The Why and How of Accepting Credit Cards

Today’s consumers count on the fact that they can purchase whatever they need with a credit or debit card. Groceries, gas, a cup of coffee and even the parking meter can be paid with plastic. And that’s not all. According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project survey, the majority of respondents believe swiping mobile phones could replace cash and credit cards, both online and in stores within the next decade.

The incentive is the alternatives to using cash for everyday transactions are becoming more numerous and convenient.

Some benefits to you as the business owner are:

• you don’t have to carry large quantities of cash on hand
• you get paid faster than if invoicing
• the risk is less than that of accepting traditional checks

There are many options nowadays for accepting plastic forms of payment. These range from the traditional merchant card service offered by your local bank or credit union to smartphone applications that let you process a card using your smart phone.

While some customers might be wary of new payment technologies, others may expect them. There are several discussions at Windshield-Repair-Forum.com where windshield repair businesses discuss their experiences with various payment options and technologies. On the forum you can read about the Square smart phone application as well as customer reactions.

Before making any decision research the available options and read how other businesses have handled the issue at Windshield-Repair-Forum.com. In the end, do what’s best for you and your customers.