Top 3 Steps to Accept Credit Card Payments on Your Phone
With how fast the digital economy is shaping, taking credit card payments on your phone no longer remains a luxury and is a full-fledged requirement for any small or significant venture. Be you a small vendor in the local markets, a service provider, or an owner of retail stores, your success depends upon the ease with which you can process credit card payments. This blog post shall explain how you can accept credit card payments on your phone in three easy steps by reviewing today's mobile credit card terminals.
Why Take Credit Card Payments on Your Phone?
There are many benefits of taking credit card payments through your mobile phone:
Easy pay by card has many benefits over making payments in cash. It increases the customer's satisfaction level, eventually leading to increased sales.
Speed: It is quicker as mobile device transactions have shorter processing times. This indirectly saves waiting time.
More Freedom for you to access and take your business from an event or onsite appointments but also even while moving on via mobile payments
Step 1: Choose your payment processor
Start accepting credit cards through your smartphone by identifying a suitable payment processor. The payment processor is the middle layer service between the business, the client's credit card issuer, and the banks for completing all credit card-based transactions.
Most Important Features
Transaction Fees: These vary from processor to processor, so you will find that some have per-transaction fees, while others have a monthly fee and chargeback fees, too. Therefore, you must know what they are and which works best for your business.
Compatibility: Your payment processor should be compatible with your smartphone and other business systems.
User Interface: The mobile application should process all transactions correctly. It needs to function smoothly and have an easy user interface. Make sure the processor has a friendly user interface.
Security: Security for the entire user's data is the most important. One should use payment processors that comply with PCI DSS compliance, and the sensitive details of your clients are safe with this processor. Popular Payment Processors Some of the most popular payment processors for mobile credit card transactions:
Thrifty payments: Their use is very friendly, and their fees are so low that they work great for small businesses. The hardware is on wheels and flexible with various devices.
PayPal Here: Excellent brand name and multiple types of payments. PayPal Here accepts users, especially with a bonus, their acceptance accepting credit card and check payments.
Stripe: This service is developer-friendly. It's best to use Stripe if your custom needs for online transactions are similar to those for offline transactions.
Shopify: Using Shopify for e-commerce activities is easy, and payment options are accessible when branching out to point-of-sale activities.
Step 2: Getting the Right Equipment
Once you choose a payment processor, you are sent to take the necessary equipment to accept credit card payments. Most payment processors provide specific hardware that you may use with their mobile applications.
Equipment You Will Need
Card reader: You will need a card reader to take face-to-face credit card payments. Mobile payment systems now use a small card reader connected to your phone using Bluetooth or the audio jack.
Tablet or smartphone: You will use this to run the payment processor application. You want to find a tablet or smartphone that is up-to-date and supported by the payment processor that you choose.
Wi-Fi or Mobile Data: Stable internet connections are needed to process your transactions in real-time.
Types of Credit Card Terminals
Magstripe Readers swipe credit cards: Although they are the cheapest and easiest to set up and use, most do not include the safety features that will probably be implemented with more advanced credit card terminal devices.
EMV Chip Readers: This terminal type will read card chips like EMV cards. These security factors are critical today and quickly become the new standard for merchants and companies worldwide.
Contactless Readers: The latest generations support transactions based on an NFC-compliant chip comparable to Apple or Google Pay. When contactless transactions eventually become the "new normal" way of doing business, this will be significant for the consumer.
These are multi-functional hardware: Several processors now make all-in-one, one-unit solutions incorporating card reading, billing, and inventory tracking.
What type of equipment you must select will still vary based on the type of transactions you would like to offer and your customer's preferences.
Step 3: Get Everything Set Up and Start to Accept Credit Cards
You are now ready to install everything and receive credit card payments, having already selected your payment processor and ordered the desired equipment. Mobile App: Find your preferred payment processor's mobile application on the App Store or Google Play.
Create an Account: Follow the installation prompts to set up your merchant account. This usually includes providing essential business information, contact details, and banking information for deposits.
Connect Your Card Reader: If applicable, pair your card reader to your smartphone or tablet. Typically, this means connecting via Bluetooth or plugging the device into your phone's audio jack.
Test Your System: A dummy transaction will help you tour the app interface before making a real-time transaction. The payment process will also be acceptable.
Train Your Staff: If you have employees, ensure they are aware of using mobile payment solutions. You should, therefore, carry out training programs to show your employees how to use the app, among other things, equipment and access points from which customers would initiate contact.
Be Prepared to Process Credit Card Transactions: NOW IS THE TIME! Continue with engaging offers to open new services while offering the above value for this service.
Errors in Credit Card Transactions
Check Transactions Regularly: Always review your transaction report for errors or mistakes and correct them accordingly.
Ensure Data Security: Always ensure that the customers' information remains safe. The app you use should always be up to date on the newest security requirements.
Keep it updated: the technology in the payment processing system also keeps updating daily. Make sure to update your equipment and software with the latest input of new features and safety measures.
Conclusion
One of the primary ways a business must operate today is to accept credit cards; however, the three steps used in the following procedure are not challenging and involve selecting the proper payment processor, acquiring the appropriate equipment, and finally getting things set up correctly.
An increasingly cashless society will provide enough opportunities to enhance customer offers and extend convenience, increasing sales and happiness.
Invest your time with the best credit card terminals and processing companies that fit your business. Your business shall stand sturdy in such markets that are changed every hour. Bring that technology on the board, and watch your companies blossom!