by Chandra Spary-Kontinos | Apr 1, 2022 | Featured, POS Systems, Restaurant Industry News, Services, Uncategorized
What are the differences and the best choice for your business?
Are you considering Surcharging or Cash Discounting? Accepting credit cards is a necessity in today’s world. However, credit card processing fees are taking a larger chuck out of your profit margin these days, especially with the ever-increasing popularity of rewards cards. Moreover, many of the merchant fees associated with rewards cards tend to increase year after year, due to the escalation of the “Cash Back” incentives the Card Issuers give their cardholders.
Who pays for the majority of these incentives? You the merchant. More and more merchants are now electing to add a surcharge or implement a cash discount program to combat these rising costs. This may be a great option for your company if done correctly. So, what is the difference between surcharging and cash discounting?
Surcharging
- Surcharge: Adding a small percentage to a credit card transaction to offset the merchant fees for processing the credit card payment. This surcharge is added to offset the processing fees associated with accepting credit cards. This fee only applies to credit cards and does not apply to other forms of payment such as debit cards, cash, or checks. Surcharging must also be done in a compliant manner and by a processor that follows the rules and ensures their merchants are compliant.
Cash Discounting
- Cash Discount: A reduction in price for customers who pay with cash or check instead of credit or debit cards. The discount is deducted from the advertised price at the time of sale. Another method of Cash Discounting is adding a small percentage to increase the price of the sale, known as a Non-Cash Adjustment.
Making this Win-Win Solution
Ask yourself, is this a good move for your business? Will there be pushback from the customers? The solution is simple. Giving your customers an option to pay with a lower-cost alternative is a win-win! They continue to receive great pricing if they pay with cash or check, and you are able to offset your processing fees. It is good for both parties when these programs are rolled out correctly with proper signage, employee training, and a good Point of Sale System, which calculates and ensures compliance.
Card Systems understands that every business is unique, which is why we take a consultative approach to find the right solution for your business and card processing needs. Whether you’re just getting started or have been in business for decades, Card Systems can offer endless benefits to help you run your business more efficiently and more profitably.
by Chandra Spary-Kontinos | Jan 6, 2022 | News, Uncategorized
Employers’ Vaccine Mandate Advisory
More red tape and costs have just been added for the businesses in Florida. Make sure you read and discuss the following information with your HR Directors, managers, and any decision-makers within your company.
This advisory is focused on employers within the State of Florida and how Florida State law may or may not impact the Federal mandates. Fortunately, the law office of Boy Agnew Potanovic Miller (BAPM) has published an advisory (Information re: OSHA ETS (mailchi.mp) on the upcoming OSHA ETS vaccine mandates for private employers with 100+ employees.
They have also provided links for employers to download templates to create the required policy by OSHA ETS. These templates are free of charge and can be downloaded for editing purposes. Unfortunately, most businesses don’t have the time or resources to keep updated on all the regulatory mandates happening. Thank you, BAPM, for your guidance.
Please take time to utilize this resource to implement policies to comply with the new guidelines. Especially considering none of us really know what the US Supreme Court will rule once the case is heard on January 7th.
If you need help downloading any of the files, please don’t hesitate to call eGuarded, LLC at 855-348-2736, and they will be happy to assist you.
by Chandra | Oct 15, 2020 | News, Non-Profit News, Uncategorized
Join us for the REcycled event of the Season!
Tune in this evening to watch a fashion show unlike any other from the safety and convenience of your own home https://www.facebook.com/dfsswflorida/. Emcees Alyssa LeMay, Nickole Hendra and Barbara Melvin, joined by auctioneer extraordinaire, Rick Gallo will host the annual Dress for Success of SW Florida Black and White Night. This year streaming with a wonderful fashion twist…..A REcycled night in Black and White! A one-of-a-kind event featuring local artists who are competing for cash prizes. Each has transformed donated bags of recycled clothing and accessories, into amazing works of art! This is an event and competition not to be missed! There will be fashion, local celebrities, live and silent auctions, virtual cork pulls, trash to treasure and more. But most important of all….. you will be making a difference in the lives of the Women of Southwest Florida simply by bidding on amazing auction items, swag bags or our fun cork pull. Event Details
Who and how each of us can help?
