Integrating Technology into Your Small Business Finances

These days, using technology in your small business finances is not just a luxury — it’s a necessity. One recent study by Deloitte found that digitally advanced small businesses not only generate double the revenue per employee, but also experience significantly higher revenue growth, job creation, employment advancement rates, and are more likely to have engaged in exporting activities over the past year compared to those with low digital engagement. Here are some practical ways to harness the power of technology in your small business finances, ensuring you stay ahead in the competitive market while maintaining efficiency and security at the core of your operations.

Adopting Various Digital Payment Methods

In today’s market, offering a wide range of digital payment methods is crucial for business growth. Including options for credit and debit card payments, mobile transactions, and digital currencies meets customer expectations and expands your market reach effectively.

Choosing the Right POS Systems

A sophisticated Point of Sale (POS) system is indispensable for managing sales, tracking inventory, and understanding customer preferences. Selecting a system that suits your specific business needs can drastically improve your operational efficiency and strategic planning.

Setting Up Your Online Presence

Given the surge in online shopping, establishing an online presence through an e-commerce platform is essential for tapping into wider markets and monitoring online sales activities. This approach allows small businesses to thrive in the digital age without specifying particular platforms.

Streamlining Financial Management

Robust financial management is key to the success of any business. Cloud-based accounting software simplifies essential financial tasks such as bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation while offering real-time access to your financial health.

Leveraging Customer Data

The ability to analyze customer behavior through financial technology offers invaluable insights. This data aids in refining marketing efforts, enhancing customer relations, and ultimately driving loyalty and repeat business.

Prioritizing Cybersecurity

Ensuring the security of business and customer data is paramount. Implementing technological solutions with advanced security features, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and fraud detection, is crucial for maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of your business.

Incorporating technology into your small business finances is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge and enhancing efficiency. From facilitating various payment methods through merchant services, to ensuring cybersecurity – technology can simplify business operations, enhance customer experiences, and secure your business’ financial future.

To learn more about our business Merchant Services options, check out our business services webpage. You can also reach out to our Business Development Team via email at business@firstffcu.com to get more details about which options might make the most sense for your business. We’re happy to help answer any questions you might have and assist with ways to streamline and expand your small business!

Down to Business: Merchant Services

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A professional on his lunch break walks down to a local eatery and enjoys a turkey club with avocado lime spread and a crisp dill pickle spear on the side. For twenty minutes out of his busy day he is calm, and he can already feel the tired 2 o’clock feeling coming on. He reaches for his credit card, swipes and in an instant his tab is settled. Let’s focus on that instant… blip… that instant when funds are transferred from consumer to merchant.

To break it down; the customer swipes his card through the terminal to pay $10.00 for his lunch. The terminal reads who the customer is and contacts the bank that issued the card. The bank at this point, must make a decision on whether or not to pay the merchant. Could the transaction be fraudulent? Are there funds available? Upon approval, the consumer’s bank sends $10.00 to the merchant’s bank, and then the bank deposits $9.80 into the merchant’s account. That $0.20 is sent back to the consumer’s bank and it is then split five times: with the issuing credit or debit card company at a predetermined rate, the issuing credit card brand (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, etc.), the processing company, then to an ISO selling the processing (if applicable), and finally, it is split for the last time if there is an independent contractor selling the processing for the ISO. We’re certainly not splitting the atom, but this is getting eerily close to nuclear fission.

At the end of each business day, all of the credits and fees are tallied by the processing company. After about 2 business days, the settlement is deposited into the merchant’s bank account. The processing fees are typically debited from the merchant’s account 3-5 days after the end of the month. Phew – that is quite the process! Why would a processing company go through all of this effort for pennies on the dollar… or sometimes fractions of a penny? Why would a business pay to have customers pay them?

Market trends and statistics provide an overwhelming answer to these questions.   According to Javelin Research, in 2011 only 27% of all in person sales were made with cash. According to the SEC in 2011 – $17,782,000,000,000.00 were spent using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diners Club. When you start to take small percentages of nearly 18 trillion dollars, it becomes clear just how lucrative this business can be. For the business owner, according to Ari Shapiro of NPR, consumers purchase 40% more when they shop with a credit card vs. cash. Many interesting clinical psychological studies break down the why behind this.

So what does all of this mean for our small businesses? Well, with so many entities fighting for a slice of the dollar, the competition among merchant services providers is stiff. Given the dynamic nature of the industry, loyalty, transparency and honest hardworking member service are hard to find. Perform your due diligence and interview various clients to see just what kind of service is actually provided. A few minutes now will pay dividends later!

If you’re interesting in merchant services for your business, you’re in luck! First Financial has a processor who provides great service and excellent rates. If you would like more information on merchant services or business products and services, contact Business Development by emailing business@firstffcu.com

*Sources: Psychology Today, Nerd Wallet, Huffington Post, and Host Merchant Services.