With so many options, it can feel frustrating for small business owners to choose the best credit card reader for phone. No matter what kind of business you own, we can help here at Lifelong Merchant Services. We specialize in point-of-sale (POS) solutions that not only allow you to take credit card payments, but also help your business grow through features such as customer tracking, inventory management, and loyalty programs. Most importantly, we provide top-quality customer service so you can focus on what’s really important: running your business.
Which is the Best Credit Card Reader Hardware Right for You?
If you’re selling products or services at a brick-and-mortar location, you’ll need a physical card reader in order to take credit card payments. For some small businesses, an all-in-one point-of-sale register makes the most sense. Others may want a traditional cash register with an added smaller card machine. Sometimes, business owners simply want a credit card reader for phone. Although, we strongly advise a more advanced system. Either way, we can help you choose the best option.
The best card reader hardware for you will depend on many factors, such as:
- The type of business you own
- If you need the card reader to be mobile versus having a stationary terminal
- Any existing hardware/cash register you own
We recommend systems that can accept tap to pay, as this is becoming increasingly common, not just swiping and inserting the card. With modern solutions, you can also accept other payment options, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Don’t miss out on a sale because you can’t take the type of payment your customer wants to use. Fortunately, there are credit card reader for phone options as well that take multiple payments.
Best Credit Card Reader for High-Risk Businesses
Credit card companies deem some industries “high risk,” which means they have determined there is a higher likelihood of fraud and chargebacks. While some merchant solutions won’t work with high risk businesses, here at Lifelong, we specialize in helping these businesses find the best POS solutions. If you’re looking for a smoke shop POS, for example, we’ve got you covered. In fact, many of our clients need a reliable vape store POS system and credit card reader for phone, so we have experience in this industry.
If you’re a high-risk business, you’ll often find yourself facing higher transaction fees from credit card companies. While those fees are out of our control, we do offer a way to counteract these higher rates: dual pricing. With dual pricing, you can offer your customers an incentive (i.e. lower price) for paying with cash. When they pay with a credit card, the fee will be added to their total so you don’t have to pay for it out of pocket. You don’t have to use our dual pricing option, but it is one of the ways we help small business owners save money, even in high-risk industries.
The Best POS Features for Small Businesses
While you do want a credit card terminal that is easy for your employees to use, the hardware is just the tip of the iceberg. What you really need is a reliable POS system that allows you to track your sales and inventory so you can maximize your profits and grow your business. That’s where we come in. When you work with Lifelong, you can take a deep dive into your data through customizable reports. Imagine being able to see:
- What variations (like flavors or sizes) your customers like best
- Which employees are making the most sales
- The categories of products that sell the best during certain times of year
- What time of day or day of the week your customers like to shop
- If discounts, sales, and promotions are actually increasing your sales
- How much your customers spend per visit on average
Our POS solutions also allow you to do even more, such as:
- Create a customer loyalty program to encourage more sales
- Integrate with common tools like Mailchimp to help you market your shop
- Manage inventory, including options to alert you when it’s time to reorder popular items
- Offer and take gift cards
- Take reservations (for businesses such as motels, restaurants, dog boarders, etc.)
- Manage tables at a restaurant
- Take payments online to ship items to a customer
Are you looking for a feature you don’t see here? Let us know! This isn’t an exhaustive list of what you can do when you work with our POS system for small businesses. Best of all, when you work with Lifelong, you won’t experience the downtime that is common with companies such as Clover and Square, where you are just a number. We treat our users like family so you never have to deal with the uncertainty of downtime.
FAQs About Choosing a Credit Card Reader for Phone
We’d love to answer any questions you have about the Lifelong POS system and our other solutions for small business owners. Here are a few frequently asked questions we hear about a credit card reader for phone and other POS queries to get you started:
Do I need a card reader or a card machine?
Often, people use the terms card reader and card machine interchangeably. If you have a brick-and-mortar business, you probably technically want a card machine. A card machine is fixed or portable hardware that reads a credit card, and it’s what you see in most businesses. They typically don’t require the internet to operate, so if your access goes offline you can still use the machine. On the other hand, a card reader is a small portable device that works for businesses on the go. They often plug into your phone and require an app to work, as well as internet access.
Can’t I just take cash?
You certainly can, but you’ll miss out on a lot of sales this way. While there are some small businesses that still operate under a “cash only” model, it’s increasingly common for people to carry their card or phone only as a way to pay for items.
How much does a card reader cost?
The cost of your card reader depends on the exact option you choose. Contact us today and a member of our team can give you a free demo, as well as go over all the costs associated with your new POS system.
