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Are "FREE" Credit Card Terminals Really Free?
omupas
subscriber Posts: 7
By simply typing "merchant account" into a google search page, many advertisements for FREE credit card terminals flood your results screen. Are these terminals really free? The answer is yes and no. These "free" terminals are typically provided on a loan basis. You keep the terminal for as long as you process with the company who loaned it to you. Free terminal programs are not necessarily bad, they are typically best for start up companies and new businesses who do not have the cash flow to purchase a terminal up front. Free terminal programs are certainly better than lease programs that tie up a business into a non cancellable lease.
So what`s the catch? Typically, the fee structures of free terminal programs are higher than if you purchase the equipment outright or if you reprogram existing equipment. Below is a side by side comparison of the differences between a typical FREE terminal program vs. a program where you either purchase or already own equipment.
Typical FREE Terminal Rates/Fees:Qualified Rate: 1.69% - $1.79%Mid Qual Rate: 3% - 5%Non Qual Rate: 3% - 5%Transaction Fee: $0.25 - $0.30/transactionBatch Header: $0.35/batchMonthly Basic Service Fee: $10/monthMonthly Minimum: $25Annual Fee: &n bsp;$79/year (Typically covers next day replacement of terminal)Contract Term: 36 Months
Equipment Purchase/Reprogram Rates/Fees:Qualified Rate: 1.59% - 1.69%Mid Qual Rate: 2.2% - 3%Non Qual Rate: 3% - 3.5%Transaction Fee: $0.20 - $0.25/transactionBatch Header: $0.00 - $0.25/batchMonthly Basic Service Fee: $5 - $10/monthMonthly Minimum: $0 - $25/monthAnnual Fee: &n bsp; $0 - $15/yearContract Term: Variable
After doing research on both types of programs, you can see that Free terminal programs typically cost more on a per transaction and monthly basis than if you were to purchase the equipment outright. Free terminal programs are not necessarily a bad program, it just depends on what type of cash flow the business has at the time the account is opened. Just be sure to know all fees associated with the account before you sign for a "free" terminal with a credit card processing company.
So what`s the catch? Typically, the fee structures of free terminal programs are higher than if you purchase the equipment outright or if you reprogram existing equipment. Below is a side by side comparison of the differences between a typical FREE terminal program vs. a program where you either purchase or already own equipment.
Typical FREE Terminal Rates/Fees:Qualified Rate: 1.69% - $1.79%Mid Qual Rate: 3% - 5%Non Qual Rate: 3% - 5%Transaction Fee: $0.25 - $0.30/transactionBatch Header: $0.35/batchMonthly Basic Service Fee: $10/monthMonthly Minimum: $25Annual Fee: &n bsp;$79/year (Typically covers next day replacement of terminal)Contract Term: 36 Months
Equipment Purchase/Reprogram Rates/Fees:Qualified Rate: 1.59% - 1.69%Mid Qual Rate: 2.2% - 3%Non Qual Rate: 3% - 3.5%Transaction Fee: $0.20 - $0.25/transactionBatch Header: $0.00 - $0.25/batchMonthly Basic Service Fee: $5 - $10/monthMonthly Minimum: $0 - $25/monthAnnual Fee: &n bsp; $0 - $15/yearContract Term: Variable
After doing research on both types of programs, you can see that Free terminal programs typically cost more on a per transaction and monthly basis than if you were to purchase the equipment outright. Free terminal programs are not necessarily a bad program, it just depends on what type of cash flow the business has at the time the account is opened. Just be sure to know all fees associated with the account before you sign for a "free" terminal with a credit card processing company.
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Comments
Typically, the Qualified, Mid and Non Qualified are defined as below:
Qualified Rate:Typically includes swiped check/debit and consumer credit cards
Mid Qualified Rate:Typically is a keyed transaction with an address verification match
Non Qualified Rate:Typically includes keyed transactions without an address verification match, business/corporate cards and international cards.
A big buzz in the industry today is on Rewards Cards. Depending on the company you do business with for your credit card processing these cards either fall in the Mid Qualified or the Non Qualified Rate category.
If you need any specific information pertaining to your particular business type, please feel free to ask, I`ll be glad to help you understand this as much as I can.