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Credit Card Processing Home Service Repair Businesses Mobile Check Processing Payment Processing Technology Small business tools

Payment Apps for Business

Appliance repair companies with two or multiple technicians in the field use a variety of credit card processing equipment but that’s not necessary with todays advanced technology. Did you know that your appliance business can accept all forms of payments for services from a smartphone using an app.

With the world moving to smartphones it only makes sense to move ALL your payments to remote payments too. Knowing the ins and outs will help you compare the many different features you have at your fingertips.

What are the processing rates for each app. Do they use interchange plus, flat rate and do they allow you to surcharge? You’ll also need to be able to determine what you need to stream line reporting or if the app exports needed accounting data.

Common Types of Payment Apps

Zelle

Zelle works well for very small or family appliance repair companies. The app has been adopted by many national banks and works by having the money move within minutes, directly into your bank account associated with your profile.

The downsides of using Zelle are it only works if your current bank currently offers it.  If you have more than two technicians it won’t allow for sub accounts so everyone making deposit access the same account.  Savvy business owners also need to easily recap deposits at the end of day or week. If you have a healthy business and more than two technicians, deposits get combined making it harder to reconcile.

Zelle also doesn’t offer remote check uploads. It is just an app to send funds.  It is free for customers to send however you will need to check with Zelle to see what they will specifically charge your business.

Venmo

Venmo was originally created for friends to send or receive money quickly. It has feature like splitting bills and adding fun notes which helped it to catch on quickly with Gen X and Y’s.

The app now allows for business to accept payments.  You can add a business profile to a personal profile easily. There is no monthly fee however be aware there is a low seller transaction fee of 1.9% + $0.10 on business profiles (fee can change & other fees may apply).

It’s pretty easy to create a business profile if you have an existing Venmo login.  This will allow you to track personal transactions separately from business. You can accept payments virtually through their app with a unique QR code which is a secure simple way to pay.

Venmo has a couple of downsides.  The app doesn’t allow for remote check uploads and like Zelle. If you have several technicians it doesn’t offer sub accounts so all deposit go directly into one account.

iWallet Business

iWallet Business is a revolutionary app that’s designed to process credit cards and accept checks in the field. Using iWallet Business gives your technicians the freedom to essentially accept all forms of credit cards and also make remote check uploads in the field (including corporate checks, consumer checks, cashier’s checks and money orders). This sets it apart from the other two apps.

It is easy and free to download iWallet Business for both android and iPhone. The app supports accounting functions needed to run a successful business and includes QuickBooks integrations for accounting. Sign up and account approvals are fast. The app includes bank level security and has a QR code touchless processing feature to keep your employees and customers safe from germs.

The key feature is iWallet Business is one of the only a few business apps that converts paper checks into electronic transactions. This allows businesses to receive funds faster and improve working capital. It works by selecting the check icon at bottom of app, using a smart phone camera your technician can upload checks directly into individual accounts. Individual sub accounts keep every technicians business private and easy to reconcile at the end of the day/week.

If your technicians want to get a little extra for their good work, iWallet offers a tipping option. In the app tap “Tipping” and turn the toggle on.

With all these three apps, you can optimize the speed of invoice collection. The only caveat is if you want to keep all customers happy you need to accept all forms of payments.  Look for remote check uploads to convert all forms of paper checks into electronic transactions. This will set your business apart while saving time by not having to run them to make bank deposit at a local branch.

Categories
Home Service Repair Businesses Mobile Check Processing Payment Processing Technology Small business tools

The Importance to Accept Checks in The Field

In a world where technology is advancing, should your appliance repair business go cashless…probably not since checks are one of the oldest forms of payment.  

While more and more people are using e-wallet to pay for goods and services, savvy appliance repair business owners shouldn’t alienate customers by not accepting paper checks.  Eliminating checks has the potential to result with negative reviews because customers who still prefer to pay for repairs by check will be forced to use another repair company.

In todays world you need to cater to all homeowners to prevent losing business. Much of the older generation doesn’t use smartphones the way Gen X does, which is why they still prefer to pay for services using paper checks. Boomers and seniors haven’t adopted technology at the same rate and still carry traditional wallets and write checks.

There are many reasons why you should offer a variety of payment accommodations for every customer. Some people with high balances stay away from charging on their cards so they don’t incur additional credit card finance charges.

