The Benefits of a Virtual Card Terminal

November 8, 2021

If you're a business owner, then the chances are that you need to accept credit cards. Not only does it make your customers happier and more likely to keep coming back, but it also saves you time and money when they pay with plastic instead of cash. But what if the majority of your customers prefer paying in person? The benefits of using a virtual card terminal can't be denied! In this blog post, we'll explore how these machines benefit businesses like yours.

What Is a Virtual Card Terminal, and How Does It Work?

A virtual card terminal is a small piece of software installed on any computer or mobile device. Once it's been activated, you'll need to sync the machine up with your existing merchant account.

This allows customers to swipe their credit cards through the attached reader and process transactions as if they were in-person payments at your store counter! Less time wasted processing orders means more money for your business, who wouldn't want that?

Why Use a Virtual Card Terminal?

In addition to being much easier for everyone involved, a virtual card terminal also benefits merchants in the following ways:

  • Accepting payments from anywhere: You don't have to worry about having your credit card machine on hand or going back and forth between multiple terminals. Instead, you can accept all of your customers' transactions right from your smartphone or computer.
  • Flexible payment options: A virtual card terminal allows you to accept every type of credit and debit card, including prepaid cards with no activation fees! You can also request cashback for any transaction that's over $20 without having to pay a fee, as most traditional terminals require.
  • Fast transactions: With a virtual card terminal, there is no waiting between swipes because everything is done instantly online rather than through a machine (or human). Customers won't have to wait long before they get their receipt either since it only takes seconds after the swipe to receive their copy on screen or by email if requested. This will lead to happier customers and more sales.
  • 24/7 customer service: As long as you have an internet connection, your virtual card terminal can be used around the clock for all of your transactions. This allows merchants to accept payments even when they're closed or busy with other tasks without any drawbacks at all. This solution ensures that every transaction will go off without a hitch, so both parties walk away satisfied.
  • Easy setup process: Virtual card terminals need very little training since there's no hardware involved. Everything gets set up from start to finish on screen in just a few simple steps so, business owners won't waste any valuable time trying to get their virtual payment system up and running.
  • Payment reporting tools: Every transaction you accept with a virtual card terminal can be viewed in real-time. There's no need to wait for your statement at the end of every month. This makes taking care of invoices, taxes, finances, etc., much easier since everything is done online as it happens so you can stay on top of your money.
  • Save time and effort: No longer will you need to depend on other people to help with all types of transactions. Everything is done right from one convenient place, which means no more running between multiple devices or trying to get several terminals set up in a small space.

Virtual card terminals are a cost-effective alternative to traditional credit card processing. They use the same hardware as traditional card terminals, but they don't require the merchant to pay monthly fees for software and support. Also, virtual card terminals are an affordable option for businesses that only process a few transactions per day. In addition, they work well with mobile devices, making them ideal for small businesses that want to accept online payments.

How To Set Up Your Virtual Card Terminal?

Virtual card terminals are usually set up in a few easy steps. Merchants need to create an account with the payment processor before they can get started. 

After that, they will be given access to their virtual terminal where all transactions take place online instead of on-site like traditional credit card machines require. They'll also receive step-by-step instructions for setting everything up and connecting it to their eCommerce platform or website if necessary.

Once these simple tasks have been completed, merchants should test out their system so they won't run into any issues further down the line while accepting payments at checkout! If anything isn't working quite right, there's always someone available 24/seven via phone call or email who can help fix whatever's going wrong.

The Best Way To Use Your Virtual Card Terminal for Maximum Benefits 

The best way to use a virtual card terminal is like any other credit card machine, but it's much easier! When customers swipe their cards along with the screen for payment processing, they'll be given an option to accept or decline the transaction.

If they choose "accept," then all of their information will be typed in manually if only one person is being processed or entered automatically with auto-fill software if multiple people are involved. Once that's done and sent to the processor, merchants can go back into their account and see how many transactions were completed that day.

Virtual card terminals usually come equipped with a feature called Instant Payment Notification (IPN). This allows merchants to offer an additional service in the form of automatic notifications that go directly into their email inbox. So, suppose a customer decides not to accept or decline their transaction and wants to edit it later on when they're at home, for example. In that case, this will allow them to do so without having any issues with time expiration. Another feature virtual card terminals use is called eChecks. This allows customers who don't have credit cards but still prefer online payments over cashier's checks or money orders the chance to use electronic versions instead, which come right out of their bank accounts just like writing a check would work. Since these transactions take place completely online, though, businesses won't need to worry about dealing with lost or stolen paper checks since there weren't any to begin with.

Conclusion

Virtual card terminals are the perfect choice for businesses who want to accept credit cards online without additional costs or hassle. Whether they're looking to save money on fees, offer an alternative payment method in eChecks, test out a system before upgrading later on down the line, or all of the above. Virtual terminal providers have got everyone covered. With step-by-step instructions and support available 24/seven via phone call or email for merchants needing help with anything at any time of day, it's easy as ever to get started accepting payments right away, no matter where you're located!

Contact BNG Payments to learn more.

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