Pivot – The Operative Word for Business in 2020

Pivot as an adjective is defined in Websters as  “turning on or as if on a pivot” and is the antithesis of business in 2020 if we are to survive.  How have you pivoted in your business?  Are you doing curbside pickup in your restaurant or retail business, how about online ordering?  Have you installed protective devices for your employees, handsfree point of sale options?  None of us know what the new “normal” will be but it is for sure our world will never be the same.  We have a new appreciation and awareness of the “essential worker”, safety in the workplace, and the ability to hug our family and friends.

As we move forward know that COCARD has pivoted too, offering protective shields and devices to protect your employees, handsfree point of sale options, online ordering, access to funding, and the Paycheck Protection Program, yes there are still funds in the second round of the PPP!  We even have the Cash Discount Program which delays all billing for 60 days, giving you time to assess how you want to move forward and pivot your business.

For our office, it is about keeping our customers in business until we all see better days.  If you want to talk about how to pivot your business, call me direct at 678-578-4340 and let’s talk about the options for your business.  Hugs, Nelda

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How the Cash Discount Program Can Help Your Business Grow

COCARD has always been dedicated to empowering businesses through smart, cost-cutting payment solutions — and our new Cash Discount Program takes this even further. In this quick article, we are going to explore what the Cash Discount Program is, how it can save you money, and how it can keep your business resilient in these uncertain times.

What is the Cash Discount Program?

Leveraging our innovative technology, the Cash Discount Program lets you offset some or all your payment processing fees — so you can save more money and grow your business. This is accomplished by sharing fees with your customers who pay with credit cards, thus providing discounts for customers who choose to pay with cash. As a result, you get to keep more of your sales revenue — and your prices remain the same.

This automated process is compatible with guidelines from major credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, and it conforms with processing regulations. The Cash Discount Program is a great opportunity for businesses that want to put a bit more money in the bank — all while eliminating up to 100% of their monthly processing fees.

How Can the Cash Discount Program Help?

Business owners always strive to cut costs where they can, but in the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to save money has become much more serious. Facing an uncertain economic future, it has never been more important to adapt your business model to new circumstances (like to accommodate curbside service or online ordering) and to grow your savings so you can keep your doors open.

Our Cash Discount Program is a great way to keep more of your revenue, avoid crippling payment processing fees, and get the equipment you need to keep your offerings flexible for your customers. Better yet, to take advantage of this program, you don’t even have to make any changes to your menu, inventory, or pricing.

By encouraging your customers to pay with cash, you can avoid hundreds of dollars a month of processing fees — and you only pay a flat rate of $35 a month. At no extra expense, the Cash Discount Program also includes:

  • Free equipment, including a wireless terminal option for takeout and curbside pick-up.
  • Free setup for all your new equipment.
  • Free signage encouraging your customers to pay with cash.

All of this for $35 a month, with no termination fee or contract. To make sure that there are no unnecessary hurdles stopping businesses from signing up for the program, the COCARD team is delaying all billing for 60 days. That means you get two months of service and savings without having to pay a dime.

Empowering Businesses to Excel

By signing up for the Cash Discount Program, businesses can get new equipment, save money on processing fees, and keep more of their revenue. But the Cash Discount Program is just one of many great payment solutions that we offer. COCARD gives you the flexibility you need to streamline payments, management, reporting, and more.

Using our innovative Revonu cloud-based point-of-sale technology, you can support online ordering, a top-end inventory management system, sales and employee dashboards, enterprise loyalty programs, consolidation reporting, and plenty more. Our payment solution also gives you the flexibility you need to manage your business no matter where you are. You can make changes to menu items, prices, descriptions, and promotions (and access all your business reports) from any computer or device.

We believe business owners should not have to waste time and money on inefficient payment processes and cumbersome dashboards. COCARD works for you, so you can spend more time doing what you love.

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Do you believe the myth about AMEX rates?

Myth: Some businesses think that American Express is always so much more expensive.

Fact: On average there is little difference between the cost to welcome American Express vs. Visa and Mastercard.

It’s just one of the many reasons businesses are welcoming American Express. Contact our office and let’s talk about accepting American Express in your business!

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Small REVONU cartoon

Six Tips to Roll Out New Technology in Your Restaurant!

I was thinking about how to help our restaurant customers and their employees train and adapt to a new point of sale unit in their restaurant and I ran across this article.  Read through it and let us know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions that we can use to better help your business adapt to new technology!

Six Tips to Roll Out New Technologies in Your Restaurant

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Paper vs Plastic: The advantages of paying cash in the Modern Age

It’s no secret, people love paying with credit cards. A recent survey showed that the public favored cards over cash 3:1. It’s convenient, easy and saves pennies jingling in your pockets. Naturally, the acceptance of cards at a retail establishment is great for the consumer, but also means dealing with processing fees, the price of doing business in the modern age. Are you ready to say goodbye to unnecessary credit card fees? Here’s how a Cash Discount Program can help you.

