How Restaurants Can Pay Food Suppliers by Credit Card

How Restaurants Can Pay Food Suppliers and Distributors by Credit Card (and Earn on Every Order)

It's 1am after close and you're doing the books: an e-Transfer to the produce guy, a cheque for the meat distributor, a pre-authorized debit for the lease, the CRA portal for GST/HST, and a login you barely remember for the linen company. You didn't open a restaurant to become its accounts-payable department.

With Chexy, every one of those bills runs through one dashboard, paid on your credit card — even when the supplier doesn't take cards. They get paid by e-Transfer, pre-authorized debit, or Bill Pay like they always have. You get your nights back, weeks of float, and points on your biggest expense: food.

Can restaurants pay food distributors with a credit card?

Yes. Chexy charges your card and pays your distributor by the method they already accept. Broadline distributors, local farms, specialty importers, your bakery, your beverage rep — nothing changes on their end. And because food and beverage orders are goods purchased for business use, they're Amex-eligible, alongside Visa and Mastercard.

What restaurant bills can go on which card?

Amex-eligible (also fine on Visa or Mastercard):

• Food and beverage orders from any distributor or supplier
• Kitchen equipment — ovens, fryers, refrigeration, smallwares
• Linens, glassware, packaging, cleaning supplies (the goods, not the service)
• Commercial insurance premiums
• GST/HST remittances, payroll source deductions, property tax
• Utilities — gas, hydro, water, internet
• Advertising and marketing spend

Please note: Amex payments are ultimately subject to review by our compliance team, and eligibility depends on the payee.

Visa or Mastercard:

• Your kitchen and dining room lease
• Cleaning and hood-vent services, pest control, equipment repair services
• POS and reservation software subscriptions
• Renovations and contractors

What does the math look like for a restaurant?

Say your food cost runs $30,000/month. Food and beverage orders sit at 2.40%, so the fee is $720. A card earning 1.25 points per dollar gives you 37,500 points a month — worth at least $750 at 2 cents per point redeemed for travel. So the points cover the fee, and the fee is generally a deductible business expense, which lowers its real cost again.

You also keep the cash longer. Paid from your bank account, that $30,000 is gone the day each invoice is due. On a card, it stays with you until your statement is due — weeks later. In an industry where cash flow is everything, that's real breathing room.

And most of your other bills — the lease, insurance, utilities, GST/HST, ad spend — sit at the lower 1.99% rate, where the points come out ahead of the fee.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay my food distributor with Amex?

Yes — food and beverage orders are goods purchased for business use, which is an Amex-supported category on Chexy, subject to review and payee eligibility. Visa and Mastercard work too.

Can I pay my restaurant lease with a credit card?

Yes, with Visa or Mastercard. Commercial rent isn't supported on Amex, but it runs normally on the other networks and your landlord is paid by their usual method.

Can I pay GST/HST with a credit card?

Yes — CRA remittances, including GST/HST and payroll deductions, can be paid by card, including Amex.

My supplier only takes cheques. Does this still work?

Yes. Chexy pays them by e-Transfer, pre-authorized debit, or Bill Pay — you never write a cheque again, and they still get paid the way they expect.

Get your nights back. Every supplier, every bill, one dashboard — and points on every food order. Get started with Chexy for Business →