Our community’s support makes a huge difference in helping these women who are survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, residing in shelters, and are unemployed. Dress for Success helps these girls and women receive professional attire for a job interviews, counseling, coaching, and the career development tools needed to help them achieve economic independence. Special thanks to our Honorary Event Chair Christina Schwinn of Pavese Law Firm for her ongoing support and to our sponsors who helped make this event possible: Ruby Sponsors: Elizabeth K. Galeana Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Sapphire Sponsors: Home Tech Pearl Sponsors: Garramone Plastic Surgery, Waste Pro Emerald Sponsors: Edison National Bank, Dream Fit, R.D. Johnson Construction, Inc Watch Party Hosts and In-Kind Sponsors: Karen Anderson, Card Systems, Chico’s, Costco, eBella Magazine, Entech, eGuarded, Jason’s Deli, John Fernandez Photography, Lalise Accessories, Luminary Hotel, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A, Barbara Melvin, McDonalds, Norman Love Confections, Opulent Lighting & Design, Priority Marketing, Promotional Incentives, Publix, Cheryl Reynolds, Angie Rogaliner, Joanne Rovner, Sip & Send, Stevens Construction, Tesla, Vi at Bentley Village, Zino Restaurant, Zorba’s Mediterranean Grille & Bar Since opening in 2010, Dress For Success of SWFL has impacted and empowered over 3,500 women in Lee, Collier and Hendry counties. Their goal is to serve more women, provide more services and programs, and ultimately mentor them right into a job!
To register for the virtual event, visit BlackAndWhite2020.EventBrite.com. For more information, call Nickole Hendra at 239-689-4992 or email nickole@dfsswflorida.org., October 15, 2020 Line-up 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Live Entertainment – 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Economic Empowerment for Women
- Fashion Show
- Live Entertainment
- Live and Silent Auctions
- Buy It Now
- Cork Pull
- Mystery Swag Bags and more…
Small Ways to Make a Big Impact: Become a Fund-A-Need Partner $125.00 Participate in the Cork Pull $50.00 donation “Sold out” Don’t forget to watch live tonight to make a difference https://www.facebook.com/dfsswflorida/ “Clothes aren’t going to change the world, the women who wear them will.” -Anne Klein
by Chandra | Apr 29, 2020 | News Alerts, Restaurant Industry News, Safety Tips, Uncategorized
Governor Ron DeSantis announced phase 1, the first steps to open Florida
The Governor held his press conference this afternoon and announced phase 1 of reopening May 4th. He is allowing certain industries to open with restrictions. “We need to focus on facts and not fear,” DeSantis said in a news conference today. He also stated that this will be a gradual reopening with all but Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties in Phase 1
Here is a quick snapshot:
- Essential businesses will operate as usual
- Elective Surgeries can resume
- Outdoor Seating for Restaurants is permitted with the 6-foot social distance requirement
- Indoor Seating is permitted at 25% capacity
- Retail Businesses may open with 25% capacity
- Bars, Gym & Salons are still prohibited from opening
This is great news for the sunshine state, however, we all need to be aware and take precautions. Our restaurants and retailers that have been offering curbside pick-up have been extremely cautious. The Blue Coyote Supper Club protected its diners with sanitizer, gloves, and instructions outside for customers protecting their staff and patrons when picking up orders. Their Clover Station faced customers with NFC enabled to creating a touchless environment. They also offered onetime use disinfected pens, to protect all. Another great example of the new normal we will all be faced with in the years to come.
by Chandra | Apr 10, 2020 | Business to Business News, Capital or Financing, News, Restaurant Industry News, Uncategorized
Get the Funding You Need
We are in a Health and Financial Crisis of unprecedented magnitude and a huge financial impact on you, and your business is still a big unknown. Many of you are experiencing a 50%-95% drop in sales, and some of you may have closed your doors completely. Our hearts go out to you, and we want to help in any way.
First, we must plan for the worst and hope for the best. Financial assistance is available today. It’s out there and available for you in several forms, and we can help. This is our understanding as much as one can involving the Federal Government. Please understand we are not offering legal or accounting advice, contact local professionals licensed in your area for more info.
