As a small business, you need to be able to keep pace with customer payment trends. Card payments are rising – especially contactless ones – and providing the option to pay using cards will help you stay competitive in your local area.
Card machines can speed up the checkout process. Customers don’t want to dig into their pockets or count out change – they expect to pay quickly and conveniently. And when that’s what they get, they’re more likely to return to your business for future purchases.
The way a card machine works varies between providers. Some offer standalone card readers, while others are incorporated into point-of-sale (POS) hardware. Choose a provider that matches your needs and budget, taking into account any extra features you may require such as email receipts or QR code scanning.
Once a customer inserts, swipes or taps their card, the card reader sends this data to the processor who seeks authorization from the card-issuing bank to ensure the account has enough money to cover the purchase amount. The transaction is then approved and the money transferred to the business’s bank account, usually at the end of the day or at a set time.
Some providers offer a standalone mobile card reader, such as SumUp or Dojo Go, whilst others provide them alongside their payment processing services. These options are designed to be portable so that you can take them with you wherever you need to sell – for example, market stalls or pop up shops. card machines for small businesses