How fast can you process credit (or debit) cards?

Using a telephone line takes 25 to 45 seconds. Using an internet service reduces the time to 2 to 5 seconds. Studies show that switching from a slow dial-up credit card service to a quick internet service can increase your sales by 3 percent.

Another big plus is an Epson TM-88 printer, which can print out a credit card receipt in about a second. Customers do not like waiting on line to pay for a purchase, so adding a fast printer and an internet connection in your business can significantly increase your sales and decrease your checkout time.

Adding an internet line in your business will cost $30 to $99 per month. On the other hand, an internet line allows you to process credit cards faster (perhaps a 2 to 3 percent increase in business) plus allows for better communications with your customers via email (perhaps a 10 percent increase in business). It may also be possible to do away with your dedicated phone line for credit card processing, saving you even more.

Merchant Services and Credit Card Processing: Our merchant services affiliate provides an array of electronic processing options to retail, restaurant, mail order, telephone order, and Internet businesses. Our services include credit, debit and EBT card processing, check conversion and guarantee.