As your trusted advisor, we are here to help by sharing some useful guidelines we have found while navigating the process ourselves. We have also included some helpful references below. Please check your state as they may have some funding programs available in addition to the EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) and the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program).
Many of the banks were still awaiting guidance from the SBA before releasing their latest applications and their portals to be up and we are encouraging you to apply with them if you have an established relationship. As you can imagine, they are overwhelmed with a flood of applications and processing their clients first.
We have an alternative solution. We have partnered with a Lending Platform, Lendio, that can help expedite this process. They charge no fees and are entirely automated and accepting applications online today. They have been providing loans to small businesses for many years, and therefore already have the automated tools in place to process your loan quickly.
Three Suggestions to Help You Today
Apply for the PPP loan
It doesn’t matter if you are C-Corp an S- Corp, Partnership, LLC Sole Proprietor, 501C Non-Profit, Tribal Business, or even an Independent Contractor, you can apply. This is first-come; first-serve, so get your application in through your bank or click here to apply through our banking platform.
Summary of PPP
- Forgiveness of 2.5 x monthly payroll, payroll commissions, benefits, and taxes, as long as employees retained
- 1% interest loan with forgiveness (was initially announced at 0.05%)
- No personal guarantee
- May also include some insurance, rents, utilities
- 100% of the loan is supposed to be forgiven if 75%+ of the revenue is payroll related
- Loan payments are deferred 6 months should you have to pay it back
- 2-year term
Treasury Fact Sheet
Apply for the $10K ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN (EIDL)
Businesses affected should immediately apply for the $10K loan to help them get funds quickly. It is easy to fill out (10 minutes online) and will be forgiven if the guidelines are followed: SBA.Gov. Remember, this is first-come; first-serve, so get your application in quickly.
Apply for State Emergency Funds
The Florida Disaster Bridge Loan is a $50K ($100K in special circumstances), 12-month, 0 interest loan. It requires more paperwork but worth a look. Check your State’s available resources. Sorry, the funds have been exhausted already. However, the EIDL Fund is going to be replenished.
Time is of the essence for all of us as these are first-come, first-serve programs. The money well is only so deep ($350 Billion) until additional funding is approved (maybe). We urge you to act quickly by contacting your lender or us so we can connect you with our lender.
Please stay healthy, adhere to the CDC guidelines, and as we have always done in our history…. America will get through this!
References
https://www.sba.gov/
by Chandra | Feb 7, 2019 | Equipment, Income Generators, Restaurant Industry News, Retail Industry News, Uncategorized
ATMs still Represent Easy Money for your Business, Restaurant or Store
With the rise of online shopping, brick-and-mortar businesses today need to do everything they can to stay competitive. Sometimes that means using a traditional, tried-and-true method of boosting traffic and earning some passive income.
We’re talking about the ATM machine.
Your store, restaurant or business just might need one.
Why?
Not everyone likes to swipe or dip the chip at a business. Credit and Debit card security concerns are causing some people to stick to the safety of cash. One-third of U.S. consumers (34 percent) say they are making more purchases in store with cash because of data breaches, according to ATM Marketplace.
Avoid card processing fees: Customers who use your ATM and then pay cash in your business save you in credit card processing fees.
Where’s my bank? In a tourist market, in particular, a customer’s regular bank may not be available or may be prohibitively far from his or her local destination. Your customer may want to withdraw money from or check his balance from an ATM before making a card transaction with you or another business.
“Now that I’m here”: Average 7-Eleven ATMs perform about 3,000 transactions per month, according to National Cash, an industry provider. That could be 3,000 times a customer visits your business just to use the ATM, and while there, they notice what else your business offers.
It’s a tax write-off: The ATM is a tangible personal property item which can be expensed. Your tax advisor can tell you about how the cost of an ATM machine can be depreciated or expensed beginning in the tax year that it is placed.
Earn income on surcharges: Talk about passive income! It’s the easiest way to make money on your money.
Operating an ATM is easy and a great way to drive more revenue and foot traffic into your establishment this year! Call or email us today to learn more.
