by Chandra Spary-Kontinos | Nov 22, 2024 | Bank gift cards, Data Security Credit Card, Featured, Gift Cards, Level III B2B, Mobile Processing, News Alerts, Pin and Chip, Safety Tips
12/9/24 UPDATE:
A U.S. District Court Judge ruled the enforcement of the BOI filing is unconstitutional. However, until FinCEN takes the filing off their website, you should still consider filing, just in case.
Penalties will begin after January 1st 2025
Have you heard of FinCEN and the newly required BOI reporting? FinCEN, which stands for Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, is part of the US Department of Treasury. This department is in charge of preventing financial crimes and promoting national security. The newly required BOI (Beneficial Ownership Information) report was created to help FINCEN on its mission by ensuring more transparency of ownership for companies operating in the US. Reports are due January 1st, 2025, for companies that began before 2024.
The report is easy to file online, or you can fill out the PDF and submit it.
You will need:
- Company name
- Tax ID
- Location
- Owner’s name
- Owner’s date of birth
- Owner’s address
- A government-issued ID or a FinCEN ID
You must file a BOI report for each owner who owns 25% or more of the company.
File here https://boiefiling.fincen.gov/fileboir
Instructions on how to file https://boiefiling.fincen.gov/help
All the information you need can be found here https://www.fincen.gov/boi
by Mike Peterson | Oct 16, 2024 | POS Systems, News Alerts
The aftermath of a storm can be overwhelming, especially if you have a small business that depends on a steady stream of operations to keep afloat. Storms interfere with the business flow through lack of infrastructure and power outages that merchants cannot resolve on their own. We know these challenges and at Card Systems, Inc., we’re here to help get your business back up and running as quickly as possible after a storm. Here are some ways our post-storm payment solutions and relief can aid in getting you back to business.
Rapid Replacement of Damaged Equipment
One of the most critical issues after a storm is damage to your point-of-sale (POS) systems and credit card terminals. Without proper equipment, you lose the ability to take payments, resulting in lost sales and unhappy customers. That’s why we provide rapid replacement services to keep downtime to a minimum.
We react quickly and take action, providing you with replacement terminals to get you processing payments quickly again. We have the tools and the expertise to help if your equipment was physically damaged or has connectivity issues.
Temporary Equipment Solutions
Sometimes replacements will take some time if there are many devices involved. We offer temporary equipment solutions to help keep your business moving. These backup devices make sure that even during wait times, you can keep on taking payments without a hitch. With temporary equipment, you are flexible enough to keep operations going while replacements are being completed.
This allows you to continue to make money and avoid the disruption of your business in the long term. Surely continuity is important in difficult times.
No-Cost Payment Processing
Managing cash flow is critical after a storm, with the expense of repairs and recovery on top of that. To help you ease this burden, we have payment processing options with no upfront costs. We help you focus on rebuilding without further financial strain, by allowing you to process transactions without the need to worry about fees.
In tough times every dollar counts, and we want to ensure your business can operate as smoothly as possible without the extra pressure of processing fees. We want to help you manage cash flow and keep things moving when the going gets tough.
Internet Failover Solutions
If you’re not willing to sacrifice your internet connection for the sake of your business, then you’re not willing to sacrifice it for the sake of your customers. A business that relies on a constant internet connection is hit hard by even a small outage. That’s where our internet failover solutions kick in.
Even when your primary internet connection goes down, our systems make sure that your payment processing and POS system continues. With secondary connections such as cellular networks, you can continue to accept payments, providing your business the resiliency it needs to overcome post storm challenges.
Real-World Impact: Hurricane Milton hit many restaurants along the west coast of Florida and brought widespread internet outages. Many businesses were affected by that outage for several days. Thanks to our internet failover setup, the credit card payments continued uninterrupted, without any loss of sales.
Around-the-Clock Local Support
When things get tough, you need a team that can provide rapid, reliable support that understands your business. Card Systems offers local support 24/7, so that when you call, you will be helped by someone who knows your business and your community. We are ready to troubleshoot problems, give guidance, and make sure your systems are up and running as soon as possible.
