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Clover Flex vs Clover Mini: Which One Is Right for Me?

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 17:00:03 GMT

If you’re starting a new business you’re likely agonizing over which POS system to choose. You might already be in business and not entirely satisfied with your current machine. There are a lot of options out there and it can be hard to discern the best choice for your business’ unique needs.

It’s no secret that we here at Florida Merchant Services are wild about the Clover make of POS machines. Their terminals are intuitive for both employees and customers, they are extremely customizable, and provide excellent service without being prohibitively expensive.

They have a wide variety of different types of machines that fit different types of businesses like a glove, and today we’d like to take a look at two of their smaller models: The Clover Flex and the Clover Mini in order to provide you with their comparative advantages, as well as the types of businesses they would benefit the most.

Another type of business that greatly benefits from a POS machine as small as the Flex is food trucks where the economy of space is often so tight that a larger machine would just get in the way. This allows food truck owners to properly serve their customers and allows for enough counter space for orders to be prepped for expo.

Recommended for: Restaurants, clothing stores, food trucks, field-based businesses such as towing and appliance repair.

The Clover Mini

The Clover Mini is a compact tabletop POS machine that has the same capabilities as the larger models. Though not quite as portable as the Clover Flex, the Mini is truly the next best thing. It also has the benefit of a larger screen that we have found to be a bit easier to read and more comfortable to work with. It also has a paper receipt printer and is able to take all types of payments.

The Clover Flex

The Flex is one of Clover’s smallest models. It’s small enough to be a handheld device carried by employees. It’s quite small, but still powerful enough to run the Clover 2.0 operating system. This means that despite being a handheld device it can still perform all of the functions of the larger models, including a built-in paper receipt printer and barcode scanner.

We love the Clover Flex as a handheld POS system for servers in restaurants. Having the server carry their own terminal means less crowding at the main computers while they’re ringing up the order and assuages the anxieties of customers who are not comfortable with their credit cards leaving their possession. It also affords a restaurant with a tech-savvy vibe that customers cannot get enough of. Servers will love them as well because of their preset tipping options that have been demonstrated in studies to increase tips.

Clothing retail stores often prefer handheld POS machines because they eliminate the need for a checkout counter, meaning that customers are helped more efficiently and don’t have to wait in long lines for their items to be rung up.

We’ve found that the Clover Mini is exceptionally well suited for any type of boutique store or coffee shop where large, open counters are especially en vogue. Where the Flex is perfect for bringing the payment to the table, the Mini is perfect for accepting payments at a counter. It is small enough to be unobtrusive, but large enough to not seem out of place.

The Mini is also a great option for food trucks. While the Flex is definitely the better option for food trucks that are precariously low on free space, the Mini is still small enough to work for most businesses. Food trucks will appreciate the larger screen which we have found to be easier to see on sunny days.

Recommended for : Food trucks, coffee shops, counter service restaurants and delis.

Make no mistake, these are both excellent machines so the one we recommend is the one that you think will fit your business the best. If you’d like to learn more about the Clover POS systems, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time!

5 Reasons You Definitely Should Accept Credit Cards

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 18:50:28 GMT

There are a lot of reasons why businesses choose to be cash-only. For many cash-only businesses, this decision might be purely circumstantial. Rural areas without access to reliable internet or cellular connections might not have the capability to dependably offer credit card transactions. Many business owners are wary of transaction fees, especially in ultra-urban areas like New York City where cash-only businesses are common due to customary practice. There also seems to be a lack of confidence in the security of electronic transactions of all types among many business owners.

Regardless of the impetus for being a cash-only business, we’d like to make the case that if you’re a small business owner who does not accept card transactions, you really should be. Any honest appraisal of the risks and benefits will certainly come out in favor of accepting card transactions. Here are five reasons why you absolutely should be accepting credit cards at your small business.

Easier Bookkeeping

One of the most undersold benefits of credit card transactions is that they automatically create a transaction history. This means that matching sales to revenue requires much less effort on the part of business owners. This transaction history combined with the analytic capabilities of modern POS systems and bookkeeping software, such as QuickBooks, eliminates much of the grunt work come tax season!

Lower Transaction Fees

As card payments have become more common, the industry around merchant services has exploded. This competition has lowered fees from providers vying for customers and has improved the technology dramatically. Long gone are the days of expensive terminal rentals and outrageous monthly costs for services like PCI compliance that are now part and parcel of merchant services packages. It has quite literally never been more affordable to accept credit card payments.

