What is a BIN? A Bank Identification Number (or BIN) is the first 6 digits of a credit card number. BINs identify the bank that issued the card and help ensure that transactions are routed correctly. Though you might not give them much thought, BINs are an important part of the transaction process. Mastercard offers this short explanation video ...

The executives, who worked for Commerce Payment Systems, are accused of perpetuating a scam against thousands of small businesses and obtaining more than $30 million through overcharging and deceptive tactics. In this article, I will lay out the allegations and show you how to avoid potential scam practices when choosing a credit card processor for...

PIN debit and signature debit transactions have different fee structures. You may pay more for one or the other, depending on the amount of the transaction and other factors. It's important to know when a customer will be prompted for a PIN. EMV Debit vs. PIN Debit First, let’s clear up some confusion about EMV debit and PIN debit. EMV debit ca...

That’s because while recreational marijuana is now available for sale through dispensaries in multiple states, it’s not legal on the federal level. In fact, the federal government lists it as a Schedule I drug, considered as dangerous as heroin. In 2016, Alaska, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada voted to legalize recreational marijuan...

However, the rise of alternative payment channels has muddied the waters a bit, leaving some businesses confused as to why their transactions are card-not-present (CNP) when they expected card-present (CP.) Types of Transactions Firstly, let’s define “card-present” and “card-not-present.” More than just the physical presence of the credit card,...

Unlike some other software choices, zingFit was specifically designed for group fitness businesses, meaning it’s particularly suited for yoga and pilates studios, bootcamp-style fitness classes, spinning, and other activities done in a group or on a team. The software does offer recurring billing services, so you could use it for individual-style g...

Officially termed “credit card factoring” or “credit card laundering,” this type of misrepresentation is illegal. You could end up with fines, lawsuits, and more. Under no circumstances should you sign up for a merchant account for someone else’s business in your name, or allow another business to use your business’ merchant account. Let’s look ...

While not every industry is the same and constructing a recreational dispensary in California’s newly legal market requires different paperwork than opening an organic juice stand in your local library, there are generalities in business. Half of the legitimate businesses in the U.S. fail within the first year, according to the Small Business Ad...