From Check Out to Cash Flow: Your Business Guide to Merchant Services
As the way people pay continues to evolve, businesses are adapting to meet new expectations around speed, convenience and security. Understanding how to manage your payment methods effectively can help business owners streamline operations, reduce risk and maintain reliable cash flow. When choosing a merchant services partner, it’s important to consider a few key factors to find the right fit for your business:
Preventing Fraud in Digital Payments
As payment technologies become more advanced, so do fraud tactics. Businesses processing digital payments should take a proactive approach to protect client information and reduce risk.
Security best practices include:
- Using payment terminals that accept EMV chip cards and contactless payments.
- Enabling built-in fraud tools like Address Verification Services and CVV (security code) requirements.
- Staying PCI compliant, which means adhering to security standards designed to protect cardholder data.
- Monitoring for unusual activity, such as repeated declines or large transactions from new clients.
Employee training is also important. Work with your merchant services provider for recommendations to help to train your team to recognize red flags, such as customers using multiple cards or acting distracted during checkout.
Managing Costs with Surcharging Tools
Credit card processing fees can add up over time, particularly for smaller businesses or those with tight margins. One strategy for offsetting these fees is surcharging: adding a small fee to credit card transactions to help cover processing costs.
Before implementing surcharges, businesses should be aware of:
- Regulations, which vary by state and by card network.
- Disclosure requirements, such as signage at entry points and itemized receipts.
- Limits on surcharges.
Surcharging isn’t allowed on debit or prepaid cards and must be applied consistently. It can be a helpful tool, but must be used carefully to stay compliant and transparent with customers.
A strong merchant services processing partner can help you implement and manage surcharging responsibly as part of your larger payments strategy.
Planning for High-Volume Seasons
Every business faces peak periods — holidays, seasonal demand or industry-specific busy times. These surges can strain systems if payment processing tools aren’t built to handle them.
During high-volume times, businesses can benefit from:
- Reliable hardware that can process transactions quickly and reduce wait times.
- Scalable payment platforms that accommodate increased demand without downtime.
- Real-time support, especially when problems arise that require immediate attention.
Your merchant services provider can help prepare you for these moments by testing systems and ensuring equipment is up to date to prevent disruptions and maintain service quality when it matters most.
Whether you’re reviewing your payment setup, considering a shift to surcharging or planning for a busy season, consider working with merchant service providers like Enterprise Bank & Trust, powered by Basys, that prioritize security and flexibility.