Online Sales are Your Best Friend

One of the most exciting developments to come from the Internet age is the expansion of previously isolated markets. Retail businesses and service providers that were previously relegated to customers with whom they share an area code are now able to access markets all over the world. If you’ve been selling exclusively from your brick and mortar, it’s time to introduce your products and services to the most expansive market that has ever existed. The only way to access consumers around the world is to accept card payments. It’ll change the way you do business forever.

If you still have questions about the benefits of accepting credit card payments, please feel free to reach out to us at any time. We are more than happy to get you on track to take your businesses to the next level!

The Customer is King in Matters of Taste

It’s a maxim familiar to all small business owners. If your customer is willing to pay extra to add chocolate syrup to their tuna fish sandwich, noblesse oblige. We’d plead the case that this business mentality also applies to preferred methods of payment. According to the 2020 report from the Diary of Consumer Payment Choice published by the Federal reserve, credit and debit cards combined were the preferred payment methods for all age aggregates. Furthermore, polling suggests that 41% of customers will completely avoid your business if you don’t offer their preferred method of payment. To put it simply, customers expect to have the option of paying by card, so if you’re not offering credit card payments you are not only missing out on business, you are actively driving it away.

Greater Security

Technology has come a long way, and it only continues to innovate. The advances made in transaction processing security are truly stunning. Card chip payments, contactless payments, and phone based payments have added an extra layer of fraud prevention to transactions. In fact, many types of contactless payments use a completely randomized token to complete transactions so that the bank account and credit card number of the customer is not even used! This not only reduces the liability of business owners, it has also led to much greater confidence in card transactions among customers. Cash payments have the benefit of not being connected to any digital services, however, it’s no less vulnerable to theft than it was 20 years ago. Card transactions keep your money well guarded and much easier to recover in cases of fraud.

Why We Love the Clover Mini POS System

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 12:11:13 GMT

Clover Mini POS

We here at Florida Merchant Services make no secret about how much we love the Clover POS system. The entire Clover device catalog is replete with intuitive, feature rich POS systems that offer some of the most enviable rates on the market. We’d like to take a moment to shine the spotlight on one of our favorite Clover devices, the Clover Mini POS machine.

Great Things Come in Small Packages

Pound for pound, the Clover Mini is one of the most powerful POS machines on the market today. Despite its small size, the Clover Mini supports card transactions via swipe, dip, or tap and even has a built-in printer for folks who prefer paper receipts. It sports a handsome 7” LED touchscreen display with intuitive UI that allows ease on both the business and customer side of the transaction.

Unbelievably Powerful Capabilities

We are also especially fond of the easy access to transaction information and robust sales analytics that allow business owners to track expenses and revenue through both graphs and raw numbers. Inventory has also never been easier as the Clover Mini is able to display detailed info on different categories of product along with all variants and modifiers you may have applied to them. Employers can even take care of all payroll through the device!

Hitting Above Its Weight...and Its Size

The Clover Mini’s compact size makes it ideal for businesses with a low economy of space such as food trucks, kiosks, and cozy venues. Aesthetically speaking, the Clover Mini is very much with the times as minimalism and wide open counter spaces are very much “in” at the moment. An unobtrusive POS system lends a checkout counter an inviting ambiance to customers and creates a more welcoming and friendly atmosphere to any establishment.

State-of-the-Art Security

The Clover Mini also includes the same security features that make all of their other machines so venerable. The Mini supports contactless payments from Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo and all transactions are protected with end-to-end encryption.

Check out our offerings of devices from Clover and especially the Clover Mini in our website, and please feel free to give us a call at any time to learn more about these remarkable POS machines!

The Advantages of Using a Local Point of Sale Company

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 18:49:39 GMT

3. Are You More Than Just a Customer Number?

Concomitan tly, local POS providers are actually accountable to the businesses they serve. When you choose a local merchant service provider, you're not a number on a spreadsheet, you’re treated like real people with real concerns. This proximity and access means that your concerns are addressed in a timely manner as opposed to being lost in the shuffle of the database of a tech giant.

4. Do They Know Your Business (and Your Community)?

When you choose a local POS provider, you also gain more direct contact with technicians who can help optimize and streamline the systems that you have in place. Local workers with intimate knowledge of the area they serve are better able to account for special circumstances; affording small business owners the convenience of face-to-face interactions with the professionals who set up their POS systems.

