All Retail Articles - Page 3

Square vs PayPal: Price, Features & What’s Best in 2020

By Meaghan Brophy on June 4, 2020 | Brick and Mortar, Retail, Versus | Comments (21)

The main difference between Square and PayPal is that Square offers a complete suite of business management tools, whereas PayPal is simply for accepting payments. This difference makes Square a better option for small businesses processing in-person sales. However, PayPal’s name recognition and easy One-Touch payments make it a better solution for online sales. Square…

How to Use a POS System to Run Your Business

By Meaghan Brophy on June 2, 2020 | Retail, Ultimate Guide | Comments (0)

From the grocery stores to your favorite café, nearly every mom-and-pop, brick and mortar, and mobile business uses a point-of-sale (POS) system to manage transactions. POS hardware includes touchscreens, cash drawers, bar code scanners, and other tools powered by software that manages sales and payments, inventory, and customer service. A well-instituted POS system can perform…

5 Best Credit Card Readers for Android 2020

By Meaghan Brophy on May 29, 2020 | Brick and Mortar, Buyer's Guide, Retail | Comments (0)

Credit card readers for Android phones and tablets make it easy for merchants to make sales and accept credit cards anywhere, from food trucks to trade shows. With the advanced POS technology provided by several services and robust card readers, you can even use them in your brick-and-mortar store. Sometimes the best credit card reader…

POS Reconciliation: What It Is & How It’s Done

By Meaghan Brophy on May 28, 2020 | Brick and Mortar, Retail, What is | Comments (0)

POS reconciliation is the process of manually checking your POS sales records against your cash on hand and credit card processing statements to ensure there are no discrepancies. POS reconciliation can be done anytime, but more frequent audits ensure any disparities are identified and fixed right away. For most businesses, the best practice is often…

6 Best Free Appointment Scheduling Software

By Meaghan Brophy on May 26, 2020 | Buyer's Guide, Retail, Service Industry | Comments (14)

Appointment scheduling software allows clients to view a calendar of your business’s available meeting times and self-book an appointment. It also lets business owners manage appointments, send automatic reminders, and accept deposits online. Free appointment scheduling software can be hard to find, as many programs are simply limited versions of larger, paid services. However, we…

How to Get a Liquor License + Costs

By Mary King on May 21, 2020 | How To, Restaurants, Retail |

Liquor license costs start at around $300 but can grow into the tens of thousands depending on your location. Processing times range from three to 12 months. State, county, and local licensing requirements vary widely. Business owners in large markets like New York and Los Angeles frequently use license brokers or permit expeditors to navigate…

How Much Does a POS System Cost?

By Meaghan Brophy on May 20, 2020 | Retail, Ultimate Guide | Comments (0)

A point-of-sale (POS) system has two components: hardware and software. Most businesses purchase POS hardware outright, meaning the upfront cost can range from $50 for a simple card reader to over $10,000 for a large restaurant that needs multiple registers and tableside solutions. POS software typically follows a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model and is billed monthly…

How to Buy a Restaurant in 5 Steps

By Mary King on May 14, 2020 | How To, Restaurants, Retail | Comments (0)

Buying a restaurant is a cost-effective way for first-time restaurant owners to enter the hospitality industry. Buying an existing restaurant is ideal for restaurateurs who want to step into a fully functioning operation. Those who want to put their signature on a space, however, can buy a restaurant’s assets—such as the lease, furnishings, and kitchen…

The Definitive Guide to Restaurant Staff

By Mary King on May 14, 2020 | Retail, Ultimate Guide | Comments (0)

The specific types of employees a restaurant needs will depend on the style of the restaurant and the variety of services it offers. Staff in limited-service restaurants like pizzerias perform both customer service and cooking tasks. Full-service restaurant employees work specifically in either the bar, kitchen, or dining room. Basic Definitions You can’t discuss restaurant…

How to Set Up Click and Collect and Curbside Pickup

By Meaghan Brophy on May 7, 2020 | Brick and Mortar, How To, Retail | Comments (0)

For independent retailers, accepting online orders for in-store pickup is an effective way to boost sales and increase customer satisfaction by making it easier for shoppers to buy. Click and collect is when a customer selects and pays for products online, then the retailer packages the order and has it ready for the customer to…

4 Best Order Fulfillment & Warehouse Services for 2020

By Meaghan Brophy on May 6, 2020 | Buyer's Guide, Ecommerce, Retail | Comments (146)

Warehouse and fulfillment companies handle the order fulfillment process for ecommerce businesses including product storage, picking and packing orders, and shipping those orders out to customers. Some fulfillment warehouses cater to small sellers and startups, and most offer specialty services like batch fulfillment, secure storage, oversize shipping, or international sales. Outsourcing fulfillment to a warehouse…

How to Accept Credit Card Payments Online for Free

By Meaghan Brophy on May 6, 2020 | Brick and Mortar, How To, Retail | Comments (2)

Businesses can accept credit card payments online without any monthly or startup fees using services like Square and PayPal, but there is no escaping transaction fees. That’s because banks and credit card companies charge a fee whenever a card is used as payment. However, there are plenty of ways to accept payments online with affordable…