Are mobile credit card readers a good choice for small businesses?

We've been hearing it for years, we're moving toward a cashless society. 与 85% of Americans owning a smart phone that statement might not be so hard to believe anymore.

实体零售店的老板们无疑看到了用信用卡或借记卡支付的顾客比例的上升. This cashless trend is a result of increased use of mobile devices to make and receive payments. 像这样, 一些公司已经发明了移动读卡器:一种专门为移动电话使用的插入式设备, which increases a user's ability to efficiently and securely take payments.

Instead of the traditional bulky, 硬线读卡器, 这些小, lightweight mobile readers plug directly into a smartphone or tablet, 连接无线网络, 并允许店员或销售人员在商店内外的任何地方使用信用卡或借记卡.

For the larger-scale business owner, 移动读卡器可以改变商店的动态，也可以改变店员与顾客互动或进行销售的方式.

For the smaller business operator, who may or may not have a brick-and-mortar operation, 这些读卡器允许银行卡交易，而以前现金交易是唯一的选择.

As fewer people carry large amounts of cash, mobile readers can be a game changer for those who run on-the-go businesses, such as food trucks and on-site repair services, or those who do most of their sales from booths at trade shows, 工艺品集市.

Should you use a mobile card reader?

• Consider your customers' purchasing attitudes and habits. 对无现金支付的接受程度因客户和消费者群体而异. So, 考虑一下你的客户对手机读卡器的反应和适应情况.
  • Are they moving away from carrying cash and would appreciate the card option?
  • Would they feel comfortable having their card swiped on a smartphone or tablet?
• Ask yourself: Will adding a mobile payment option open new revenue streams? 平板电脑或智能手机的读卡器可以让你以你以前从未想过的方式和领域实现更多的销售.
• Weigh the fees against projected profits. 您的企业是否能够通过使用移动读卡器实现足够的购卡销售，从而抵消相关的移动读卡器费用?

Mobile card reader price and fees

• 研究 your options when choosing a processing provider. 除了银行, 目前有几十家公司专门从事手机卡购买业务. 一定要:
  • Shop around, compare prices and plans; make sure you're dealing with a reputable company.
  • Ask other business owners about their experiences with the companies they may be using; ask what their opinions are of specific mobile card readers.
• Decide if you want a pay-per-use (pay-as-you-go) or a contract plan. 有两点需要考虑:
  • If your business will be processing less than $2,000 a month in card-payment sales, you may want to consider pay-per-use.
  • 如果处理少于2美元,000 most months but have peak periods when you exceed that, 你需要计算一年的平均费用，看看合同计划是否更有意义.
• 小心隐性费用. Look at each processing company's various rates and 每次购买处理费. 密切关注与卡购买销售的数量和平均价值相关的任何费用.
• 选择信用卡读卡器 . 的 获得设备的成本 could be anyw在这里 from free to hundreds of dollars. 的 monthly fees will vary depending on the services you select.

How do I start using a mobile card reader?