This largely depends on what type of business are you involved in.

Countertop

If you run a business that involves face-to-face contact with your customers, such as a retail shop or a restaurant and, you deal exclusively in face-to-face, “card-present” transactions. (the cardholder and card are physically present at the time of the sale.) Your best terminal option may be a countertop point-of-sale model.

A portable card machine

Portable card machines are ideal for businesses that need to move around the premises to take payments. You can connect your portable card machine through WiFi for great coverage

• Ideal for Restaurants and cafes
• No need for the customer to queue at till you can simply take the card terminal to the customer
• Large showrooms where you can pick up the card machine and take it around your premises

Mobile Card Machine

If you are involved in Shows, festivals or market stalls, the Mobile Card Machine may be your best option. This helps with your customers feeling comfortable when making purchases away from a shop also, Home deliveries, as you have the reassurance that goods are paid for by the right person and gives you the opportunity to arrange a pay when delivered solution
Taxi drivers and mini when customers may not have cash and if your business has to travel to where the customers are so ideal for salespeople who are on the road.

Virtual Terminal?

It is becoming important for small businesses to be able to accept manual payments. Manual payments are transactions that are completed without the card holder present, for example if you take orders over the telephone…
Simply put, a virtual terminal is a computer software program that allows you to take money safely and securely from your customer’s debit or credit card and put it in your account.

1. Ensure you are connected to the internet and then log on to your virtual terminal. (You will need to set up an account with your payment processing provider first).
2. Enter the details as prompted by the program while the customer is on the phone
3. Click on the “submit” (or similarly named) button.

Internet tills and online payments pages

The terminals listed above are physical pieces of hardware that are used to accept card transactions.
when merchants are with their customers face to face – or used to manually key in the card details for a card-not-present transaction.
With an internet ‘till’ merchants do not use a standard, physical terminal to process their transactions. A merchant will use a virtual terminal or payment page provided by a payment service provider on their websites.

Finding the right payment provider can be difficult and confusing…

If you are new to accepting card payments and are just not sure what type of merchant account you need, let ACP help you find the right solution. Even if you currently accept card payments, ACP can help you find a better rates, better service and overall better deal! Whether you want to accept card payments in person, online, by phone or even out and about, ACP can help you get the right payment solution for the right price.
We offer independent impartial advice, helping you find the bespoke payment solution that is right for your business.
Get your FREE quote today by simply visiting www.acceptcardpayments.com or call and speak to an ACP specialist on 0333 305 4500