalty.

How Smooth Commerce Helps You Maximize the Benefits

Here’s how Smooth Commerce empowers restaurants to seamlessly manage this tax break and capture new opportunities:

1. Effortless Tax Adjustments

Our platform allows you to easily update GST/HST rates across your menu using our Merchant Portal. Whether you operate a single restaurant or a multi-location chain, you can:

  • Adjust tax settings in a few clicks.
  • Ensure accuracy across all menu items for in-house dining, takeout, and delivery.

2. Accurate and Transparent Pricing

Customers value transparency, especially when it comes to pricing. Smooth’s web and mobile ordering platform automatically reflect updated tax rates, ensuring your customers see accurate totals at checkout.

3. Seamless Integration with POS and Reporting Tools

With POS integration and a robust reporting suite, you can monitor the impact of the GST/HST break on your sales and customer behavior. Gain insights into:

  • How tax savings influence customer orders.
  • Revenue growth trends during the tax break period.

4. Enhanced Customer Engagement and Loyalty

Lower meal costs create a prime opportunity to build stronger relationships with your customers. Smooth’s marketing and engagement tools enable you to:

  • Promote the tax break with targeted campaigns and digital offers.
  • Encourage repeat visits through personalized loyalty programs.

Preparing for the Change

Implementing this tax break requires a proactive approach. Here are a few steps to get started:

  1. Update Tax Settings: Use Smooth’s Merchant Portal to align with the government’s new tax policies.
  2. Train Staff: Ensure your team understands the new rates and can communicate them effectively to customers.
  3. Promote the Savings: Leverage Smooth’s marketing tools to highlight the reduced costs, encouraging customers to dine with you.

Why Act Now?

The GST/HST tax break is a limited-time opportunity, and the restaurants that adapt quickly stand to benefit the most. With Smooth Commerce, you can seamlessly implement the changes and focus on delivering memorable dining experiences.

Our platform is designed to give you control, flexibility, and insights to navigate industry changes with confidence. If you’re not already using Smooth, now is the perfect time to explore how our solution can transform your business.

Ready to Get Started?

For our existing clients, we’ve prepared a detailed guide on updating your GST/HST settings in the CMS. Check out our Knowledge Base for instructions.

Not a Smooth Commerce client yet? Contact us today to learn how we can help you leverage this tax break and drive long-term growth for your restaurant.

Let’s make this holiday season one to remember—for both your restaurant and your customers!