We are only a phone call or quick visit away. No matter what the size of the problem, our local support team is prepared to help your business recover and thrive after a storm.
Business Continuity Planning
The best way to prepare your business to weather any storm is to be prepared. We will help you assess your current systems to develop a robust business continuity plan. We’ll recommend the best strategies to keep your operations up and running, even if the internet fails.
Having a great continuity plan allows you to react fast when disaster happens, minimizing downtime and keeping your customers happy.
Let Us Help You Rebuild
During difficult times, we are committed to supporting businesses in our community at Card Systems, Inc. We have the solutions to keep you operational and serve your customers; from rapid equipment replacement to internet failover and 24/7 local support. A storm doesn’t have to put your business at risk.
If you need assistance with your recovery efforts, contact us today at (239) 549-5055 or email support@cardsystems.com.
Additional Disaster Resources:
Together we can make sure that your business continues to thrive through any challenges that come your way.
by Mike Peterson | Oct 7, 2024 | Public Service
With Hurricane Milton approaching, now is the time for small businesses along Florida’s west coast—from Tampa to Naples—to double-check their hurricane preparedness plans. Severe storms like Milton can bring dangerous winds, flooding, and prolonged business disruptions. Having the right resources and a plan in place can help your business weather the storm and recover faster.
1. Develop a Quick Hurricane Plan
- Emergency contacts: Ensure you have updated contact lists for employees, vendors, and local emergency services.
- Evacuation routes: Know your area’s evacuation zones and shelter locations.
- Communication strategy: Set up group messaging or email to keep your team informed during the storm.
2. Secure Your Property
- Install storm shutters or board up windows to protect against wind and debris.
- Elevate key equipment: Move important documents and equipment above flood levels and cover with sheet plastic to protect from falling water.
- Clear outdoor areas: Remove anything outside that could become dangerous in high winds.
3. Backup Your Data
- Use cloud storage to ensure vital information is accessible remotely if your physical office is damaged.
- Schedule regular backups to avoid losing data if systems go down.
4. Supply Chain Readiness
- Stock up on essentials: Make sure you have critical supplies ahead of the storm.
- Identify alternative suppliers: Be prepared in case your primary vendors are impacted by the hurricane.
5. Employee Safety First
- Have evacuation procedures ready: Make sure your team knows when and how to evacuate.
- Emergency kits: Equip employees with emergency supplies if sheltering in place is necessary.
6. Plan for Post-Storm Recovery
- Assess damage quickly: After Hurricane Milton passes, inspect your property and systems.
- Temporary work locations: Be ready to work remotely or from a backup location if your office is affected.
- Federal assistance: Explore SBA disaster loans and FEMA assistance to help with recovery.
Key Hurricane Resources for Businesses
Local Resources:
State Resources:
Federal Resources:
Corporate Resources:
Prepare Now for Hurricane Milton
With Hurricane Milton on the horizon, take action to protect your business. Secure your property, back up your data, and make sure your employees are safe. By using these resources and getting your plan in place today, you can weather the storm and get back to business quickly.
At Card Systems, Inc., we understand how critical it is to protect your business during hurricane season. From safeguarding sensitive data to ensuring business continuity, we’re here to provide secure solutions that help you stay prepared. Contact us today to learn how we can help you protect your business before and after the storm. Our office will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, 10/9/24 and 10/10/24, so please contact our tech line at (239) 340-8746 in case of emergencies. For non-emergency communications, please email support@cardsystems.com.
by Mike Peterson | Sep 24, 2024 | Public Service, News Alerts
During hurricane season, businesses in risky areas deal with the issue of protecting their assets and digital infrastructure. Even though you can’t manipulate weather patterns, you still have the ability to create safety measures for your business’s network and POS equipment in case of hurricane damage. Prepare your business for a storm in advance to help you greatly reduce the probability of data loss, hardware damage, and an extended period of downtime. These are some methods for securing your business’s operations against hurricanes.