And, checks are less attractive to thieves than credit cards because they aren’t easy assessable and cannot be cashed by just anyone. For thieves this can be hassle to get bank routing numbers, account info, print the checks than try to cash without proper ID. Checking account numbers are not on the black market like credit cards numbers.

Using an app to accept all forms of payments is the future of growing a successful business.  Keep in mind that not all processing apps are created equal; most, like Venmo/Paypal only process credit cards or transfer money.

Most traditional processing apps entail higher costs to cover the processing fees. Even with negotiated low credit card processing rates, business owners spend a fortune each year on transaction fees.

Business owners will pay more in credit card processing fees if they only accept credit cards. Yea, you can build the credit card fees into your repair prices but do you want to run the risk losing business because your repair fees are higher? Not the smartest business decision.

There are far more pros for accepting checks in the field than not, which is why a lot of appliance repairs businesses still prefer to accept checks.

Do you really want to wait and don’t wait batch the weekly and make mass deposit at bank. Cash flow is increased because with mobile check deposits the funds are available in a few days (actual time varies by bank and if check is written from local account vs out of state). Waiting can be risky because a check/checks can get lost or misplaced along the way. 

There is also the risk that funds aren’t in the account if you wait. Than you need to deal with having to get in touch with the customer and either get another check or ask for a credit card.

Accepting Checks Reduces overhead

No processing fees with mobile check deposits using an app like iWallet Business. The app offers credit card processing and remote check deposits. The convenience of using the app is there is no equipment to buy and you can accept checks and remotely deposit check in the field in addition to credit or debit cards.

Decrease Fraud Risk

Checks are safer to upload through a smart phone instead of waiting for technicians to mail them to home office so they don’t  run the risk of losing along the way. iWallet Business App scans checks through a national data base of bad check writers. If the check is flagged as bad, it will catch it in real time. More importantly since your employee is still with the customer this will gives the opportunity to ask for another form of payment.

Prevent Stop Payments

When customers write a check to pay for the repair and you wait to deposit later, you run a big risk of having a stop payment on the check. If customers are not satisfied with the work performed and complain, credit card payments can/will be disputed.  Most credit card companies side on the customer and this will cause the amount to be debited from your account. The funds are returned to the customer without recourse. This is yet another reason why accepting checks is a great option.

Check Guarantee is an added level of check safety, in the event the check bounces. This is good for small or large repairs companies that have a history of customers who bounce checks.

Keys to Accept Check for Payments

Verify the check is written for the right amount. The amount written out should be the same as numerical numbers. Only accept the total amount due. Make sure your technicians verify the following before uploading.

  • Complete name of customer
  • Payee name (you or your business)
  • Correct date
  • Bank ID numbers including account and ABA routing numbers
  • Dollar amount
  • Signature

Don’t waste your time thinking checks are a thing the past, they aren’t! Accepting checks for payment in the field with iWallet Business could set you apart from other repair companies. It is a useful financial processing tool for small to mid-size appliance repair businesses. Accepting checks helps to attract more customers and using iWallet to remotely deposit them can provide a level of security while helping to save with overhead fees.

Categories
Credit Card Processing Interchange Plus Small business tools

The Importance to Compare Different Payment Pricing to see Which Models is Best to Achieve Your Goals.

Payment innovation has evolved and customers are using credit cards for payments more and more because it’s convenient.

But do you know what Interchange Plus, Fixed rate, Cash Discounting and Surcharge Pricing means? If not it this should help you to understand the different pricing models.

Payment Pricing Models

When it comes to credit cards, there are lots of cards your customers will use. Reward cards, platinum cards, student cards, no-fee cards, low-fee cards and travel cards, and each type comes with a different rate for processing. This is a fee that the merchant pays every time someone uses that card.

Every credit card brand (e.g. Visa, MasterCard, Discover) has a published, percentage-based on the interchange fee that they charge every time their cardholders uses their credit card – the cost of authorizing the charge.

Effective Rate

The effective rate is what you are being charged. The best way to know your effective rate is to take a recent statement, look at your fees, than divide that number by how much you processed in credit card sales.

