For new business owners and those who have been running an establishment for ages alike, the switch to something new can sometimes take a lot of energy. Fortunately, there's no reason to be obsessing over the benefits and disadvantages of deciding to upgrade from a cash-only environment to something more contemporary. Whether it's hesitation about training the staff to handle credit cards or a concern that the amount that gets paid out to the companies in charge of payment processing is going to be too much to make it profitable, the fact is that moving forward in a tumultuous economy is almost essential for continued success. Those who are on the verge of making the move can understand exactly how the new guard works without doing too much research. In fact, here are five easy steps that will begin to feel like second nature after a few months, and will net plenty of profit to make the switch worthwhile.

#1 - The installation of machines that are necessary for next-level payment processing. These are an important part of making a move forward, but there's nothing to fear. Read manuals, talk to the people who deliver them, and ensure that they are ready to do their job before unleashing them upon the masses.

#2 - A quick refresher course for employees who have done it before--and introduction for those who haven't. It's crucial to check up that everyone who is in charge of settling bills knows exactly how to swipe a card and handle a transaction, but payment processing with cards also isn't rocket science. Go over things clearly once, after understanding them personally, and see how much quicker service happens to fly by.

#3 - A switch in advertising to alert people of their new options. Update a website, put out a promotion in an advertisement in print, and simply make the most of alerting customers who are loyal that they have more payment processing options now. It might mean people come in who love a place and end up spending more, and they also might end up recommending a spot to their friends who were previously gun-shy over the whole world of cash-only, preferring to frequent places where cards were taken, too.

#4 - Making it clear for foot traffic. Those who might be walking by an establishment for the first or 40th time need to know that they are not dealing with a cash-only environment anymore. Be clear to advertise payment processing just like any new change to business would be presented; put out the signs from credit card companies, update one's Facebook page or website, and generally make it clear that things are new and exciting. This way, those who happen to be passing by might feel compelled to come in and browse, knowing that if they do decide to make a purchase, it can be charged. The same goes for bars and restaurants; new patrons who previously didn't have cash on hand might be more inclined to try things out, especially if it's a spot that is close to their home. And this means more regulars--and more profit, all with a simple move to different payment processing options.

#5 - Learning how to check up on non-cash purchases. Payment processing is far less arduous than business owners might think, but it always makes sense to figure out all aspects of something new. So rather than assuming that receipts are telling a proper story, once a month, it's worthwhile to go through all transactions that were not cash-based, to ensure that employees are doing what they need to be doing and that everything is being handled with care. After learning to eyeball the figures, it becomes a lot easier to check up on everything, and there is far less stress on the part of the person in charge. Meanwhile, profits will likely have never been better, so there's definitely something to celebrate about.