Backup Your Data: The First Line of Defense
Data is the fundamental asset of modern business operations. Serious problems may come from insufficient access to business financials, proprietary business data, or customer information. The first thing you should do to get ready for a hurricane is to check that your data backups are both recent and safe.
Why Cloud Backups are so Important
Depending only on local backups located on-site is not adequate. In the case of a hurricane, physical backup devices could be wrecked by flooding, fire, or theft. As a result, it’s important to take advantage of offsite backups. Most cloud backup services provide a robust level of protection by having your data stored in secure remote facilities. Also, these services generally have scheduled automated backups that ensure your data is current, and they allow for quick recovery, therefore reducing downtime after a storm.
Pro Tip: You should regularly confirm that your backups can indeed restore successfully. A backup is helpful only if it is functional when you need it to be.
Protect Your Hardware: Physical Safeguards
While it’s important to protect data, don’t forget the necessity of protecting your physical hardware. Flooding, wind, and water damage caused by a hurricane can create pandemonium for your POS, computers, and networking technology.
Ways to Protect Your Equipment
Before the storm hits, take the following precautions to protect your hardware:
- Power Down: Turn off your card readers, POS, computer, server, and every networking device.
- Unplug Everything: Disconnect all devices from electricity to stop electrical damage from either power surges or flooding.
- Elevate Equipment: Position your hardware on raised surfaces to help lower the danger of flood damage.
- Cover with Plastic: Use plastic coverings to defend equipment from both water and debris.
Remember: Should your equipment become wet, do not try to power it on again until a professional has checked it. This step can defend you from causing lasting problems with your devices.
Continue Business with Internet Failover
When a hurricane is happening, you can expect to experience outages in your internet service. For companies that count on internet connectivity to handle payments, communicate, or use cloud services, a blackout in internet connectivity can be a serious issue. However, there is a solution: setting up an internet failover system.
What Is Internet Failover?
Should your main internet service provider (ISP) malfunction, a backup internet connection called internet failover will kick in automatically. This may mean a secondary Internet Service Provider, a cellular data link, or even an internet network that operates through satellites. You can keep your company’s important functions—payment processing, email communications, and cloud application access—running in case of an internet interruption thanks to a failover system.
Benefits of Internet Failover:
- Uninterrupted Payment Processing: Continue to allow credit card payments and keep your point-of-sale systems up and running, even if your main ISP goes down.
- Sustained Communications: Keep your email, VoIP, and messaging systems running properly to maintain communication among staff, vendors, and buyers.
- Access to Cloud Services: Keep backup access to the cloud, applications, and your data to make sure your business runs smoothly.
Pro Tip: Set up your internet failover to change over to the backup connection without human involvement, so your business suffers little to no disturbance.
Other Essential Preparations
In addition to backups, hardware protection, and internet failover, there are more steps you can take to ensure your business is entirely ready for a hurricane.
Create a Contact List
Bring together a listing that covers every emergency contact, which includes every employee, every supplier, and every IT assistance provider. The list needs to include phone numbers, email addresses, in addition to backup methods for contact if the major ones are not available. Share this list with important staff members so that everyone understands how to connect during and following the hurricane.
Notate Your Technology Resources
Prepare an extensive reference document outlining all technology assets, which comprises POS equipment, computers, servers, networking hardware, and the software licenses. Having a duplicate of this inventory either electronically or as a hard copy together with your backups allows for easy access if your equipment is damaged or goes missing.
Tip: Include in your list serial numbers, the dates you purchased, and warranty information. This information will prove useful if you have to file insurance claims.
The Importance of Preparing in Advance
Hurricanes can be unpredictable, but your reaction to them can be planned out. Taking these steps ahead of time can help you drastically reduce the consequences of a hurricane for your business. The objective is twofold: to defend your assets and to be able to restart your operations promptly after the storm has passed.
