Easy Payment Processing Solutions for Retail Businesses
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Posted On :
Jul-15-2010
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Article Word Count :
947
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If you run a retail business, you already work hard. When you can find a way to make the work a little bit easier, take it.
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If you run a retail business, you already work hard. When you can find a way to make the work a little bit easier, take it. That’s the thought behind some easy payment processing solutions.
When you have a long line of customers – whether online or in a bricks-and-mortar store – you want to move them through quickly and efficiently. But, you also want to make sure the payments are processed correctly. The last thing you need is for your equipment to fail, your software to crash or a bad credit card sale to go through.
You already know that accepting credit cards will make life a little easier for you because your business will grow. In fact, people will spend up to 30 percent more with a credit card than they will if they’re paying with cash for the transaction. But credit cards also offer your customers easy, flexible payment options. Their transactions will be secure and they can send their worries out the window.
In order to create this safe environment, you need to find the right payment processing system. You need a system that can handle payments made via credit cards, debit cards, EBT, check conversion and guarantee, and maybe even gift and loyalty cards. To do this, you need a full range of processing services, equipment, hardware and software that will support your merchant account.
Here are just a few things the right payment processing solution can do for you, the retailer:
* Improve your cash flow by reducing your payment receipt time from one to two months to two to three business days
* Help you qualify for the lowest processing costs by ensuring you meet card association requirements for collecting enhanced data
* Increase your effectiveness through multi-merchant accounts
* Make your employees more productive as a result of efficient equipment
* Reduce your costs and lower your overhead by getting rid of repetitive data entry systems and reporting tools
* Take care of large payments with online speed
* Make good use of existing Internet access
* Help ensure you are PCI-DSS compliant
To make sure you take advantage of these benefits, you need to find the right payment processing solution for your business. Look at the different brands the company offers. Ask the company representative questions about the level of support that is offered. Definitely ask other retailers – maybe even your competitors – what solution they chose and why.
As a retailer, you also want the newest credit card terminal and software technology for the most reasonable price. You need to be able to depend on the terminal – and the company standing behind it. Remember, this is real-time processing. Your transactions will be completed automatically and instantly. If your hardware breaks or your online system goes down, you are just about out of business during that down time.
To give yourself an edge, you need to look for a retail merchant account that offers:
* Quick turnaround on credit and debit authorizations
* A networked, integrated PC or stand-alone system that also offers some flexibility
* One-key reauthorization
* A reporting package that is designed for your retail business
Some of the equipment you will be looking at includes:
* A check imager, which converts checks to secure electronic documents
* A dial-up credit card terminal – preferably a compact countertop model – that will process all card types, complete the transaction and authorize the sale
* Internet connected terminals, or an integrated smart card reader, that has the same processing capabilities
* A PIN pad that meets all PCI security standards and is compatible with your processing equipment
* Software to support all levels of purchasing cards
* Tap and Go systems that make use of new technologies, including radio frequency-based, contactless payments using a credit card, key fob or cell phone
* A wireless, portable payment device that gives you reliable and secure transaction processing
The payment processing industry is changing constantly. New equipment often becomes available, but not all of it will be necessarily good for you or your business. When speaking with a customer service specialist, ask for an evaluation of your particular business situation.
You want a payment processing firm that can customize a credit card processing system that meets your firm’s specific needs and is the most cost effective possible. There are also other questions to ask. Does the company stay ahead of the competition through its equipment? Does it have a wide selection of equipment from which to choose?
And finally, you want to ensure that the company you choose to do business with is reputable. Is it accredited by the Better Business Bureau? If it’s a large national firm, does it have a program to give back to the community? If you try to run your business with integrity, you should expect the same of your vendors.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Easy Payment Processing Solutions for Retail Businesses_25625.aspx
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Author Resource :
Andrew Kilmeade is a freelance writer who writes about a range of topics including businesses and merchant accounts.
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Keywords :
merchant accounts,
Category :
Business
:
Business
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