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TableTurn® Makes Contactless Payment Easy for Restaurants

Over the last few years, many restaurants have made the leap to contactless payment technology to keep with the demands of commercially crucial millennials and Gen-Zers. These businesses are reaping the benefits of enhanced customer satisfaction, faster table turns, and increased profits. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless payment is a trend today’s restaurant owners can’t afford to ignore.

Integrating Contactless Payment Technology

While contactless payment technology offers significant benefits, implementation has been challenging for many restaurant owners and staff. TableTurn®, Electronic Payments’ groundbreaking restaurant management platform, is a game changer. It seamlessly integrates with MICROS® and Exatouch® point of sale systems*, bringing essential features to restaurants seeking affordable, in-demand solutions:

CONTACTLESS & EMV PAYMENTS WITH TIP ADJUST

MOBILE SOLUTIONS FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP, DELIVERY, & PAY-AT-TABLE

SUPPORT FOR CASH DISCOUNTING

PRINT, EMAIL, OR TEXT RECEIPTS

SIMPLE SPLITTING OF CHECKS AND TENDER TYPES

FREE GIFT CARD PROCESSING

ABILITY TO CAPTURE CUSTOMER RATINGS

*Do you have a different point of sale system? Contact our team to find out if TableTurn® can integrated with it.

See how TableTurn is streamlining the entire curbside and tableside payment process with contactless and EMV transactions.

Countertop or Wireless Contactless Payment Solutions

TableTurn® offers both an integrated countertop solution that plugs right into your point of sale system, or a wireless device that’s perfect for curbside pickup, delivery, and pay-at-table.

To discover how TableTurn® can turn tables faster, boost customer satisfaction, reduce your costs, contact MJM Associates for a FREE, no-obligation demo.

How Does Contactless Payment Work?

Contactless payment, also known as tap-n-go by some retailers and banks, gives your customers the option of paying with either a mobile phone (via the Apple Pay or Google Pay app) or card (debit, credit, or chip). Here’s how it works:

A phone or card is placed within 1.5 inches of your countertop terminal or wireless device.

The card or mobile device is read and the data is transmitted to a card-processing network (e.g. Visa or Mastercard).

Fraud analysis is done and a confirmation is forwarded to the issuer.

The issuer confirms the card has sufficient funds and is not lost or stolen.

Data flows through the network from the card issuer to the restaurant or retailer.

Payment is approved.

All of this takes place within a couple of seconds!

Safer Payment Solutions During the Pandemic

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless payment was largely driven by convenience. Today, many consumers avoid cash payments and are reluctant to touch shared devices like payment terminals and pin pads. While convenience is still important, contactless payments are an increasingly important way to protect the health of consumers and restaurant and retail workers.

Contactless Payment Solutions for Restaurants in NH, MA, VT & ME

For over 40 years, MJM Associates has helped restaurants and retailers use the latest payment technology to increase their sales and profitability. We’re a family-owned business that places the evolving needs of our customers at the forefront of everything we do. We’re here to help you protect your restaurant customers and staff with the latest contactless payment technology. Contact us today for more information.

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Running a Small Business During COVID-19

In a very short period of time, COVID-19 has disrupted lives and livelihoods around the globe in unprecedented ways. It has literally changed how we interact with others, both in business and in life. While social distancing has physically separated us from others, in many ways we’ve grown closer, forging even stronger relationships within our communities.

Part of this desire to strengthen and support our own communities includes the decision by many to shop locally. In fact, a global survey from Ernst & Young found that 42 percent of consumers believe the way they shop will fundamentally change as a result of COVID-19, including 34 percent indicating they would pay more for local products.

Why Consumers Value Local Businesses

Consumers understand that local businesses are invested in their communities. “As a local business, our employees live and work where our customers do, and truly care about their communities,” says MJM Associates President Joel Breton

When you shop local, your money is invested back into your own community in the form of job growth, additional business-to-business spending, support for local organizations and nonprofits, and more.” Consumers appreciate that local businesses offer products and services geared toward the specific wants and needs of their community, not a national sales plan. Finally, consumers know that local businesses are an important part of what makes up the distinctive nature of the community—drawing in people, and keeping them living there.

