Accepting Credit Cards as payment for a small business

pork-chop_3

We have a small but thriving plumbing company. We would like to give our customers an option to pay by credit or debit card, but we are not sure of the best way to do this. Obviously we would need a mobile terminal or phone with app. There are a lot of companies out there, but mostly on the US market- and barely any in the UK. Has anybody got any suggestions as to who we should use for our provider/merchant account? We are looking for low cost and low risk! Is that possible??? Anyone found a cheap and trustworthy UK company out there for this service ?

steve1980

Paypal offer the service you need, but don't forget the fees!

pork-chop_3

I have been on the phone to Paypal about the Virtual Terminal service they provide, but they tell me you can only use it on a PC, and we would not be able to accept card payments face to face with a customer on a mobile phone virtual terminal, and that they do not provide such a service.

steve1980

To be honest, you need to work out if it's worth the extra costs involved with setting up a virtual terminal etc or having a card machine in the office/at home that you could call back whilst with the customer.

pork-chop_3

Thanks Steve, I suppose I hadn't really thought of that as a possibility - that might be the best option - would Paypal be the cheapest option in that case? They charge £20 per month + the normal fees + 20p per transaction. (No set up costs involved though - so that is a bonus...)

steve1980

If you're part of the FSB then I think you can arrange a cheaper deal via them.

easyhost

pork-chop wrote: »

We have a small but thriving plumbing company. We would like to give our customers an option to pay by credit or debit card, but we are not sure of the best way to do this. Obviously we would need a mobile terminal or phone with app. There are a lot of companies out there, but mostly on the US market- and barely any in the UK. Has anybody got any suggestions as to who we should use for our provider/merchant account? We are looking for low cost and low risk! Is that possible??? Anyone found a cheap and trustworthy UK company out there for this service ?

http://www.chipandpinsolutions.com/ is ideal as they deal mainly with mobile terminals

WLM21

I think Google Checkout is another option.

Ok you have to have a Google account ... but that'll take two minites

paulofessex

I would also say its seems better to have a Pay Pal Virtual Terminal back in the office and the customer can then pay you over the phone, far cheaper than having mobile terminals. Don't forget the customer won't know the terminal is via Pay Pal, just in case the name scares them off.

I'm sure other forum members will be able to advise how Pay Pal charges compare to other merchants. Also just to add Pay Pal undertakes a Credit Check when you apply for that particular service.