The problem with traditional pricing models is they can hide the interchange cost which allows them to charge a markup. Processors consolidate a variety of rates into a smaller numbers; essentially “round up” to the highest rate in each tier. This makes monthly statements easy to read and makes it hard to see what the real rate the transactions are charged. It also allows the possibility of paying higher rates!

Interchange Plus

Interchange plus, also referred to as “cost plus” pricing, is straightforward pricing. Using cost plus pricing is transparent because it is more difficult to have hidden fees. With this pricing, processors take all the bank fees, card brand fees and pass them to the business owner, then add their markup fee (i.e 20%). You can check out all the interchange rates as they are published by Visa and MasterCard.

With interchange pricing, the business owner pays the non-negotiable interchange fee for the type of credit card and the payment processor markup. The markup is calculated by adding the interchange fee, a basis point mark-up and a per-transaction fee charged by the payment processor.

By showing you the actual interchange costs, interchange-plus pricing allows you to easily see what the markup is. This encourages processors to set reasonable markups plus this transparency helps ensure you are getting the best rates.

Fixed Rate Pricing

The fixed rate model, aka “flat rate” is simple which why it is appealing to appliance repair business owners.  If you want to know your real operating costs, paying a flat rate for processing will make the most sense because there are no hidden fees.

Fixed rate is easy to understand and can result in bottom line savings. Business owners can easily calculate credit card processing fees since the rate is the same each month, no matter what type of card or transaction method is used.

Apps like iWallet Business offer a consistent low flat rate which is why it lots of appliance repair business owners are switching to this. For budgeting you know what to expect—2.3% processing for businesses that process over one million per year and 2.5% for under.  

Cash Discounting

A true cash discount program gives the customer a discount for cash payments and avoids additional costs. This model passes the cost of acceptance back to customers who choose to pay with a credit card or debit card.

Giving discounts for cash is legal in all of the 50 states and is well received by the customer. Cash discounting has been around for decades and gaining in popularity. Gas stations have used cash discounts for many years. Paying with cash costs the customer a little less per gallon than paying with a credit card. There are a handful of specific rules to follow to stay compliant, be sure to work with a provider that will help you navigate these rules.

Surcharge Pricing

A surcharge program is a type of credit card processing where you charge the consumer an additional fee “surcharge” on top of the cost of service to cover the merchant processing cost. Surcharge programs are currently legal in almost all 50 states.

A surcharge program recoups merchant service fees that are charged when the customer presents a credit card as payment. A surcharge program doesn’t feel as good to the customer because it adds the additional fee at checkout.

Selecting the best option for your business Paying with a credit card is convenient and fast, but the processing rate differs on each credit card with effects your fees. On top of that monthly fees are determined by the card types, and merchant fees are added on top of the actual cost. It can be hard to decide between the different programs so be sure to consider the many before implementing a new program into your operations. Learning the different terms and how they can help your bottom line and potentially keep more money in your bank account.

Categories
Credit Card Processing Interchange Plus Payment Processing Technology

Compare Your Credit Card Processing Fees to See If You Can Save Money

The rates that you pay will vary depending on the processor and the pricing model of your individual payment processer.  

If you’re considering a new credit card processor, here’s valuable information to help you compare your options so you won’t be misled.

What is Your Savings Potential?

Check your most recent statement to what you are currently paying. If you process over 1m annually and are paying more than 2.5% this may be a good time to push back on your current provided and ask for a fee reduction.

Or it may make more sense to explore other competitive options to learn how you can save on fees. If you have the tools and education, your decision to stay with current processor or move will be easier.

Interchange Plus

Interchange-plus is a pricing model where credit card processors break down the fees that go to the bank or credit card issuer and their markup. There are two components — the interchange fee determined by the card networks and a markup set by the credit card processing company.

The transaction fees that the merchant’s bank account must pay whenever a customer uses a credit/debit card for payment. The fees are paid to the card-issuing bank to pay handling costs, bad debt costs, fraud and the risk involved in the payment approval.

What you need to understand is that there are hundreds of interchange categories – all with different rates. Different categories apply to different transactions, but the processor doesn’t control when they apply. In any given month, multiple interchange rates will appear on your statement; however these rates are the same no matter which processor you use.

Interchange –is the fee that comes directly from the card networks like Visa and Mastercard.  Payment processors have no control on these rates, and are required to pay.

