Hello, my name is Alan, aka TofuAlan, and I love Merchant Processing! I know that’s a strange thing to be passionate about, but when you manage a boutique merchant services company, it’s a bonus when you LOVE your business!
Since 2009, I have run a nonprofit that helps feed the homeless and hungry in Los Angeles. We are a bootstrapped volunteer organization, and every penny goes into creating resources, gathering socks and blankets, as well as making our signature product from scratch, a delicious vegan burrito. After all, our name is The Burrito Project!
In the early days, I was appalled by the fees we were paying to accept credit card donations for The Burrito Project. Most companies were charging us upwards of 5% for the privilege of using their service. When we received a $100 donation, over $5 was gone in fees. Do you know how many more mouths I could feed with that extra $5??
Knowing that I am a serial entrepreneur, one of the volunteers jokingly suggested that I start my own merchant service company and give The Burrito Project a better deal. That’s how Vegan Credit Card Processing was born.
We have since rebranded to VCCP.biz, but our core values remain rooted in helping nonprofits thrive by creating symbiotic partnerships with our core business partners, restaurants, and bars.
When I put on my other business hat, I specialize in designing restaurants and bars, helping them obtain their beer & wine, as well as full liquor licenses. I also provide them with their point-of-sale system and devices.
When I visited many of my friends and business owners who owned restaurants and bars, I could see firsthand the challenges they faced in running their businesses. I made it my mission to find a POS that could solve as many of those challenges as possible.
In February 2025, at the CardConnect Roadshow in San Diego, I met representatives from UNION for the first time. I was intrigued enough by their offerings that I accepted a bottle opener and their business card. I tossed both of them into my SWAG bag.
Almost 6 months later, my wife asked if I had a bottle opener we could take to a picnic in the park. I dug through the swag bag, found the bottle opener, and my eyes settled on the UNION business card.
I designed a basement bar in downtown LA, and just that week, the owner and I had a conversation about life, but we also had a quick chat about his business and a few growing pains he was having with his POS system. I booked a UNION demo for him, and he was blown away!
As the agent, I sat in on the demo and could see firsthand the responses this frazzled bar owner had to the Union VOS and its numerous features. I realized right then, I had found the solution I was looking for.
YES, it took me over 6 months to realize the answer I was looking for was already in my bag. I was like Dumbo looking for my magic feather when I had the power to fly all along. I don’t want you to waste any time either. Let’s schedule a demo for you so you can experience the MAGIC of the UNION Venue Operating System and see how it can revolutionize your customer engagement.
You are the HERO in this story! I am your humble guide who found a solution that may work perfectly for you. A UNION EXPERT is standing by to show you the POWER your business holds.
Thank you for reading this far, and I hope to learn more about you and your business. With a quick text, I can connect you with an expert who can answer all your questions.
Cheers!
Alan – (213) 841-9988