Getting Started With Credit Card Processing
If you’re a new business looking into accepting credit card payments, the "where do I begin" question may seem a little daunting. Don’t let the fancy technology and all of the payment industry lingo overwhelm you.
Once you understand these few essential concepts, you can begin accepting credit card payments with peace of mind knowing that you have the correct setup for your business.
The Very First Step
Before you can accept credit or debit card payments from your customers, you must first be setup with a merchant account through a payment processor. A merchant account will be separate from your business bank account. In effect, it serves as a contract among three parties: your business, your payment processor, and your merchant bank for the purpose of dealing with customer payments.
Choosing your payment processor is a very important decision. Make sure to thoroughly review the rates and fees that any potential processor is proposing. Ask them about any hidden fees, equipment costs, access to customer support, your contract duration, and lastly, ask for multiple references that you can directly contact.
Getting the Equipment
Once you have decided on which payment processing company you will use, you must procure the point-of-sale hardware or software that will be needed to process your customers payments. One important thing to keep in mind is that all of this must comply with payment industry security standards, which protect both you and your credit card processing company, as well as the people who buy your products and services.
Choosing Your Hardware
Your point-of-sale (POS) terminal will be the mechanism you use to take payments when your customer is physically present. In addition, a modern POS system will include capabilities that allow you to track sales and inventory, handle exchanges and returns and even reward loyal patrons.
When researching your POS options, you will soon discover that they vary widely. Choosing the system that will best suit your needs means understanding what you want it to achieve.
A simple terminal or card reader will allow you to accept payments, but you may also want a software component that allows you to run your store and market to your customers. Simple software often comes with a credit card reader, but you may want more bells and whistles depending on how you intend to use technology to grow your business.
In terms of hardware, let your business’s size and scope determine what you select. For instance, a small store may only need a tablet equipped with a card reader that integrates into a cloud-based POS platform. On the other hand, a large restaurant will probably need a POS terminal, a card reader, a receipt printer, and a kitchen printer – all of which work in tandem with one another.
If your business takes you on the road or you want your POS to have flexibility to move about your location, a mobile point of sale may be the right choice. Accepting payments with a mobile reader has several advantages. For one thing, you can email customers receipts rather than printing them. Also, tasks such as sending out invoices, running inventory reports, and managing customer accounts can be done from anywhere as long as you have a cell signal or are connected to Wi-Fi.
When deciding which POS equipment to use, be sure to consider the following:
- Is it easy to use
- Is it cost-effective
- Integrates well with other software you already use
- Automates processes as much as possible to minimize human errors
- Provides flexibility to accept payments anywhere
- Tracks sales, inventory and customer behavior
- Costs for replacements or to add additional readers / devices
Once you have come up with a few viable options, you can come to a clear understanding of what features are indispensable to you and which you might be willing to forego.
Accepting Online Payments
These days, more and more businesses operate online only or have a thriving internet marketplace in addition to their physical store. With each passing year, it becomes more financially desirable to participate in e-commerce. When you decide to take the plunge, you need to figure out how you are going to accept card-not-present online payments.
Believe it or not, you probably already have the majority of what you will require. If you have a PC or laptop connected to the internet, you can easily turn it into a virtual credit card processing terminal.
Adding a payment gateway enables your customers to pay for their items right on your website and to create an account that will make future purchases easier. You also have the option to bill customers by email via click-to-pay email invoicing or to set up recurring billing.
Taking Mobile Payments
Since virtually every potential customer has a smartphone, many businesses are choosing to enter the realm of accepting mobile payments. Once you are equipped and ready to accept mobile payments, customers have the option to swipe or dip their traditional card, or they can make a contactless or NFC payment by putting their phone near your or terminal that’s enabled to accept NFC payments.
You may also want to take advantage of the smartphone phenomenon by using a POS that can alert customers on their phones regarding a flash sale or promotion when they get within a mile of your location. Using push messages and text alerts can be effective since impulse buying makes up a significant chunk of customer purchases.
No matter how you slice it, your business needs a healthy, ongoing flow of income in order to grow and succeed. Adding different ways to accept your customers’ payments helps to ensure that you capture as many sales as possible.
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