Plus – The “plus” is the markup that your credit card processor is charging on top of the interchange fee. This is the percentage fee and a transaction cost.

Generally, interchange-plus pricing is more favorable for small businesses compared other with pricing models such as This is because interchange-plus is not only more transparent, but businesses usually end up paying lower processing costs with this model.

Here’s how interchange-plus stacks up compared with other common pricing models.

Tiered Pricing

Tiered pricing is probably the most common credit card processing model because it simplifies your fees by breaking them down into three main tiers — qualified, mid-qualified and non-qualified.

Qualified Rates –Transactions that fall under this category have lower fees attached to them,

Mid-Qualified – Is the percentage rate charged whenever they accept a credit card that does not qualify for the lowest rate

Non-Qualified –These transactions will charge your higher rates for.

The nature of a transaction will determine the category in which it belongs. Debit cards and non-reward credit card transactions typically fall under the qualified rate, while transactions involving corporate cards, higher rewards cards, and card-not-present transactions would be under the non-qualified category.

Since your transactions are categorized into 3 tiers, the tiered model makes your statement easier to read. The major downside is the tiered pricing model lacks transparency when it comes to your fee breakdown.

Blended Pricing

Blended rates are bundled so that the merchant is paying one overall cost each month which includes a percentage of the transaction total plus a flat fee. This pricing model is used by Square, Stripe and PayPal and the rate might be 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions. There is no clear way to determine what you are paying becasue fees are charged at an equal and unchanged rate month-to-month.

Flat Rate

Flat Rate pricing means that the credit card processor is charging one flat rate for all credit card transactions, regardless of the fluctuating interchange rate. This model is designed to cover all aspects of your processing in one cost.

Don’t Forget Hidden Fees

Be sure to read the contract because sometimes there are hidden fees that add up.

Cancellation Fee – Many processors use contracts with cancellation fees. They know that once you sign that contract, which are usually three years, you’ll have to pay to get out of it.

Processing equipment – Companies like Square, Cover and require the purchase of card readers or POS equipment.

If you want to take more money to the bank by saving on processing fees you should consider iWallet Business App. iWallet has two flat rate processing plans; one for under 1m and 1 for over 1m. No fees to sign up, no equipment to purchase and you can cancel anytime for free.  Understanding what is the best payment processing will help you save money. Do your processing research and select the best pricing model for your business needs.

Categories
Home Service Repair Businesses Mobile Check Processing Payment Processing Technology Small business tools

Appliance Repair Mobile Check Processing Costs

Check processing for appliance repair business sounds simple right? It can be low cost and easy if you understand the different ways to process checks and the costs associated.

There are different factors to consider when you’re running a small to medium size appliance repair business. Having a good grasp on financial costs will help you to save time and money on mobile check deposits.

Today’s business owners can benefit more by using mobile check deposits than by using their traditional bank checking account deposit feature. There are a range of options to consider when they are considering mobile check processing.  

Manual Machine Swipe Electronic Check Processing Costs

Manual swipe machines help small businesses to process several checks at a time. While it sounds fast and easy there is a monthly cost as high as $100 to rent the check scanner equipment.

Do you want the money in the bank ASAP? If yes this is not the best check deposit method because cash flow will be slow. Checks will need to be mailed or dropped at the office. This takes time having employees drive to drop off and time for administrative staff to process. You also run the risk of losing checks along the way.

Mobile Check Processing Cost

Using iWallet Business, a free app that allows your technicians to accept checks and make mobile check deposits anytime, anyplace. The app offers more benefits than traditional ATM deposits.

There is a monthly mobile check processing cost of $50 a month for up to 1400 checks per year. Using this method will actually save you money in the long run because there is less back end administrative cost. You also do not have to pay for gas for all the trips to the bank, which these days saves a lot of money too.

Mobile check deposits are great because check payment processing is accepted instantly using a smart mobile phone or tablet. No extra fee for equipment to purchase or to rent.

Accepting checks at time of completed work and using a smart phone to instantly deposit also saves time. Technicians have 24/7 mobile check processing and accounting has 24/7 real-time, consolidated reporting and banking.

