Take Card Payments.
Accept card payments online, over the phone or in person.
Using our panel of trusted payment processors, SwitchPal makes it quick and easy to find the best service for your business.
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Why Accept Card Payments?
Most businesses accept debit and credit cards as a form of payment, and if you're not then you're losing potential sales and leaving cash on the table.
Our society is becoming increasingly cashless, with more customers expecting to be able to pay by card. It's more important than ever to remain competitive by accepting card payments online, over the phone and face to face.
An easy way to take card payments is to use a payment processor. They offer a range of solutions for various business types, with user friendly interfaces and apps.
What Is A Payment Processor?
Payment processors facilitate transactions between merchants (businesses) and customers by securely handling the transfer of funds. They enable you to accept a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets and more.
As well as facilitating transactions, payment processors provide several essential services, including fraud prevention, data privacy security measures, reconciliation of transactions for accounting purposes and ensuring compliance with payment industry regulations.
Payment processors operate by taking a small fee per transaction, while allowing businesses to setup payment solutions quickly and easily.
How To Take Card Payments
Payment processors provide your business with the tools and software to take payments online, over the phone and face to face.
To take card payments in person a POS (point of sale) device can be used. These are often hendheld units provided by the payment processor, normally for a small fee.
Over the phone payments require a virtual terminal, usually provided as standard. Taking payment involves using a web-based interface to manually enter the card details.
Online payments use a payment gateway, provided by the payment processor. Integration with your e-commerce platform allows customers to order directly from your website.
Benefits Of Taking Card Payments
Accepting card payments, whether credit or debit cards, offers numerous benefits for businesses.
One of the biggest reasons to accept card payments is that it can increase your sales volume and revenue, as customers tend to spend more when they can pay with card due to the ease and convenience factor.
There are plenty of other reasons why you should consider accepting debit and credit card payments, outlined here.
- Customer Convenience and Impulse Purchases
- Increased Sales
- Global Reach
- Reduced Risk of Fraud
- Streamlined Accounting
- Recurring Payments
- Improved Cash Flow and Data Insights
- Customer Loyalty Programs
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Guides & Tools
How to Accept Card Payments Online
Maximise your online business potential by accepting card payments securely and effortlessly. Learn how in our comprehensive guide.
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Unlock convenience and boost sales with in-person card payments. Explore the benefits and how-tos of accepting cards today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of taking card payments?
Accepting card payments, whether credit or debit cards, offers numerous benefits for businesses.
This includes customer convenience, increased sales, global reach, reduced risk of fraud, streamlined accounting, recurring payments, improved cash flow, data insights and customer loyalty programs.
How can you take card payments over the phone?
You can sign up with a payment processor, which will allow you to use a payment gateway to accept card payments over the phone.
How can you take card payments online?
To take card payments online, you will need a payment gateway compatible with your ecommerce shopfront.
Payment processors can usually provide a service that is easily plugged in to your website.
How can you take card payments in person?
To take payments in person, you will need a card reader or point of sale device.
Payment processors usually provide these devices at a low cost, and charge a fee on the transactions taken through it.
How can you take a credit card payment in person, without a machine?
It is still possible to take card payments in person but without a machine.
Some payment processors provide smartphone apps that allow you to enter the customer's card details manually or enter a QR code to securely take the payment.
How much do small businesses pay in card fees?
Card payment processor fees vary, but generally range from around 1% - 3.5% of the transaction.
Can you accept card payments without a merchant account?
You can accept card payments without a merchant account by using a payment processor. These services will hold the funds from a card payment until it has been processed.
What is the best way to take card payments as a small business?
One of the easiest ways to take card payments is to use a payment processor. They offer a range of solutions for various business types, with user friendly interfaces and apps. These systems are easy to setup and work by taking a small fee from each transaction.
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