Many smaller businesses are now opting for the “cash discount program” option. The seller offers a discount to those customers paying cash over card, an incentive that can prove very fruitful. The main bonus is that it can reduce credit card processing fees tenfold. If you don’t process the card, you don’t have to pay for the service. It is easier to explain to the customer and is perfectly legal when adhered to correctly.

Of course, the main battle you will always come across in implementing such a program is that for the most part, people don’t carry cash anymore, in a CNBC study in 2017, it was reported that 75% of Americans carry $50 dollars or less on them at any given time, With millennials at the forefront of the plastic revolution.  However, with the recent boom in Farmers Markets, Artisanal goods and a return to supporting home grown, local businesses, a correctly marketed cash discount program could see your business transactions grow exponentially.

As with every move when running your own business, make sure that the program will work for you and the product you are selling. A cash discount program may not be for you. If you think it might be the perfect fit for and your business, It can save you thousands of dollars in processing fees.

For more information, head over to www.Cocard.info

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Decatur, GA Shops and Restaurants

It’s a great time to be a small business or restaurant owner

Decatur, GA Shops and Restaurants

It’s a great time to be a small business or restaurant owner if you are a millennial. A recent study showed by the SBCD showed that 49% of Millennials want to start their own business in the next three years. Over half would say goodbye to the daily grind to start their own business with the right resources.

Good job there are plenty of Point of Sale systems to help you get ahead of the curve.

So, why jump on the entrepreneurial wagon? How can a great POS System help me?

INDEPENDENCE. The biggest plus to being your own boss is Independence. You make the decisions; you choose what you do and when you do it. It is important to arm yourself with technology that can grow with you. A POS system can add devices easily. Opening an additional stall at a farmer’s market? Adding a pop up shop during peak season? POS can help you with that, you don’t even need more hardware. You can do it from that smartphone of yours!

CONTROL. Control is a wonderful thing. As a business owner, from concept to creation every inch of the business is in your hands. Complete immersion in your business can be thrilling and overwhelming, so why not use POS to work FOR you. POS improves inventory visibility, helps track sales and works with you to manage total counts and shelf inventory. With a system that can track product to such a high caliber, you will be able to make future inventory predictions more accurately.

FLEXIBILITY Perhaps the biggest plus to running a small business is flexibility. Smaller staff sizes allow businesses to develop personal relationships with the customer, leading to repeat business. With a system like POS you can make sure the customer experience is the top priority. Freeing up employees from time consuming book keeping to focus on activities related to boosting clientele service. Faster checkouts and easy to use systems have customers leaving already planning their next visit.

Sound like it’s for you? For more information on the systems available from CoCard, head to our main website at www.cocard.info.

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REVONU POS and Holy Cross Monastery: a Match Made in Heaven!

Brother Will working in the shop with REVONU POS

Brother Will working in the shop with REVONU POS

While COCARD’s REVONU POS is already well known for powering payments at restaurants, salons, and retail establishments, it also helps Holy Cross Monastery manage their gift shop inventory, payments and book sales.

Read what Holy Cross Monastery’s Brother Scott has to say about REVONU POS and COCARD.

COCARD: First, what is your primary use for REVONU POS?

Brother Scott: Our system is in the gift shop where we sell a mixture of books, religious gifts, candy bars and snacks.

 

COCARD: What made your monastery choose REVONU POS for your payment processing?

Brother Scott: We have been working with COCARD for a while, primarily because the previous POS system we were using had recommended COCARD as a merchant services provider. Also, when EMV came about we were looking at how to accommodate that. We had the option to stay with a previous system or change to what COCARD was recommending. COCARD’s support had always been quite good so we felt confident in going with their recommendation, which was REVONU POS.

 

COCARD: How has REVONU POS improved the operation of your business?

Brother Scott: The previous software we used had been minimally updated since the 90’s. So, now that we have been able to use the newer technology, particularly the cloud based software to access the back office from anywhere, our store has been running a lot smoother.

 

COCARD: So you would say that REVONU POS has made your business run easier and more efficiently?

Brother Scott: Yes! Especially because COCARD’s customer service has been so reliable and has made converting to REVONU POS a smooth process.

 

COCARD: What is your favorite aspect of REVONU POS?

Brother Scott: Again, the newer technology and back office cloud integration is great! Also the staff in the store really like the ease of the touch- screen functions on the terminal.

If you think that your business could benefit from adopting a REVONU point of sale terminal, like Holy Cross Monastery does, call COCARD today at 1(800)317- 1819!

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