Check Return Cost

The ability to make real time, mobile check deposits with iWallet can also potentially help eliminate return check costs. A returned check fee is when someone gives you a check, but they don’t have the funds to cover it. While you don’t plan for returned checks but it happens all the time. This also happens when an account has been closed or if the customer decided to stop payment because they may not have been satisfied with the work performed.

Your techs in the field do a big job and accept a large check for payment, it could takes days before it gets deposited which slows cash flow.  Between the time of repair and when the check gets deposited, there is no money in bank account due to non-sufficient funds.

Now you’re faced with two issues, a charge for returned check, you have to waste time and go back to the customer to work out another payment source. While this situation is not your fault it is impossible to know how much the check writer has in their bank account, the depositor is still the one held responsible to pay the fee.

To potentially help to avoid returned checks us iWallet for all mobile check processing. The app that runs all checks through a national data base of bad checks. If the check writer is on the list you will be alerted instantly and the technician can ask for another form of payment on the spot. 

Check Guarantee Cost

Check guarantee is another mobile check processing add-on feature which provides appliance repair businesses with check protection to eliminate the risk of non-sufficient funds. This feature helps business owners prevent getting burned by a bad check writer who clears the fraud database but doesn’t have enough funds to cover the work performed.

For a fee of 1.5%-2.3%, during the mobile check processing transaction, you can transfers the risk to the processor, and you will be guaranteed to receive funding on the check. It is simple process, during the transaction where the merchant transfers risk to the processor and funding is guaranteed.

Best Small Business Mobile Check Processing App

Mobile check deposits for personal use is very common, having the ability for multiple technicians to make mobile check deposits into a business account will be too with iWallet Business app.

Anyone can test iWallet Business because there is nothing to buy, no sign up fees and you can cancel anytime without additional cost. With this app you can accept all types of checks, including personal, business and travelers.  It is the best 21st century mobile check processing app for appliance repair businesses with two or more field technicians.  

Categories
Mobile Check Processing Payment Processing Technology Small business tools

5 Ways for Small Businesses to Accept Checks

Many small business owners are so busy with their daily operations that they haven’t done their homework and looked into new ways to accept payments.  And what works well for one small business doesn’t always for another.

Today there are more choices than ever when it comes to depositing checks. One size doesn’t fit all but knowing what’s important to your small business will help. Do you want to save time by not driving to the bank and get more time back in your day? How about reducing back office work and eliminate manual banking? Does improving cash flow sound good? Or do you want to help reduce check fraud? 

The rise of new technology has opened up new opportunities to stream line small business everyday needs. Here’s a look at the difference between traditional bank deposits, manually swipe check deposits and remote check mobile deposits to see what is right for your business.

Traditional Banking

Most banks have physical locations to deposit checks but it is not the most efficient use of time. It just makes sense if you need to speak with someone but do you really need your employees doing that?  Your cash flow will be slower if they only have time to go once a week. It is also a poor use of time to have your field workers drop off every day.

If you save your deposits for a weekly run and have multiple to process, plan on waiting in line. Tellers are becoming obsolete because banks are replacing them with ATM machines,  inside and outside of the local branch. ATM deposit can be tricky especially if it eats your check. Once it gets chews there is no way to pull out. You will have to contact the customer for another if badly shredded. If you issue deposit only ATM cards, remind employees not to forget their pin. The last thing you need is to delay cash flow any longer.

The other downside for a small business waiting to deposit at a local bank is the risk of accepting a bad check or have insufficient funds. The best option is to be able to deposit at time of sale or service. This way you can correct the issue by accepting another form of payment if needed. needed.

Manual Machine Swipe

Many small business still use a device and have checks delivered to the office to be manually swiped, however this process is becoming somewhat outdated. If you have a team of two or more field workers they need to take time out of their work week and drop off their checks. While this is often impossible for companies with huge fleet in multiple locations across different cities. They usually end up have checks batched and sent to the home office. Both of these formats reduce cash flow and open up the possibility of misplacing or losing checks.

Manually type

Businesses that use services like Clearant & Swipe simple make check deposits worry free, but are they? This form of check acceptance allows you make deposits directly into your account without a trip to the bank. But what about the cost, is there a big fee associated for this? Does it scan databases for bad check writers?

With a PC

Using a PC to process checks has the same downsides as manually processing to transfer funds from the checking account to your merchant bank account. While it eliminates employees depositing at the local bank or batching and sends in to the office, it still slows down cash flow.

