Finding The Right Merchant Credit Card Terminal And Hardware - How Hard Can It Be?

Finding the right merchant credit card terminal and hardware for your growing business does not have to be an overwhelming task.  When working with a reputable company, the sales representatives should be able to help guide you through the learning process on the ins and outs of your new items.  It may take a little time to learn to navigate all the features,  but technology is becoming more user friendly all the time - and yes, this means for the merchant too!

Depending on what provider you choose, credit card hardware can be purchased or leased.  Some will even offer free equipment as an incentive for working with them.  Before making your decision, don’t simply consider the initial cost of the equipment, but rather look at all the rates and make sure that the commissions and other rates will make it worth your while over the long term.

Buying equipment from an outside source (such as eBay) is an alternative, but many merchant account processors will charge you a reprogramming fee to use it with their system.  This may be negotiable, so you can try to get them to waive this fee in order to save on the cost of equipment.  Before buying anything, make sure you are not signing a contract to enable service.

If deciding to buy equipment directly from your provider, ask them if you get to take it with you if you change providers.  If you decide to do this, make sure you are getting a generic model and not one that is specific to the provider.  Find out what kind of contracts if you are getting a reduced price on equipment - think of finding the right equipment like buying a cell phone - if you are getting the phone free, it’s because you are locked in with some kind of fees.  Find out what they are so you aren’t blindsided later.

The hardware you will need to shop for will include a credit card terminal, key pad and a printer.  Find a design that is friendly for your workspace, aesthetically appealing for your customers, and easy to use.  Once you have your equipment, be prepared to spend several hours getting to know the different functions and features.  This will allow you to help expedite your customer’s transactions. 

With the wide range of products, make sure to read some readily available reviews.  This will help ensure that  you have the right system for you.  Taking time to invest in the right merchant credit card terminal and hardware will ultimately save you time in the future.  It is not that hard!