102.CREDICT CARD READERS BUSINESS

If your business wants to accept credit cards, you'll need a credit card reader either a machine or software that can handle the purchase. Being able to accept credit cards allows customers more payment options, and helps you tap into a broader pool of customers who may live outside of your geographic region.Traditional terminals attach to a computer, often via a USB port, and include a magnetic stripe reader, a keypad and display. Wireless terminals are mobile, which might be necessary for certain businesspeople, such as exterminators, locksmiths, trade show exhibitors or traveling salesmen.

When choosing a credit card reader, Decide whether you want to rent a machine or invest in buying. Most fixed terminals are relatively inexpensive, so it might make sense to simply purchase one.Ask your merchant account vendor whether the company also sells or leases credit card readers.Consider whether you need special features, like the ability to accept debit cards and gift cards.The best contacts and resources to help you get it done .These terminals are best if you'll be making sales from a brick-and-mortar location. Consider features like size of display, ease of use and price. You'll also need a printer for sales slips and receipts. Printers can either be attached to the unit or sold separately. Basic terminals cost between $150 and $300, while terminals with printers cost up to $600.

To accept credit cards on the road, you'll need a wireless terminal. These cost more than fixed terminals, but offer the flexibility to accept payment from customers who don't have large amounts of cash on them. Wireless terminals come with built-in printers, and tend to be more expensive up to $1,000. You can buy one from a merchant account pro.If you just do business online or over the phone, you don't need a terminal. Instead, you can use software that allows you to type in a credit card number and get an authorization. Your merchant account provider can offer software that reads credit cards as part of a package. Or you can purchase software for credit card processing, often as part of a suite of services.

You should consider the terms of the contract before agreeing to sign up to this sort of deal. When choosing your credit card reader, it is also worth considering your own Point of Sale. Different situations can often warrant a different kind of credit card reader - for example, if your Point of Sale is a restaurant or similar setting, you may wish to choose a hand held credit card reader over the traditional wired kind. Hand held credit card readers could transmit to and from a base station, meaning that you can take EMV credit card payments from a customer's table. This could be a huge advantage as it can often be inappropriate to ask a customer to leave their table to complete the card transaction.