Mobile/Remote Check Deposit

What lots of savvy small business owners use these days is opt to use remote deposit, the process of recording a check image which can be transmitted electronically in place of a paper check. The process of taking a picture from any smart phone is seamless through the mobile app and the funding is faster.

Some of the advantages of using an app like  iWallet Business is field technicians can upload check anytime, anywhere, eliminating the need to visit a bank or batch weekly and send to the office. You get a quick consolidation of deposits from multiple locations. iWallet also runs checks through a database and scans banking info against a national database of bad check writers in real time. This will help mitigate check fraud or bad checks.

Categories
Credit Card Processing

Best Time to Shop for Deals

With Christmas behind us, the end of year bargains are here! Don’t you want the best deals you can find — especially during these tough times? Whether you are looking for specific items like winters clothes, warm coats, holiday decorations or a new car, these deals start now with many more are to be found all year long.

December is typically one of the best months to purchase a several items like a new car. Edmunds.com reports the highest discounts off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, 6.1% on average.  Salespeople work on goals, monthly, quarterly and yearly that combined with new models make it a great time to snap up a deal. And starting the day after Christmas, look for deep discounts that are many times 50% or more off on decorations, ornaments, artificial trees, and similar wrapping paper.

Sale ads, coupon savings are everywhere but if you can wait till the end of the month it is truly the best time to shop. Are you wondering what you should purchase this month, or wait until 2021? Below are tips on when to purchase popular big and small ticket items as some months in the year are better than others for certain purchases. Here is a plan that can help you to save money throughout 2021.

January
New Year’s presents a fresh start to 2021 and for shopping deals.

  • Gym Memberships- COVID permitting, gyms offer sales to help get new members signed up.
  • Fitness equipment- Time to get in shape and retailer offer fitness equipment and apparel sales.
  • Bedding and linens- Department stores hold bedding and linen “white sales” in January with deep discounts on sheets and towels.
  • TVs and electronics- Just before the Super Bowl, retailers normally discount TVs and other home-theater essentials.

February
The month of love and gifts, plus time to buy major items.

  • TVs- Sales into February and with Super Bowl being the primary reason and the best time to buy a new TV.
  • Winter items- With cold weather winter tapering off, retailers look to selloff inventory of cold-weather products like apparel and winter sports gear.
  • Home goods- Retailers run home and apparel sales before Presidents Day.

March
March is a little slower but there are always sales to be found.

  • Tax software- With tax-prep ahead, retailers many times will discount items.
  • Grills- Get ready for summer grilling now so you can avoid the price increases when summer arrives.
  • St. Patrick’s Day essentials- Retailers, bars and restaurants usually discount green-themed clothing, party supplies, food and drink specials.

April
April showers bring spring deals.

  • Tax themed items- Retailers and restaurants offer Tax Day discounts and freebies on services.
  • Vacuums- Need a new vacuum, manufacturers like Dyson many times have nice markdowns.
  • Easter candy- Take advantage of the day after Easter for big markdowns on stuffed animals, plastic eggs and more. Buy now and save for 2022!

May
May flowers are here and sales are too!

  • Small kitchen appliances- Time to find discounts on your favorite kitchen appliances.
  • Furniture- Memorial Day is one of the three best months to buy furniture and home décor.
  • Spring apparel- By May, retailers will discount spring clothing that has already been hanging on racks for a month or two.

June
June brings opportunities to snag deals.

  • Gym memberships- Summer is a good time to look for membership or class package deals.
  • Lingerie- Yes Victoria’s Secret host its Semi-Annual Sale. Stock up now and save!

July
July temperature goes up but prices fall.

  • Patriotic items- Look for Fourth of July red, white and blue products, sporting goods, and outdoor furniture.
  • Personal electronics- Retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon (Prime Day) run July promotions.
  • Apparel- No need to wait till end-of-summer, sales start now.

August
Summer product close out sales!

  • Outdoor products- Price slashes on lawn mowers and other outdoor equipment.
  • Back to school month- Time to buy pencils and expensive laptops.
  • Swimsuits- Swimming isn’t over days, but swimsuits are all on clearance so buy for next year.

September
September has its fair share of good buys too.

