Do You Know What Business You Are In?
by Sanata L. Martin, Merchant Service Specialist
What do you have in common with the over 2,700 small businesses across Canada that I have helped in my 8 years as a Merchant Service Specialist? You are in the same business as each and every one of them.
Whether you are small retail outlet, veterinarian clinic, independent professional or manufacturer you are all in the same business – the “Getting Paid” business. Even the Not-for-Profit organizations have to receive money or they cannot keep their doors open. I’m not going to give you advice on techniques for getting people to give you more of their money. But, I will provide you with what you have to do to make it as easy as possible for them to give you their money. Next you will be shown how to keep the most of your profits. After all that is what you want, right?
How are you allowing your customers or clients to pay you? While some businesses can still get away with only accepting cash or cheques, 98% of the others would be erecting barriers to profits with such a strategy. You know yourself that fewer and fewer people carry cash these days. And of these many of them would rather use a debit or credit card and hang on to the cash.
Enough studies have proven that the average dollar transaction is higher when your customers use a credit card. Knowing this, it just makes sense to have your merchant services in place to take advantage of this trend.
But are all Merchant Service providers or programs the same? No, just like not all businesses in your industry are the same. While there is a cost to use each company’s merchant service program, some will cost you a great deal more. If you don’t know what to look for you can be lured, convinced and sold a merchant service program that will have you overpaying for years to come.
What should you be aware of? Don’t be distracted by a “Flash Rate”. You’ll see an inviting rate that on the surface may be lower than the others or what you are currently paying. They are hoping you’ll be blinded by this lower rate and not notice the long list of hidden fees. I’ve seen companies overpaying because of these hidden fees with costs exceeding $7,000 in one year!
And that is just on the Merchant Service Program! There are additional savings to be had that can put more profits in your pocket.
Whether you are a business just starting up or an established business you know you have to have Merchant Services to be competitive. You also know you cannot afford to throw profit away by being over-charged or those services. Talk to an experienced Merchant Service Specialist, it will be the best 15 minute investment you will make this year.
Sanata L. Martin
Merchant Service Specialist
8 years of Industry Experience
# 1 Customer Sales and Service (3 years)
Call Direct 1 877 879 8913
PS: Be sure to mention the Marketing Resource Centre when you call me.
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I am extremely happy to say that I met Sanata a couple years back when I was shopping for a Merchant Service Provider. Someone at the Burnaby Board of Trade referred me to a Merchant Service Provider that didn’t return phone calls for days and couldn’t answer simple questions. I was delighted when the Burnaby Board of Trade quickly referred me to Sanata and she made the process very easy and pain free. I’ve dealt with many banks and financial service providers and wish they could all take a page out of Sanata’s book.
Sanata will provide you the answers that you need and set you up with a merchant service account that fits your needs, and best of all, she’s saved me alot of money!
Yes, Credit card has become a necessary evil.