We here at Florida Merchant Services are proud to serve our community and to make ourselves available to our clients. If you’re in the market for a POS provider, give us a call and see the difference choosing local can make!

What's Best for Your Business? A Local Merchant Service Provider or Out-of-State Processor?

The market for Point of Sale and Merchant Services has expanded dramatically over the past decade. Overall, this has been a great thing for both innovation and quality of service provided. With the advent of touch screen devices and contact-free payments, small businesses are equipped with better analytics and more intuitive user interface. With this abundance of choices afforded to small businesses, we here at Florida Merchant Services would like to make the case for why choosing a local Point of Sale service is usually the best choice.

1. Does Someone You Know Answer the Phone?

First off, when choosing local merchant services, small business owners have more direct access to the company that provides these services. If your POS system is in the thrall of a Silicon Valley tech company sequestered on the 25th floor of a high rise building, you will quickly find that your customer service options are relegated to hotlines, chatbots, and (perhaps most frustratingly) labyrinthine FAQs and forums.

2. Can Someone Come Out to Your Business to Handle Issues?

Technicians and part replacements may take months to schedule, where a local POS provider might take as much time as a drive across town to address your issues. By choosing a local provider, you are not only keeping your dollars in your community, you are gaining access to a company that has a vested interest in the success of surrounding businesses.

Christian Entrepreneurship: A Huge Blessing, An Even Bigger Responsibility

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:46:03 GMT

Christian Entrepreneurship: Both a Blessing and a Burden

As an entrepreneur, you have been given a great gift, and with it comes great responsibility. Like the joy of being a dad to your kids, you wouldn't trade the thrill of running your own business for anything. And just like parenthood, some giant responsibilities come with the territory. These obligations are even greater for the Christian business owner.

Just Running a Business Is Hard Enough

Any small business proprietor has to be responsive to the marketplace. That means offering value to customers while keeping employees engaged. Entrepreneurs are pinched between the demands of their clients, the needs of their staff, the requirements of government authorities, and the hard, cold reality of cash flow. Threading that needle is a herculean task, and a fantastic adventure.

It's Not Our Business

Our faith adds another dimension. Those aren't my customers; they’re God’s children, to be loved as brothers and sisters ( James 3:9 ). We serve them as if they were Christ Himself. These aren't just employees working for me; they are people who God entrusted to me to take care of ( Colossians 4:1 ). Just as Joab watched over Ruth, our team members deserve our benevolent protection and blessing. My responsibility to obey governing authorities is amplified, too ( Romans 13:1 ).

Our Reputation is His Reputation

There is more. Every business owner protects his reputation, to improve his position in the marketplace. To the Christian business owner, the responsibility to maintain peace with our customers is even heavier, since we bear His name. When we speak publicly about our faith - which we must - we run the necessary risk of turning any small misunderstanding or dispute into an insult to the name of God ( Romans 2:24 ).

You Are a Christian Entrepreneur for a Reason

Can't we just stay quiet about our faith so we don't need to worry about these extra responsibilities? Far be it! Did God give you the authority He gave you so you could hide your light? Not at all. He raised you up " for a time such as this, " to be His witness in the marketplace, and a faithful steward of the customers and staff entrusted to you.

Did Jesus command us, " Be my witnesses [unless witnessing makes your life hard]" ( Acts 1:8 )? Of course not. A secret disciple is no disciple at all. ( Matthew 10:33 )

It's Not Hard. It's Impossible.

Being a business owner can be tough. Being a Christian business owner is even tougher. In fact, in a fallen world that opposes Christ and all He stands for, it's near impossible. So we dare not try to succeed on our own. Instead, we look to His promises:

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

- Proverbs 3:5-6

You wouldn't try to be a parent in your own wisdom and your own strength. You can't succeed as a Christian entrepreneur that way, either.

What Is Apple Pay and Should I Accept It?

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 17:20:45 GMT

Paying by Smartphone is a Revolutionary Idea

For those of us who remember a world where accessing the internet meant not being able to make phone calls, the concept of using a cell phone to make an in-person purchase still seems pretty fantastical. With the advent of Apple Pay and other device-based payment options, it seems like this technology is here to stay.

