If you are a small business owner, you know how important it is to offer your customers a convenient and secure way to pay for your products or services. You also know how challenging it can be to find a card payment solution that suits your needs and budget.

You may have heard of portable card payment machines, also known as mobile card readers, wireless card terminals, or PDQ machines. These are handheld devices that allow you to accept card payments anywhere, anytime, using your smartphone or tablet as a connection.

But what are the benefits of using portable card payment machines for your business? And what are the drawbacks? In this article, we will explore the surprising reason why more and more businesses are switching to portable card payment machines, and how you can get started with them too.

What are portable card payment machines?

Portable card payment machines are devices that enable you to accept card payments from your customers without being tied to a fixed location or a phone line. They work by reading the data stored on a customer’s card, accepting their PIN or contactless tap, and sending the information to your payment provider via Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Portable card payment machines can accept various payment methods, such as chip and PIN, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. They are also compliant with the highest security standards in the industry, such as PCI DSS, which regulate data transfer and storage.

What are the benefits of portable card payment machines?

Portable card payment machines offer many advantages for small businesses, such as:

• Convenience: You can take payments anywhere, whether it’s at your store, at a customer’s home, at an event, or on the go. You don’t need to worry about wires, plugs, or phone lines.
• Speed: You can process payments quickly and securely, reducing queues and waiting times. You can also send receipts via email or text message, saving paper and time.
• Versatility: You can accept different types of payments, catering to your customers’ preferences and increasing your sales opportunities. You can also integrate your portable card payment machine with other tools, such as accounting software, inventory management, or loyalty programs.
• Affordability: You can buy a portable card payment machine for a low upfront cost, usually less than £50. You don’t need to pay any monthly fees or sign any long-term contracts. You only pay a fixed percentage per transaction, which is usually lower than traditional card machines.
• Accessibility: You can easily sign up for a portable card payment machine online, without any complicated paperwork or credit checks. You can receive your device within a few days and start accepting payments right away.

What are the drawbacks of portable card payment machines?

Portable card payment machines are not perfect, and they may have some disadvantages for some businesses, such as:

• Reliability: You need to have a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to use your portable card payment machine. If you lose signal or run out of battery, you may not be able to accept payments.
• Compatibility: You need to have a compatible smartphone or tablet to use your portable card payment machine. Some devices may not work well with some apps or software.
• Professionalism: You may prefer to have a more traditional or robust card machine for your business image. Some customers may not trust a portable card payment machine as much as a countertop one.

The surprising reason why more and more businesses are switching to portable card payment machines

So far, we have seen that portable card payment machines have many benefits and some drawbacks for small businesses. But what is the surprising reason why more and more businesses are switching to them?

The answer is: virtual card payments.

Virtual card payments are a new way of accepting payments without using a physical card or a card machine. Instead, you use a QR code or a payment link that your customers scan or click on their smartphone to pay you.

Virtual card payments offer many advantages for both businesses and customers, such as:

• Simplicity: You don’t need any hardware or software to accept virtual card payments. You just need to sign up for a platform that offers this service and generate a QR code or a payment link for your business.
• Security: Virtual card payments are encrypted and tokenized, meaning that no sensitive data is exposed or stored during the transaction. They also reduce the risk of fraud, chargebacks, and costly mistakes.
• Flexibility: You can accept virtual card payments in different ways, such as displaying a QR code on your store front, sending a payment link via email, text message, social media, or invoice, or creating an online store with a checkout page.
• Savings: You can save money on fees and equipment by using virtual card payments. You don’t need to buy or rent a card machine, pay any monthly fees, or sign any contracts. You only pay a low percentage per transaction, which is usually lower than portable card payment machines.

How to get started with virtual card payments

If you are interested in switching to virtual card payments and enjoying all the benefits they offer for your business, you may be wondering how to get started.

One of the best platforms that offers virtual card payments for small businesses is GB Pay.

GB Pay is a single standalone solution that allows you to accept payments from your customers without using a card machine or an app. Your customers don’t even need an app to make the payment.

You just need to sign up and customise your store payment page. Once done, take a printout of the QR code generated and put it on your store and you are done. Your customers will just scan the QR code and make the payment. You can always check out the pricing comparison here.

How to get started with virtual card payments in 3 easy steps?

If you are ready to switch to virtual card payments and enjoy all the benefits they offer for your business, here are the 3 easy steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Sign up for the GB Pay platform at GB Pay 

Step 2: Add your business and connect your Stripe account.

Step 3: Generate a payment link or a QR code, put it on your store front or send it to your customers via email, text message, social media.

That’s it! You are now ready to accept virtual card payments from your customers and grow your business in 2023.

Conclusion

Portable card payment machines are a great way to accept card payments from your customers anywhere, anytime. They offer many benefits for small businesses, such as convenience, speed, versatility, affordability, and accessibility. They also have some drawbacks, such as reliability, compatibility, and professionalism.

However, there is a surprising reason why more and more businesses are switching to portable card payment machines: virtual card payments.

Virtual card payments are a new way of accepting payments without using a physical card or a card machine. Instead, you use a QR code or a payment link that your customers scan or click on their smartphone to pay you.

Virtual card payments offer many advantages for both businesses and customers, such as simplicity, security, flexibility, and savings.

One of the best platforms that offers virtual card payments for small businesses is GB Pay. GB Pay is a single standalone solution that allows you to accept payments from your customers without using a card machine or an app.

To get started with virtual card payments, you just need to sign up for GB Pay, add your business and connect your Stripe account, and generate a payment link or a QR code.

If you are looking for a better way to accept payments from your customers in 2023, switch to virtual card payments with GB Pay today. You will not regret it. ✨