If you think about it, mobile technology has completely transformed your life. You use your smartphone to communicate, navigate, bank, shop, translate, and so much more. But did you ever stop to imagine how that same small device, combined with an inexpensive mobile card reader, is all you need to free your small business from its physical storefront?
Amazing mobile point of sale (mPOS) technology.
If you’ve shopped in stores recently, you have probably noticed sales associates carrying tablets and mobile phones with them wherever they go on the sales floor. What’s more, everyone from plumbers to landscaping professionals are now allowing you to pay your bill on the spot using their iPhone, Android, or tablet.
So, how do you harness the power of mPOS technology? All you need to do is to talk to your payment processing company about buying or leasing a mobile credit card reader. This tiny device connects to the charging port or headphone jack of your smartphone or tablet and interfaces with software that you download into your hand-held device. After the lightning-quick setup process, you should have everything you need to seamlessly accept on-the-go payments from your customers.
Launch the next chapter of your business.
Once you transform your mobile phone into a card reader, you have everything you need to untether your business from your physical storefront. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you hit the road to serve your first mobile customers.
- Understand your legal obligations. Whether you want to run a food truck or bathe pups in a traveling grooming business, it behooves you to have complete knowledge of the laws that govern mobile small businesses in your city and state.
- Spread the word to your existing customers. Initiating and maintaining a presence on social media sites like TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, and Facebook provides you an excellent forum for advertising your new venture. Creating a buzz ahead of time can help to make opening day worthy of many compelling video moments that will only make people more inspired to give you a try.
- Update your technology. Although a smartphone, an app, and a mobile card reader are all you require to accept payments, keep in mind that you still need to have a strong foundation that assists you in running your business’s behind-the-scenes tasks. Investing in a complete point of sale system with inventory and employee management, customer relationships, and reporting features will give you the tools you need to keep your operations running smoothly while simultaneously enhancing customer happiness and engagement.
- Don’t be afraid to get help. Running your retail store or restaurant on the road can be exciting and freeing, but it can also eat up quite a bit of your time. When juggling a seemingly infinite number of tasks starts to be too overwhelming, don’t be a rugged individualist. Get help from human or even virtual sources. Hire an assistant; farm out complex tasks to a reputable third-party company; or use a virtual assistant to take on tasks like eliciting customer feedback and making travel reservations.
Cutting the cord and expanding beyond your physical location just might be one of the scariest yet most exciting things you can do to take your business to the next level. However, with just a little bit of technology and a healthy dose of careful preparation, you can significantly increase your chances for success!
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