From the Owner’s Desk
Nick Howell
Should Business Owners Accept Payment in Plastic? COVID-19 has accelerated the move to cashless payments NOT TO DATE MYSELF, but it wasn’t too long ago that it would be absurd to buy a small item with a credit card. I distinctly remember looking over my shoulder to avoid the stare because I was buying a hot dog with a card.
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Well, times have changed. Now, not even counting the current COVID-19 cashless way of life, credit cards are the norm. So much so that nowadays, if you pay with cash, you might get that awkward stare. So comes the question, do you, as a business owner, decide to accept cards and pay their associated fees? I will say emphatically, yes. It’s much easier to accept cards now, and also much cheaper than ever before.
Fortunately, in our line of work deciding whether to accept them is less of an issue than for a convenience store, but it still deserves some consideration if you are not taking them. Let’s first look at why one wouldn’t. Generally, the biggest reasons are the fees. The processors will charge you a monthly fee and a per-transaction fee of several percent. The bottom line is it will cost you to take a card. I think it’s all in
June/July 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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5/24/21 3:59 PM
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