Will buyers use their credit/debit cards at your physical location or supply the card information another way? If you and/or your customers will simply be swiping cards on a physical device, perhaps your best choice of credit card equipment would be one of the combination credit card terminal/printer units. If you will not be doing this sort of manual entry, then you can consider the various software packages for the PC at your business site or stick with a standard terminal and printer – a combo unit or separate, connected devices – and this should work perfectly well for you.
Is a “contactless” payment solution appropriate for your company? If you run a "quick service" retail company with average tickets of $25 or less, Contactless Payment credit card equipment may be the right answer. This "tap and pay" technology has shown itself to be a good choice for fast food locations, movie theaters, convenience stores and other businesses that need speedy transactions for its customers. It is always possible to upgrade your current credit card equipment to a contactless payment system with no interruption to your normal business operation.
Do you have a phone line or broadband Internet access at your business site? Most businesses will have at least one phone line, and in this day and age many have an “always on” Internet connection, too. There are numerous choices for credit card equipment if this describes your business location. Most card equipment will easily share phone lines with a fax or even the main business number, especially if call volume is not particularly heavy. Newer, more sophisticated terminals access the Internet over broadband connections for the fastest possible transactions. Even when no phone line or Internet connection is available, as is the case with mobile merchants, you can get a battery-powered, portable card terminal or a wireless one that will connect over a cell phone system.
Will you be processing PIN-based debit card sales? If you plan to accept debit cards you should consider adding a PIN pad to your processing equipment. It is never a bad idea to give your customers alternative payment options, and PIN-based transactions can even save you money at the same time that they elevate and improve the customer experience.
Will you need more than one merchant account for your business? For just about all businesses the answer is no. There are some situations where multiple merchant accounts may be helpful, or even a necessity. If this is the case with your business, you will need to get credit card equipment that can manage more than a single account. There are many to choose from, thankfully, from low-cost units that handle two accounts to more sophisticated (and pricier) ones able to manage up to 99 accounts. A qualified merchant account sales person from a reputable processing firm should be able to suggest the appropriate credit card equipment for your unique situation.
Are there particular terminal brands that I should consider? All major credit card equipment makers produce high-quality, feature-laden equipment, so you really can’t get into any trouble regardless of the brand you choose. Naturally, because of hardware and software issues, some of the processor firms may prefer that you use a certain brand of equipment. Remember, too, that the processing firms may not certify the very newest equipment immediately upon its release. Make sure to get the best, most current information, and don’t forget to ask all the other important questions of the processor companies you are researching.
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