The ability to process credit and debit cards is a requirement of any modern store, but point-of-sale (POS) terminals are usually tied to an Internet connection. What if you want to sell in a living room, set up a market stall, or any other type of pop-up store? This is where mobile card readers come into play, allowing you to process card payments wirelessly and on the go. You don't have to retire until you need a smartphone or tablet that can run apps to connect to a mobile card reader. They may even be of interest to small mainstream stores looking to cut their startup costs, and a tablet running apps on a booth can function in lieu of a cashier. Most merchant services that offer a mobile card reader offer rates similar to those of online payment systems. Many charge no monthly fees, just transaction fees ranging from 2.5 to 3.5%. However, there are options to pay a monthly fee to reduce transaction costs to only exchange fees, ie. The pennies the bank will charge for moving funds between accounts. Where mobile readers take all their meaning, is its great flexibility. Don't use more than your own smartphone, a downloaded app and a cheap card reader that costs around €25 to €50, so you can start accepting payments wherever there is a cellular network signal. Even then, some merchants offer an offline option. Better yet, not only is it possible to make credit/debit card payments with an EMV chip, but contactless payments can also be made, including Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay. Here we look at some of the merchant service providers that can provide the best mobile card readers for making payments on the go.
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(Image credit: SumUp)
1. Sum
A cost-effective mobile card reader. There is no minimum on the volume of transactions. Affordable card reader that supports smart cards No instant payment No transactions entered on the keypad. SumUp is a mobile card reader available in 31 countries, though it is a more recent entry into the US market. In particular, it is compatible with EMV cards, commonly known as the latest "smart cards", is powered via a micro-USB port, and has a lithium-ion battery. This mobile card reader solution is ideal for low-volume users, offering a fixed transaction cost of 2.65%, with no monthly fees or minimum usage level. The card reader is available for a one-time fee of €69 and connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone with a downloadable app. It also supports a wide variety of credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover Card, as well as the new Apple Pay and Google Pay services. Payments to your bank account take a day or two efficiently. Unfortunately, the card reader is required for any transaction, as transactions cannot be entered manually.
(Image credit: Shopify)
2. Shopify
Take your business anywhere Free trial 24/7 support Free reader Not a stand-alone service. Shopify offers a full range of merchant services. We're focusing here on its mobile POS system, which targets sales at "trades, marketplaces, popups, and everything in between," making it an attractive solution for an existing Shopify business traveling with a pocket card reader The chip and slider reader is also free, further softening this offer. In addition to offering mobile card readers, it also integrates with Shopify solutions, including the Shopify POS smartphone app. Please note, however, that the mobile player is an extension of existing Shopify services and is not provided as a separate entity. Shopify offers three plans, the starter level is the basic Shopify plan, which costs $29 per month. There is also a transaction fee of 2.9% plus €0.30 per transaction. Merchants can choose to pay higher monthly fees to reduce transaction costs.
(Image credit: PayPal)
3. PayPal here
The mobile card reader for online transaction. Affordable card reader with accessories. Multi-level transaction fee structure Basic card reader may be subject to reservation. PayPal Here is the mobile card reader offered by the online transaction uploader that brings instant brand recognition to this space. A certain advantage is a low acquisition cost of the card reader. In addition, it has accessories such as a trunk and a charger to complete a professional game. PayPal's card reader that can handle cards is available at an affordable price of €14.99 and connects to the phone via the headphone jack, with interaction facilitated via a smartphone app. However, keep in mind that these are only sales volumes of less than €500 per month. If you do not comply with this rule, the funds will be subject to a 30 day reserve policy. A better option would be to switch to one of the other mobile card readers, like Chip Drive and Paypal Reader for €24.99. Alternatively, a Chip and Tap Paypal reader is available priced at €59.99 for contactless payments, or a bundled version with a charge holder for €79.99.
(Image credit: Intuit)
4. QuickBooks payments
Mobile card reader for small business accounting software Tightly integrated with the QuickBooks ecosystem. There is no minimum volume of use. Free card reader Higher transaction costs Intuit, better known for TurboTax, makes the QuickBooks accounting offering for small businesses and is consolidating its efforts as a mobile card reader, known as QuickBooks Payments. The GoPayment smartphone app is outstanding and comes with a card reader, both of which are offered at no extra charge. Unlike competitive free card readers, Quickbooks Payments can manage magnetic and smart card input methods, and connects to your smartphone wirelessly via Bluetooth. Another benefit of this service is that there are no setup fees or minimum usage levels, making QuickBooks Payments more attractive to low-volume users. Transaction fees are 2.4% plus $0.25 for each receipt. For an input entered on the keyboard, they go to 3.4% plus 0.25 USD for each transaction. In general, if you're already a QuickBooks user, QuickBooks Payments may be your first choice.
(Image credit: Square)