The ability to make sales and process credit card transactions anywhere and at any time is a necessity for many small business owners. And with the ubiquity of mobile credit card readers, it’s no longer a complicated or expensive task. Mobile readers sync directly to your smartphone, and customers swipe their cards as they would on a traditional point-of-sale system.
Below we discuss our four favorite mobile card readers and the attributes of each. All have similar fee structures and provide the reader itself for free, but the best fit depends on your specific business.
It’s also important to beware of less costly mobile reader alternatives. Many of these companies lack the experience, longevity, and reputability to provide reliable, consistent service. You don’t want to open shop one morning to discover they’re defunct and you’re without a credit card processor. In other words: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stick with the industry leaders for this one.
Now, on to our top picks…
1.) Square Ease of use: A+ Fees: 2.75% per swiped transaction. [3.5% + $0.15] per keyed-in transaction. No monthly fee. Accepted payments: All major credit and debit cards; cash transactions; gift cards Add-on accessories: Custom dock to create an actual POS system ($100) Integration: Quickbooks, Xero, Excel
2.) PayPal Here Ease of use: A Fees: 2.7% per swiped transaction. [3.5% + $0.15] per keyed-in transaction. No monthly fee. Accepted payments: All major credit and debit cards; cash transactions; check transactions Add-on accessories: None Integration: Quickbooks, Excel
3.) Amazon Local Register Ease of use: B Fees: 2.5% per swiped transaction. 2.99% per keyed-in transaction. No monthly fee. Accepted payments: All major credit and debit cards; cash transactions Add-on accessories: Many! Integration: Quickbooks, Excel
4.) Intuit GoPayment Ease of use: B- Fees: Pay-as-you-go ($0/month; 2.4% per swiped transaction; 3.4% per keyed-in transaction) OR Monthly Rate ($19.95/month; 1.75% per swiped transaction; 3.15% per keyed-in transaction) Accepted payments: All major credit and debit cards; cash transactions Add-on accessories: Advanced, turnkey POS system ($1,000+) Integration: Quickbooks
If you need help choosing or implementing a mobile credit card reader for your small business, the Iowa Western SBDC can help. Give us a call at (712) 325-3376 to schedule a confidential, one-on-one appointment with an experienced consultant!
(Photo credit: Chris Harrison / Flickr)
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