Engaging with Customers During the Pandemic

“While the shop local mindset may have gotten a super charge during COVID-19, small businesses need to continue to earn the support of their local communities by changing how they interact with it,” Breton says, offering these four tips: 1. Stay Digitally Connected Consumers increasingly rely on digital spaces to interact with businesses. Make sure your business has a visually-appealing, mobile-friendly website that clearly communicates what you offer and gives consumers a way to easily connect with you. 2. Strengthen Your Social Media Presence You couldn’t pick a better time to beef up your social media presence. Platforms like Facebook provide a digital gathering place for like-minded customers and prospects. Here, you can highlight your staff, products, and services, engage with your followers, and truly bring your brand to life. 3. Ask For Feedback It’s critical that you change how you do business with your customers in accordance with their wants and needs. Ask them how you can make it easier for them to shop or conduct business with you during the pandemic. For example, you might adjust your hours, offer curbside pickup, or include free delivery. Be sure you clearly promote these options. 4. Remain Visible It’s important to stay as physically connected with your community as possible. Remain active in business and social groups and support local philanthropic efforts as best you can. “The bottom line is, if you want your community to embrace and support your business, you need to fully engage with it, ensuring you are keeping up with their changing wants needs,” Breton adds.

As a locally-owned, family-run business, MJM Associates is extremely grateful to our communities for their ongoing support, especially during the pandemic. The truth is, we couldn’t survive without you. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to prove to our customers that we’re “in it for the long haul.” We pride ourselves in offering competitively priced POS systems and credit card processing solutions with a level of service that’s second to none. We deeply value our local community and make every effort to invest in it whenever possible.

Local Merchant Services Provider for Small Businesses in NH, VT, ME, and MA

MJM Associates specializes in serving small businesses and understands the significant contributions they make to our local community. And because we live and work where you do, we are fully committed to the success of your business. Contact us to learn more about how to leverage your point of sale system to boost your bottom line.

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Contactless Payments for Curbside Pickup and Delivery

No matter what business you’re in, you’ve had to make major adjustments to serve your customers amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Many restaurants are turning to contactless curbside pickup and delivery to help protect their customers and employees from the spread of the virus.

Accepting Mobile Payments at Your Restaurant

Now more than ever, your customers need to know you’re doing everything you can to keep them safe. If your business doesn’t currently accept contactless payments, talk to a reputable merchant services provider like MJM Associates to learn how to integrate this technology into your operations. Offering transactions with NFC (near field communication) and contactless cards will help protect your customers because, in most cases,  they do not come in contact with the reader or hand over their card.

“Many of our customers are integrating payment solutions like Table Turn® into their POS systems to streamline operations and create a contactless payment environment,” says Joel Breton, president of MJM Associates. He points out that Table Turn® integrates with leading restaurant POS systems, including Aloha®, MICROS®, and Exatouch®. The system processes transactions securely, accepting both EMV and NFC payments with tip adjust. You’ll receive 24/7 in-house technical support, and won’t incur any additional monthly charges.

Making Customers Feel Safer with Online Ordering

To further limit physical exchanges between your employees and customers, consider phone orders. MJM Associates offers its clients a free “online billing platform” to send electronic invoices. “It actually sends customers a secure online link that they can use to pay for their order,” Breton points out. The merchant enters the order and sends the customer an electronic link for payment prior to pick up or delivery. We also have the ability to add a “Pay Now” Button to a customers website. 

MJM also provides point of sale (POS) solutions with integrated online ordering systems. Unlike many other online ordering systems, we don’t charge additional fees and/or higher processing costs for keyed transactions. “When selecting an online ordering system, it’s important to ask about “card not present” fees since these charges can really add up,” Breton notes. 