Fast Recovery Corresponds to Business Continuity
The quicker you recover, the fewer interruptions your business will experience. Having backups available, taking care of your hardware, deploying internet failover, and keeping your inventory and contact list updated enable your business to quickly recover. This kind of readiness both maintains your business’s profits and ensures a strong relationship with clients who depend on what you offer.
When getting ready for hurricanes, it’s important to go beyond shielding your windows and safeguarding your physical holdings; you must also safeguard the digital infrastructure of your business. By embracing these tips, you can achieve a level of hurricane resistance for your business that will protect both your hardware and data from the worst that the storm can bring.
We Can Help Prepare Your Business for a Storm
Don’t wait for a hurricane to be imminent. Today is the day to review your existing disaster recovery plan; if you require help, reach out to Card Systems, Inc. to find out more about our secure backup, internet failover, and hardware protection solutions designed for your business.
by Chandra Spary-Kontinos | Mar 7, 2023 | Marketing, Public Service
Why Supporting Local Businesses Matters
When it comes to shopping, it’s easy to get caught up in the convenience of big-box stores and online retailers. However, supporting local businesses is an important way to help your community thrive. Here are some reasons why you should consider shopping locally:
Local businesses are the backbone of the economy
Small and local businesses are the engines of local economies. They provide jobs, boost economic activity, and help keep money circulating within the community. According to research, 60-70 cents stays within the local economy for every dollar spent at a local business. By supporting local businesses, you’re helping to ensure your community’s long-term health and prosperity.
Local businesses offer unique products and services
One of the great things about local businesses is that they often offer products and services you can’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s a specialty food store, a boutique clothing shop, or a handmade craft store, local businesses are often the go-to places for unique and one-of-a-kind items. By shopping at local businesses, you’re supporting the creativity and individuality of your community.
Local businesses have a personal touch
Local business owners are often deeply invested in their communities. They care about their customers and the quality of their products and services. By shopping at local businesses, you can develop personal relationships with the owners and employees and feel like a valued community member.
Local businesses help reduce environmental impact
Shopping locally can also have a positive impact on the environment. Local businesses often source their products locally, reducing the carbon footprint associated with shipping and transportation. They also tend to use less packaging, meaning less landfill waste.
Local businesses support community organizations.
They will likely be the first to step up and support community organizations and events. Whether sponsoring a local sports team or donating products to a charity auction, local businesses are often the backbone of community support.
So the next time you’re in the market for something, consider checking out local businesses first. You may be surprised at the unique and high-quality products and services they have to offer, and you’ll be doing your part to help your community thrive.
by Chandra Spary-Kontinos | Feb 18, 2022 | Digital Menus, Marketing, News, News Alerts, Online Order, POS Systems
Join us for Great Food, Vendors, and Fun.
The weather is perfect, and with so much to do in Southwest Florida, now is the time to get out and enjoy the fun events around town. The ArtFest, Bike Night, Taste of the Cape, and Food Truck Wars started the season with breaking record crowds and revenues. This weekend, the Edison Festival of Lights and the much-anticipated return of our Greek Festival will be the focus of fun and good food.
Is your Business Pivoting with Technology and Online Ordering?
Most businesses have pivoted to curbside or pickup services for their restaurants or retail establishments. If not, they are less likely to be found, limiting their exposure and significantly reducing sales. Consider beefing up your site, adding online ordering, or implementing a third-party app to facilitate delivery. Remember to make in-store, pickup, or delivery orders easier for your business.
When are Delivery Apps Beneficial?
Third-party apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash have their place, as they give your restaurant great exposure to first-time diners and support their delivery needs. Just ensure you control your online pickup orders, or they can take a big bite of your profits. Also, take advantage of all the social platforms to market your events and link to your online ordering page. Use two buttons, one for online pickup and the other for the delivery app.
Digital Menus for Order Ahead
Our POS Software and POS Apps can create an easy-to-read menu with links for you to post everywhere. You are less likely to be found if you are not adopting this technology. These simple tools enable your customers to review your menu prior to ordering. This saves time, turns tables faster, and reduces your precious labor costs.
