There have been many occasions on which I wished I was able to accept credit card payments. Here are just a few: when selling my CDs and songbooks at conferences, peddling demos at gigs, when a parent of a student forgets his or her checkbook and has no cash…the list goes on.
So when my friend and fellow studio owner Lisa Casciola told me about the Square Credit Card Reader, I was intrigued. I went to the website, where I found out that I could order the tiny little device for FREE, start an account for FREE, and immediately begin accepting credit card payments.
The square accepts all types of major credit cards and charges a flat 2.75% rate for every transaction. The best part is that the money is transferred to your bank account the next day. How convenient is that? The Square app can be downloaded to the iPhone, iPad and Android for free, and is super simple to use. Here are a couple screen shots of the app in use:
You simply enter the dollar amount and title of your transaction and then either swipe the card or enter the card number. It seriously couldn’t be any easier, and better yet, each transaction is completely secure.
For each item or service you sell, you can upload a picture that is displayed as an icon next to the item name. You can also personalize your receipts and let customers choose between paper (you can print wirelessly if using the iPad), email, or text. There is also an option for customers to add a tip. You can create reports to track sales and income, and even set up custom rewards programs for certain credit card types.
This device has opened up lots of new possibilities for me! Have you tried it yet, or do you use another method of accepting credit card payments on the fly?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for posting your review! I’ve been looking at credit card options and it sounds like this would be perfect.
Kellee
My pleasure! Hope you get a chance to try it out…and let me know what you think!
I’ve also been toying with the idea of using this app to accept credit cards for my GIM sessions, but I wanted to wait and see if someone (like you!) would post a review about it. :-) So thx! I think I may have to try it soon.
I’m excited to use mine…the one time I tried, though, I wasn’t in a wi-fi spot :) (just an fyi to those with a wi-fi only iPad…make sure of your internet connection first, ha!)
Ooh, good to know, Rachel! Thanks for the heads-up!
You are the second Music Therapist and third friend to suggest this… So I got one.
Sweeeet! Let me know how you like it :)