  • iPhones- Apple usually announces and unveils its new iPhones and many times drops prices on the current phones.
  • Appliances- Expect a series of blowout deals in the week leading up to Labor Day, including promotions on appliances big and small.
  • Mattresses- Time for Labor Day mattress sales at both department stores and mattress centers.

October
Halloween season brings deals on these products.

  • Jeans- New inventory arrives for Fall so grab a new pair of jeans.
  • Outdoor furniture- Temperatures drop and patio furniture, outdoor living products go on final clearance.
  • Candy- Halloween brings discounted candy for trick-or-treaters. Many times the larger bags are a better buy.

November
Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales at last!

  • Electronics- Look for deep discounts on smartphones, TV’s activity trackers, computers and gaming systems.
  • Home appliances- Time to buy washers, dryers, dishwasher and refrigerators.
  • Tools- Home items like ladders and toolboxes are also on sale.

December
Holidays bring gifting discounts across all areas.

  • Toys and games- Retailers run toys and games specials to move the items.
  • Electronics- Black Friday promotions run from over into this month.
  • Winter Clothes- Shoppers can take advantage of after Christmas sales on fall clothing!
Categories
Credit Card Processing

No Contact Matters More Now Than Ever

The Thanksgiving holiday has set a record only it is not the kind of record to brag about. The U.S. is experiencing a surge in COVID- 19 cases. As Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year’s approach, no contact matters now more than ever before!

Families were asked not to gather but many didn’t listen. As a result the U.S. has set a record number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and the numbers are continuing to rise daily! One of the biggest problems America is now facing is hospitals are almost at full capacity. There are very few beds available and emergency rooms are filled! Feeling the strain, some hospitals have resulted to setting up tents. Governors’ in many states have re issued stay at home orders in regions where hospitals surpassed 85 percent intensive care occupancy.

Even though the FDA has approved the first of two vaccines, the public still needs to do their part to control the pandemic. To help mitigate the spread, implementing safety into your everyday work and personal lives is easy. Wear a face covering to cover your mouth and nose in public at all times. The mask will help to protect you in the event you come in contact with someone infected. Disinfect and clean all surfaces daily which include doorknobs, handles, light switches, tables, desks, phones, keyboards, computers, as well as sinks, toilets, faucets and countertops.

The bigger issue is COVID may be spread through people not showing any symptoms. According to the CDC, the virus is thought to be spread mainly from person-to-person. Which is why it may spread between people you are in close contact or through droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs nearby. Healthy practices are essential to protecting you and your love ones.  Follow the obvious guidelines like avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth unless your hands were just cleaned.  Make sure to wash your hands often, with soap and for a minimum of 20 seconds.  And wash again after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing. Always avoid close contact with anyone sick.

Eliminate sources of infection

Businesses also need to eliminate as many sources of potential infection. Finding contactless touchpoints will also help reduce the possible sources of infection. Going contactless may become the new normal. There are free apps like QR menu and payment apps which are the safe and secure to use. Anyone can view menus and make payments from their own mobile devices. No fees to sign up or to down load the apps.

It has been reported that even religious organizations are weighing their options for the well-being of their congregations. Many have set up make shift arrangements for outdoor services and have incorporated Zoom worship services, video and phone calls.

With very few beds remaining the biggest takeaway is to eliminate crowded places, limit holiday social gatherings and large family parties.  Staying safe should be top priority. Making sure you everyone wears masks and stays at least 6 feet apart at all times. Keep plenty of clean masks around, place hand sanitizer throughout your business, house and car.

For an up to date data snapshot of how COVID-19 is impacting individual hospitals in your area visit Healthdata.gov.

Categories
Credit Card Processing

California Small Businesses Get Help to Stay Open During COVID

COVID-19 has presented several challenges for small businesses, employers and their employees because cases are rising at an alarmingly rapid rate. Most especially for businesses in California where more than 1 million cases have been identified as of December 2020.  Big cities have been the most effected. In Los Angeles alone it was reported by the NY Times more than 370,000 people have had the virus. The state is struggling as they are experiencing the fastest increase in cases to date.

California is home to 4.1 million small businesses which represents 7.2 million workers in California. The state’s mom-and-pop business owners were slowly beginning to reopen after suffering through months of shutdowns. Small business owners were eager to get back at it. Now with the numbers on the rise and partial closures back in place, there are a number of different resources to take advantage of.

