Card Machines For Small Businesses

Taking card payments makes it much easier for customers to shop with your business – especially as more people use contactless cards and digital wallets. Rather than spending time counting change or making calculations, customers can pay quickly and efficiently with a card machine, and you’ll save time on end-of-day reconciliations too.

Card machines work by capturing a customer’s payment details, usually by swipe or tap (although some have key entry options), then forwarding them to the processing company. The processor then seeks approval from the card-issuing bank to check that the funds are available and then transfers them to your business’s account. The card machine then confirms the transaction, displaying a message or printing a receipt.

There are a number of different card machine options for small businesses to choose from, depending on their needs and budget. For example, some companies offer WiFi-enabled card readers that are ideal for micro-businesses or those that trade sporadically, such as market stalls or festival food trucks. These are often cheaper to set up and require no monthly contract, but they tend to have higher transaction fees and limited support.

Another option is to opt for a countertop card machine that connects to your till or cash register. Countertop card machines can be more expensive than portable terminals, but they usually offer the best connectivity and are able to accept more types of payment, including contactless. Some models come with extra features, such as a barcode scanner or receipt printer, while others are fully mobile and able to run on battery power, meaning they can be used away from the mains. card machines for small businesses