A Genius Technology Makes for a Simple Transaction

So what is Apple Pay, and how is it different from using a credit card? Apple iPhone users can connect their credit and debit cards to what is called a “Wallet,” an app on their phones that acts as an intermediary between the point of purchase and the bank/credit card company. Apple Pay does not actually use the credit card number to make payments, but rather a “token” that encrypts all of the data that is transferred between the merchant and the bank. This is the truly incredible feature of Apple Pay technology: at no point is your actual card number, or any of the other collateral information ever recorded by the merchant.

The Securest Transaction Ever?

This is a game changer in terms of payment security. Even contactless payments offered by many credit cards cannot hold a candle to the amount of encryption and randomization created in an Apple Pay Transaction. The additional security of Apple Pay requiring real-time confirmation by the customer in the form of passcode entry and face/touch ID means that your digital wallet is far more fortified against forms of fraud such as skimming or scanning.

In case it isn’t already clear, we are big fans of Apple Pay. It offers a huge upgrade in security to both customers and merchants, and that alone makes it desirable to accept Apple Pay at your business.

What Apple Pay Requires of You, the Merchant

Apple Pay is not without its drawbacks. Most significantly, businesses with older payment terminals that do not have NFC capabilities would have to purchase or lease new hardware in order to accept Apple Pay. It is also an evolving and largely nascent technology, so hardware requirements could become more pronounced in the future.

That being said, we still cannot recommend accepting Apple Pay enough. Contact us, Florida Merchant Services, today about upgrading your credit card terminal to Clover, our favorite point of sale machine on the market today. The future of merchant services is here folks, and it’s arriving on your phone!

4 Ways to Lower Processing Costs

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 17:48:54 GMT

Paying More Than You Have to for Card Processing Does Nothing for Your Business. Here Are 4 Ways to Cut Your Costs:

Here at Florida Merchant Services, we have a passion for helping small businesses succeed. One way we help you succeed is helping you save money on your business expenses. One area that is often overlooked is credit card processing fees. To the surprise of many business owners there are steps to help lower costs. Here are four of the best ways we’ve found to lower your credit card processing fees.

1. Practice due diligence with fraud prevention.

Have you ever wondered why your processing fees are higher for keyed-in transactions than card swipes? It’s because merchant services take on a higher degree of fraud risk with manual processing because there is no card present at the transaction. You can circumvent these extra fees by swiping as many cards as possible. For transactions where the manual entry is unavoidable such as online sales, be sure to set up safeguards such as address and credit card verification systems. These things might seem trivial, but they save you a lot of money in the long run.

2. Consider the Auto Batch function.

It’s important to set up your credit card terminal properly, and one thing you should consider setting up is auto batch. This function will collate all of your transactions for the day and send them to the bank as one single deposit, saving you bank fees. If your terminal is sufficiently modern, you might even be able to automatically send batch deposits to the bank at the end of the business day. However, this might not be the best option for merchants who need to adjust tips at the end of the day.s

3. Negotiate with your merchant service provider.

Though this may not be an option for startups and very small businesses, if you are conducting a large number of transactions per day you might be able to negotiate a better rate with your merchant service provider. It never hurts to ask!

4. Consult experts

What’s amazing is that there is information available to the layperson, you just need to seek it out! Between credit card processing professionals who know the ins and outs of merchant services to more experienced business owners who regularly post in online forums, there is a wealth of expertise just waiting to be accessed by you.

This stuff can be difficult for new and seasoned business owners alike, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions! Your success is our success, so we are always happy to lend a hand where we can!

Do Preset Tipping Options Actually Increase Tips?

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 17:22:14 GMT

Tipping culture can be the cause of much hand-wringing and grumbling on the part of consumers. Coffee shop patrons and restaurant diners alike frequently find themselves agonizing over small bills in tip jars and percentages on paper receipts; teetering on the fine line between appropriate and prodigal tipping.

For business owners, however, tipping culture is a decided win. Labor is usually the greatest expense for any business and tipping allows employers to save money on their end while also ensuring their employees are duly compensated for their labor. It is prudent to make sure that employees are satisfied with their remuneration by increasing their tipped wages as much as possible.

One of the best ways to increase tips for your employees is to employ preset tipping options on your Point of Sale device. This is why Florida Merchant Services use Modern POS systems, which will prompt customers to add a tip to their total before they complete the transaction with preselected amounts. These prompts are fully customizable by dollar amount or percentage of the total sale, and have been demonstrated to significantly increase the amount of tips received.

