***Update 2023: FreshBooks no longer offers a card reader itself, instead suggesting other brands. We're leaving this article for historical purposes, but businesses looking for a smartphone card reader should consider current options. Check out CardFellow's equipment directory for assistance. FreshBooks started as accounting software, a rival t...

There's a lot to consider when starting your own ecommerce website, but we'll help sort it out in this comparison guide. We'll look at the most cost-effective solutions from the three big providers in the ecommerce space, Shopify, BigCommerce, and Volusion. Continue reading for details about monthly fees, transaction costs, payment solutions, marke...

However, a POS is more than just a cash register replacement. These systems are part of an integrated business platform that can scan, process, and track transactions, manage inventory, streamline accounting, enable customer marketing, and much more. If you’re looking to update the technology in your business, a simple cash register won’t do. He...

Note: TransArmor was originally developed and offered by First Data, who has since been acquired by Fiserv. TransArmor is still available under that name, but is now considered an offering from Fiserv. Owning a business is complicated and it can be difficult to completely protect yourself from data breaches. Whether you have store and distributi...

Using a tablet for a POS system provides mobility and a seamless platform for both sales and inventory management. You can take it with you on the go, or use it in a restaurant to take orders or payments tableside. Note that some tablet POS system makers offer bundles that include a tablet and the POS software, but many don’t. If you’re consider...

This Braintree vs. Stripe review will cover a number of different facets of the two services to help you make the right choice for your online business. What are online payment gateways? A payment gateway is the technology that allows you to take payments online. Gateways are integrated into ecommerce stores to authorize card payments, chec...

Interchange downgrades aren't exactly a fun topic, and they can be a little complicated to explain. However, there are very real costs associated with them, and too many downgrades means throwing money down the drain. Fortunately, downgrades are an avoidable expense. The issue is that a processor’s expertise is required to recognize and address ...

Maybe it doesn’t even feel like a choice. You need money to make money; any aspiring small business owner knows this to be true. But who is going to give you a loan with less than stellar credit or no collateral? And, who has time to go through a loan approval process? Click, click, click and that cash advance could be yours. Okay, we underst...