Start with the offer, not the plastic
The most common launch mistake is ordering cards before deciding what the program is supposed to do. Are you driving holiday revenue, building repeat visits, or replacing paper certificates? Write that down first — it decides your denominations, your bonus-card structure, and your signage.
The checklist
- Define the goal and the season you are launching into.
- Approve card artwork (Factor4 charges no design fee).
- Configure the Factor4 integration inside Toast POS.
- Turn on 24/7 online gift card sales from your website.
- Train staff on selling, activating, and checking balances.
- Set up reporting so you can see liability and redemption weekly.
- Promote it — in-store, email, and social — for at least three weeks.
A gift card program with no promotion behind it typically sells a fraction of what the same program does with three weeks of consistent in-store and email pushes.
Where to go deeper
If you are switching from another provider, read how to switch gift card providers on Toast. Running more than one location? See multi-location gift cards.