State resources

Small businesses drive growth and create jobs for the state and should implement all resources available to them. California Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 can take advantage of temporary Tax Relief in way of state grants and free business apps to stay open. Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced the state will support business throughout the pandemic.

  • Main Street Hiring Tax Credit, which authorizes $100 million in hiring tax credit for qualified small businesses. The credit is equal to $1,000 per qualified employee, up to $100,000 for each small business employer- application opened December 1, 2020
  • Automatic three-month income tax extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax.
  • Extends existing interest and penalty-free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales.
  • Expanded interest free payment options for large businesses affected.
  • $500 Million for New COVID Relief Grant for Small Business administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA).  Funds are awarded to selected intermediaries with established networks of Community Development Financial Institutions to distribute relief through grants up to $25,000 small businesses throughout the state by early 2021. Non-profits are eligible for these grants. Visit here for updates on availability.
  • Click here for the full list of state support for businesses.

Small business online resources to stay open safely

Small businesses should also do their part to keep their customers and employees healthy.  It is so important to maintain a safe environment for everyone who enters their location. There’s a lot to think about and staying open looks different depending on your business. Here are some free resources and tip to help.

  • Advertise health and safety measures on your website, window or email communication. Let them know they can expect a safe COVID free zone.
  • Implement touchless menus. Free QR menu codes offer contactless ways to view your menu and works with restaurants, bars, spas, and any business with a list of services.
  • Contactless health assessments are a smart, germ free way to screen customers. QR health assessment provides free QR codes.
  • To make contact tracing easier have all customers fill out a free online assessment, print it and keep on file for 30 days.
  • Prevent germs by using free QR payments, a contactless way to accept payment for goods or services.

Income loss from COVID-19 has presented significant challenges to small business owners and their employees. With the new the state support, business should jump on the financial opportunities the governor has created. Whether you’re open or planning to reopening, it’s a smart idea to also implement new COVID resources now or develop a plan so you are ready. Customers want to feel safe.

Categories
Home Service Repair Businesses

COVID-19 Is Rejuvenating QR Codes

iWallet startup, on the cutting edge of the O2O revolution, launched QR Menu in effort to help businesses reopen safely. QR Menu converts paper menus into an online form that is viewed on a mobile device. COVID-19 has turned the world upside down creating challenges to bring people back. Contactless menus can help provide peace of mind to employees and customers when it’s not business as usual.

COVID has created new policies and procedures in order to meet reopening requirements. WebMD and other studies have reported restaurant menus to be one of the germiest touch points as it can contain 100 times more bacteria than toilet seats.

iWallet QR Contactless Menu Helps Restaurants, Spas, and Wineries Reopen Safely

Businesses can eliminate sources of potential germs by implementing QR contactless menus which replaces the need for physical menus. It’s a simple one step process to generate a QR menu at menu.iwallet.com. For consumers it’s easier, they just point a camera at the QR code and tap the link that pops up to view the menu.

“I’ve been working on an exciting QR application project, however when COVID hit I saw the need to help small businesses reopen. What started locally ramped into something much bigger,” States Jim Kolchin, iWallet Founder. “QR Menu was designed to be free because I know restaurants run on thin margins however it has been adopted globally including; Marriott International, Wynn Las Vegas, The Venetian, Panera Bread, Denny’s and more!”

Key Benefits:

  • Safer to use- mitigates the spread of germs
  • Saves time- easy to update and make instant changes
  • Reduces costs- no more printing and ink expenses
  • Eco friendly- eliminates the millions of paper menus thrown out daily

Reduced capacity, strict regulations combined with consumer habits that have changed, businesses don’t need to scramble any further. QR contactless menu provide employees and customers a touch-free way to help keep them safe. Paper is going away and contactless menus are here to stay.

About iWallet
iWallet is a touchless payment platform that was created with one thing in mind, helping businesses and service providers eliminate unnecessary processing fees. QR technology makes financial services more convenient and cost efficient. Using ACH bank transfers, the process is free to both merchants and consumers.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Renee Borsack
reneeborsack@gmail.com

SOURCE iWallet

Related Links
https://menu.iwallet.com

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