Creek Financial Services — Explaining the payments industry so you can manage costs and risks

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Taking credit cards on the go

March 24, 2009

Lately, I’ve gotten a lot of requests from retail merchants who need to accept credit cards, but they don’t have traditional retail locations. Several were salespeople who needed to take orders (and payments) while traveling. A couple were contractors who wanted the ability to swipe customers’ cards on job sites (so they could [...]

Are you getting the debit discounts you deserve?

March 17, 2009

When debit cards appeared on the scene a few years ago, merchants were told to expect big savings. When a customer pays with a debit card instead of a credit card, there’s an opportunity for you (the merchant) to save, but only if you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you may end up [...]

Don’t show your cow to every processor that comes knocking

March 10, 2009

There’s an old saying that warns “If you’re trying to sell a cow, don’t give the milk away for free.” (You may have heard it in a song by the Georgia Satellites.) I’m pretty sure the saying had nothing to do with farming! It’s good advice for anyone involved in negotiations, [...]

Credit Card Processing 101: A primer for newbies

March 3, 2009

Whether you’re just getting started in your new business, or you’re expanding an existing retail business by taking it online for the first time, you’ll need to know something about getting paid. Today’s shoppers use plastic, so you’ll want to accept credit cards. You’ll have many choices when it comes time to set [...]

Why I won’t buy used terminals (and you shouldn’t either)

February 24, 2009

Several years ago, I decided to experiment with buying used terminals on eBay. At the time, new terminals cost much more than today’s prices. I needed an option to offer merchants who didn’t want to pay for a brand new terminal, but didn’t want to enter a long-term lease, either. (For the record, I oppose [...]

A Quick and Easy DIY Rate Evaluation

February 17, 2009

Over the years, I spoken to many business owners who knew exactly what they were paying. They knew their Qualified rates, as well as their Mid-Qualified and Non-Qualified rates. But most business owners just don’t have the time to pay attention to those kinds of details. And even if they wanted to,

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Explaining the payments industry so you can manage costs and risks

Are you responding to a special invitation?

Taking credit cards on the go

Are you getting the debit discounts you deserve?

Don’t show your cow to every processor that comes knocking

Credit Card Processing 101: A primer for newbies

Why I won’t buy used terminals (and you shouldn’t either)

A Quick and Easy DIY Rate Evaluation

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