Preset tipping options are so effective because they operate on basic human psychology. First of all, through credit card or digital payment, consumers tend to not feel the “pain of paying.” That is to say, it is easier to part with a dollar when it is an abstract number on a screen as opposed to physical cash in one’s wallet. Customers are also more likely to leave a tip when they have to select a button reading “No Tip” as opposed to leaving a line blank on a credit card slip or conveniently not noticing the tip jar on the counter. Most importantly, having preset tipping options decreases the “friction” between the customer and the tip. Simply put, it makes tipping easier and quicker, therefore increasing the likelihood that people will do it.

As a small business owner you are looking to save on expenses while also taking care of your valued employees who help your business to thrive. Increasing their tips through preset tipping options is an excellent way to accomplish both of these necessities. Contact Florida Merchant Services today and ask about our state-of-the-art Clover POS machines. Both you and your employees will love the numbers you see!

How to Minimize Chargebacks for Your Business

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 17:37:15 GMT

Anyone who has experience with eCommerce and merchant services can attest to just how much of a headache customer chargebacks can be. Not only do the bank fees add up, they can negatively affect your business’ ability to access credit and create hostile interactions between you and your customers. In this article, we will delineate methods through which you can minimize the number of chargebacks your company receives.

It’s important to understand that chargebacks exist for a good reason: They protect consumers from fraudulent charges. The best way to approach the issue is to employ the best practices on your part.

First of all, you should perform your due diligence to protect your customers from online fraud and minimize your own liability. Merchant safeguards such as Card Verification Codes and Address Verification Systems are applied at checkout to help ensure that the purchaser is who they claim to be. These systems are always provided to Florida Merchant Services customers and go a long way to prevent fraudulent charges.

Secondly, your card billing descriptor should provide your customers with as much information as possible. One of the most common reasons customers chargeback is that they do not recognize the charge on their bank statements. Your card billing descriptor should include your company name and as much information as possible about what was purchased. Fortunately, this is something that Florida Merchant Services can set up for your business and reduce customer confusion.

Finally, providing superior customer service on your end is one of the most effective ways to minimize chargebacks. Your company should offer easy return and refund policies and prioritize expeditious responses to customer inquiries. When your customers know that your business is responsive and sympathetic to their concerns, they are much less likely to resort to a chargeback out of frustration. Not only does this save you bank fees and a potential merchant account freeze, it also helps strengthen your company’s reputation as one that cares about its customers.

The world of merchant services can be difficult to navigate, and best practices are not always self-evident. Florida Merchant Services makes the success of your business our priority and is here for you with any questions you might have. Get in touch today and let’s get to work for you!

Why Choose Clover™ Business Management Solutions?

bob@simplesitecompany.com (Bob Hansen) — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 20:16:43 GMT

Your point of sales system is the lifeline of your business. Overtime, the importance of the POS system has grown tremendously. Nowadays, it needs to be up to date with the latest functions, features, and security, while also remaining cost effective. Comparing these features to find the right system can be tricky, but Clover is one of the most popular POS systems out there, and it’s easy to see why.

Florida Merchant Services chose the Clover System because it can handle all the demands of your business. It’s a suitable replacement for antiqued processes that involve registers, paper receipt printers, barcode scanners, label printers, and more. It is a comprehensive POS system that transcends the boundaries of the average cash register. Clover is a great POS system for businesses of all types and sizes including restaurants, retail stores, and those offering professional services.

A wide array of hardware and software options are available based on your business needs. The sleek hardware designs are modest while maintaining a modern look. An available assortment of devices range from countertop terminals to handheld devices; they effortlessly sync with tablets and phones through the Clover Go app. The POS software is user friendly and is backed by 24/7 customer support in case emergencies ever arise. Clover offers integrated tools that make important tasks such as payment processing, inventory oversight, employee time management, and sales reporting a breeze.

The Clover system setup and installation is simple and easy. Using a state-of-the-art cloud-based system that can be accessed from anywhere. It is completely scalable, meaning that the system can grow with your business. There is no limit to the number of employees that can have access or use the software, and the paperless transaction options ensure that you can process payments safely. Clover even offers customer retention capabilities such as creating detailed customer records that highlight recent orders, customer notes and feedback, as well as a loyalty point system which rewards points based on parameters that are defined by you.

When you’re considering POS systems, keep Florida Merchant Services’ Clover options in mind for your business!