Whether you have an established shop that relies on cash sales or your business is just getting started, setting up to take credit cards from customers may seem quite daunting. What if you have to make a big investment in hardware?
What if the software is complicated or doesn’t work with your ipad? Worst of all, what if the payment system messes up your inventory process? You’ve worked hard to get that down to a science and you do not need a complicated piece of machinery adding time to your weekend stock-takes.
Fortunately, when you buy POS hardware designed to simplify your business management tasks, you never have to worry about bringing operations to a halt or staying up all night just to get a payment system integrated into your company’s routines.
Modern POS systems are quick and easy to set up, feature tools that streamline the way you do business, and they vastly expand your potential market by making it possible to accept credit card payments.
The average purse or wallet contains only £26, and most Britons spend that on their daily expenses like lunch, parking, and transport. Larger purchases and shopping outside of day-to-day spending are generally paid for with credit cards, and only 20 percent of the population prefers to use cash for their payments.
If you want to reach more customers, you need to make it as easy as possible for them to pay for your products and services.
What kind of hardware do I need?
It is true that in order to get some POS systems to work properly, you need to purchase hardware designed specifically for that system. The best systems, however, will integrate with nearly any hardware you currently use for your business. This includes ipads, laptops, PCs, and Macs. Getting ready to take credit card payments from customers can’t get any easier when you have a POS that is ready to go within minutes after you plug it in.
How long will it take to set up?
The full setup process for a new POS depends on a number of factors, but you should be ready to take payments within minutes after you plug your system in as long as you are prepared to integrate with your payment processor. Many systems allow for easy integration with the processor of your choice, and they communicate directly between the software and the credit card reader so there is no need for double entry.
Find a POS system that features easy-to-use software, making it quick to train your staff. Look for functions like integration with your Excel inventory files and accounting software, so that you can seamlessly get everything up and running in less time.
Entering your inventory into your new system may be the most time-consuming part of the process, especially if you have a lot of it. But integration with your current method speeds up progress, and you will be amazed at how much easier your life is when time-consuming processes can be done with the tap of a button.
Will I have access to support?
Some POS systems have a limited amount of support available, or they only offer help during business hours. Look for a system that comes with excellent setup and tech support so you do not end up losing sleep because you cannot get help outside of business hours, or losing customers because something went wrong with your system. The best POS systems come with 24-hour setup and support, and some even offer to send professionals to your business to help you get your system up and running.
What if my business expands?
Scaling your business is hard work, and you don’t need a complicated payment system holding you back. Look for a POS system that not only supports your business’s growth but also grows with your business.
Many systems can be expanded to include multiple locations, omnichannel solutions, and even sales on the road. You can open as many stores as your business will support, use e-commerce to expand your market globally, and make sales at trade shows and festivals.
In addition to easily expanding as your business grows, many POS systems offer full integration into accounting software, inventory management solutions, and marketing automation programs.
A comprehensive POS system can help you manage your business efficiently as you grow and expand, streamlining your operations and giving you time to focus on what is most crucial to your success: your customers.
Final thoughts
While it may be intimidating to make changes in your business—especially changes related to how you get paid—facilitating easy payments for your goods and services is essential to growth.
Consumers carry less cash with them than they used to, and many are only prepared to pay with a credit card or even contactless payments. When you give your customers more ways to pay, they will spend more money and frequent your business more often.
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A good POS system is seamless to set up, intuitive to use, and integrates with all of your operations in order to support your business as it is now, and as it will be in the future.
