A credit card machine is a piece of hardware that captures and transmits card information to your payment processor. The machine authenticates the card before allowing you to make a transaction and ensures that it’s not expired, stolen or fraudulent. This is an important step in ensuring you receive payments for the goods and services you provide to your customers.
There are several different types of credit card machines, including countertop, mobile and virtual terminals as well as integrated point-of-sale (POS) systems. The best option depends on your business needs and how you plan to use the machine. Here’s what to know:
Countertop EMV terminals are ideal for businesses that want a secure solution for accepting cards in-person. These machines are hardwired and usually connect to a dedicated phone line or the internet. Some include customer-facing pin pads for pin debit transactions.
Mobile card readers are a great choice for businesses that need to be mobile. These devices can operate anywhere there’s a mobile signal. They’re not as secure as countertop machines, but they can save you time and money when you need to process payments on the go.
POS systems are complete checkout solutions that connect to your credit card reader via the internet and have built-in features like a printer, barcode scanner, cash drawer, tablet and more. They’re ideal for businesses that need to track inventory, manage sales and promotions, create financial reports, and more.
In most cases, yes, you can get a credit card machine with bad credit. However, you may need to find a credit card processor that doesn’t require a merchant account or specializes in high-risk applicants. credit card machines