At Inspire Payments, we offer a range of fast and secure card terminals and card payment options, from fixed countertop to portable and mobile GPRS terminals. But which is the right one for you?
Choosing the right card payment for you
Countertop card machine
These card machines are fixed and sit neatly on the checkout countertop. They operate using a straightforward phone or broadband connection and electric socket.
At Inspire Payments, the Desk/3000 terminal is the perfect example of a countertop card machine. It boasts a seamless payment experience for your customers and comes complete with a TETRA operating system which features the best security mechanism placed in a card machine. Customers are able to use all major credit cards and debit cards (Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard) to make payments, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The countertop card machine is easy to set up and has the ability to process refunds. You can also gather end-of-day data where you receive a daily report detailing the number of sales made that day. It is a great option for retail businesses of all sizes, from local newsagents to the major chain stores we all know and love. Request a free quote and find out more about our Desk/3000 terminal here.
Portable card machine
If you are a restaurant owner or run a cafe or pub business, you may prefer our portable card machine. As the name suggests, the portable functionality – which requires either Broadband, Bluetooth, or WiFi – allows you the flexibility to take payments from anywhere within the connection’s reach. Transactions via these devices can also generate a printed receipt. Like all the card machines we provide at Inspire Payments, our portable card machines accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. In addition to the functions you get with a countertop device, it has GPRS connections and WiFi capabilities, which our dedicated team will help you set up. It works both outside and inside so if you are a pub owner or restaurant owner with outdoor facilities, this is the one for you. Discover more about our portable card machines here.
Mobile GPRS card machine
For those of you who are on the road, maybe you attend various exhibitions across the country or have a food truck in the middle of a busy food market, our mobile GPRS option may be the best card machine for you to consider. This option allows you to provide customers with online payment systems while on the road, saving them from having to worry about finding an ATM. All the above provide a viable approach to payment options for businesses of all sizes. Our machines come complete with extended battery life and networkability. You can connect to it using 3G, Bluetooth, WiFi or GPRS) We also ensure that the businesses we sell to are Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (or PCI DSS) compliant so you as a business are protected against any security breaches.
Things to consider
When choosing between different card machines, you should consider certain features and costs when making your choice. Here are some things you should think about before deciding whether to invest in a new card machine.
Card processing fees: Card machines come with additional charges, including processing fees. This is the amount charged on every credit or debit card transaction you accept. This is typically around 0.25-0.35% for debit cards, 0.7-0.9% for credit cards, and 1.6-1.8% for commercial credit cards. Other charges include merchant fees, minimum monthly service charge fees, and more. It is important to have this information before you commit to a particular machine.
At Inspire Payments, there are no installation or set-up fees to worry about. This is something we are transparent about, and our team is more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Cost of switching: Do you already take card payments and are seeking an alternative machine? Maybe the one you have frequently breaks down or you are expanding and simply need more devices to prevent customers from having to queue. Whatever the reason, you need to consider the potential costs of switching to a new provider. Switching to an Inspire Payments card machine saves our customers 35% each month on average. (Link to switch post once live)
Usability: Consider how easy the card machine is to use. Look for a machine with an intuitive interface and minimal staff training requirements. If it’ll be difficult for you, your team and your customers to understand, you’ll slow down your queue, frustrate both your staff and customers and potentially lose sales.
Payment reliability: Being able to accept payments is the lifeblood of any business, so having a reliable payment processing system is essential to keeping everything running smoothly. Find a reliable card payment machine that is rated highly for quality. You don’t want to be missing payments because of a faulty machine. At Inspire Payments, our regional business development managers are always on hand to iron out any issues that may arise.
Cash flow: Once payment for your goods or services has been made, the time between this and it reaching your business account can vary depending on your card machine provider. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How long will it take for your business to switch to card transactions?
- How many days will pass between a customer making a purchase and the funds reaching your account?
- How often will funds be credited to your account (will it be daily, monthly or weekly?)
At Inspire Payments, you can opt for next-day payments to ensure any money from sales will appear in your account without delay.
The Inspire Payments guarantee
Looking for the best card machine for your small business? Our dedicated regional managers are on hand to help make sure your business runs smoothly, with simple, cost-effective payment solutions. We’re proud to help thousands of UK SMEs get the best deal on their payment processing. We also ensure that our solutions are a seamless fit so as not to disturb their business operations.
You are not just another customer to us. Our consultants take the time to get to know you and your payment needs to ensure you get the best terminal and contract available.
All our systems are secure and compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, so you can be assured we take the safety of all parties concerned seriously. We already have thousands of UK businesses using our card payment solutions. Why not join them?
