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Square changes the way Small does Business

By Becky McCray

Small businesses used to have a hard time getting approved to accept credit cards. Getting set up for a merchant account involved passing a credit check, agreeing to a long-term contract, paying monthly fees even if you didn’t accept any payments, and acquiring specialized equipment often with another monthly payment.

Mobile hot dog vendor accepts a credit card payment with a Square reader.

Brava’s Dogs in Fort Wayne can take cash, but they’ll also take payment by Square.  Tip: try their lemonade. Photo by Becky McCray.

 

Square and its competitors have changed all that. Easy to get set up. No long-term contract. No monthly fees. “Equipment” is just your phone and a tiny plastic doohickie.

Signing my book at Social Media Tulsa Conference, after accepting payment via Square.

Tools of today’s book author trade: payment by Square. Photo by Sheila Scarborough, used with permission.

This has been a game-changer for small businesses, making many location-independent, letting others take cards “every once in awhile.”

  • Food vendors can go mobile.
  • Farm stands don’t have to get a phone line.
  • Service providers can take payment on any site.
  • Small town businesses aren’t constrained by the lack of local banks or merchant services.
  • Fair and festival vendors can finally take cards.

At a recent conference, I had a few books on hand that I wanted to take reimbursement for. Square worked perfectly, and I even borrowed fellow speaker Sheila Scarborough‘s Square credit card reader since I forgot mine. (I already had an account, I just forgot my reader.)

Want more info? Read our Square credit card review.

Tell us in the comments: how have mobile credit card devices changed your small town business?

  • About the Author
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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
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  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
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April 8, 2013 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, finance, rural

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Comments

  1. Scott Townsend says

    April 8, 2013 at 6:30 am

    I love Square. We’ve got the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra using Square. Great way for Non-Profits to collect money during fund-raising events. We are currently selling raffle tickets and collecting money via Square.

  2. Joe Crawford says

    April 8, 2013 at 10:02 am

    We use Square to accept donations, membership payments, event ticket purchases, etc. It’s fantastic! I just wish there were some connection to our community bank that we love and is so supportive of our community and our organization. Also, Becky, great job with working “doohickie” into a post! ;-)

  3. Becky McCray says

    April 8, 2013 at 11:05 am

    Great examples, guys! And thanks, Joe, for catching the “doohickie” reference after we talked about it on Twitter. :)

    I wonder if local banks could create their own version of Square and their competitors? Or if they could join the Dwolla network? Hmmmm….

  4. Jeanne says

    April 8, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    while I use a standard third party processor at my store (locked into one of those contracts you mentioned) I do have a Square account. As long as you have phone signal even if you lose electricity (like in our recent storm) it is still possible to accept cards.

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