Using a Credit Card Reader With Your iPhone

If you can purchase a $1 dollar cup of coffee at the gas station with a credit or debit card, then buying that fabulous piece of artwork at the local fair should be done with a swipe too! With new smartphone (such as iPhone) credit card readers, paying with your card can happen virtually anywhere. These credit card readers are useful whether you have a brick and mortar store or a mobile business like a food truck. Having the flexibility to accept payments anywhere and on the go can increase your sales and make the process of invoicing much more efficient.

There are a tremendous amount of credit card processing apps available for use with iPhones. However, only a few companies are offering an actual credit card device for swiping to be used with an iPhone or another smartphone version. Seeing the pros and cons to each company will help you decide what credit card reader would fit your business model best.

Various companies provide credit card processing devices to be used with an iPhone; Square,Intuit GoPayment, and PAYware mobile are just a few.

Square Software

Launched in 2010 Square quickly became one of the most popular devices for mobile payments. The device itself is a small white square that plugs directly into your iPhone. The app and the device are free, no contract is required, and using the Square does not mandate having a merchant account, meaning that the money will go straight into your bank account. The app is user-friendly and even allows for an easy refund process.

Square has 2.75% fee every time a card is swiped, and an additional 3.5% and .15 cent transaction fee for non-present cards. The percentages offered with Square are primarily attractive when your business does $5,000 of less in sales each month. Even though Square offers a quick set-up process and no credit checks, the drawback is having virtually no customer support if you do run into problems during the initial set-up or thereafter.

Intuit GoPayment

Two factors make Intuit GoPayment different from Square. Android and Apple are the only compatible smart devices that work with the Square. Larger businesses may be interested in using this credit card reader with an iPhone as they offer a reduced transaction fee of 1.7% per swipe and 2.7% for manually entered cards.

PAYware Mobile

If your business plans take you internationally, than PAYware Mobile by VeriFone might be the best option for you. If you opt for the upgraded version, you can have numerous card swiping devices that are equipped with a PIN pad and bar code scanner. Each of these devices may be used with your iPhone allowing for flexibility and increased point of sale locations.

Clover ® Go for iOS

Accept payments on the go, anywhere you have wireless or cellular coverage. Whether you’re selling at the local farmers market or at a customer’s job site, Clover Go makes it easy to take your business to your customers. Processes contactless payments (including Apple Pay®, Android Pay™, & Samsung Pay™), along with traditional chip & swipe transactions with ease, right from your iPhone.

Accepting Payments on Your iPhone is Easy

While there are more devices available for review, what each of these companies has in common is the ability to process transactions apart from a store-front location, or having a purely mobile business no longer has to be cash and check only. Speak with your merchant services provider about a credit card reader that is compatible with your iPhone to benefit from the extensibility these devices offer.