Thinking about implementing a POS system with integrated online processing? MJM Associates is happy to review our program and pricing in detail with you so you can make an informed decision.

Many customers enjoy online ordering because it allows them to see all of their available options before making a final selection. Having an online ordering system will also benefit your business in the long run because, as research shows, consumers spend an average of 20% more online than in-person purchases.

Contactless Payment Solutions for New England Businesses

Contactless payment solutions will help keep your customers and employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, while improving your overall service. Contact the merchant service providers at MJM Associates to learn how to integrate contactless payment technology into your business operations.

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Contactless Payments Amid COVID-19

With a growing awareness that the coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces—including point of sale PIN pads and touchscreens—for up to three days, many retailers and business owners are rethinking their payment technologies. Accepting NFC contactless payments (a.k.a. mobile payments) may provide additional sanitary protection and offer your customers peace of mind at a very concerning time in our lives.

Secure 

Contactless payments like Apple Pay are just as secure as EMV® (chip) transactions. Using dynamic encryption through tokenization to protect sensitive data, NFC transactions are virtually impossible for fraudsters to hack. And of course, Apple Pay is also protected by Apple’s fingerprint technology so all of your bank details are safe.

Fast

What makes contactless payment technology especially appealing is that it provides faster processing than chip transactions. And as any successful retail business owner knows, smoother, faster checkout times equal happy customers! 

Convenient

Most people don’t go anywhere without their mobile devices, so it’s only natural that they should be able to use it to pay for their purchases. Businesses who accept contactless payments provide added convenience for today’s busy shoppers.

Keeping up with the wants and needs of today’s consumers.

Given our current climate and the added benefits of NFC transactions, consumer acceptance and preference for contactless payments can only be expected to grow. In fact, eight of the top 10 U.S. merchants already accept contactless payments. Setting yourself up to accept both EMV and NFC technologies will allow your business to stay current with how your customers want to pay. 

Contactless Payment Processing in NH, ME, VT, and MA

If you think your customers are ready to embrace contactless credit card processing, the professionals at MJM Associates can help get you started. Contact us today.

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Update Your Retail POS to Make 2020 Your Most Successful Year Yet

A whole new year is ahead of your business and you want to do everything you can to make the most of it!  A good place to start is to evaluate your store’s point of sale (POS) system. Point of Sale technology is constantly evolving. There are invaluable features that can make running your retail operation faster, easier, and more profitable.

The Best Point of Sale Features

A modern point of sale system like Exatouch® will help streamline your operations with the following features:  

Built-in reporting

Offline processing

In-depth inventory management and reporting

Low processing costs

Free gift card processing

Ongoing Staff Training and Customer Support

The right POS system is backed by ongoing training and support. At MJM Associates, we offer a U.S.-based technical support team that is available 24/7. We’re always here when you need us, so you’ll never experience long wait times.

A Better Experience for Your Retail Customers

Today’s customers demand quick, smooth retail transactions. If your POS software has bugs or freezes up every other day, it can irritate customers, leading to a loss of sales. A cutting-edge POS system like Exatouch is reliable, fast, secure, and easy to use. Managing your store is less complicated and more profitable with the following features:

Barcode scanners

Receipt and label printing

Purchase orders

A robust customer database

Loyalty programs

Multiple Hardware Configurations

Remember the days when bulky POS hardware took up your entire counter space? Today’s sleek, modern POS hardware options are available in a variety of configurations that meet the specific needs of your business. Our Exatouch POS system offers a 10-inch customer-facing display with a variety of stylish, secure hardware options that accept all payments, including EMV and NFC.

Point of Sale and Credit Card Processing Systems in NH, MA, VT, ME

Are you ready to make 2020 your most successful business year? Contact us for a complimentary demonstration to discover the many ways our Exatouch POS system can help your retail business grow. We’re your local merchant services providers and we’re here to help you succeed.

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How Your POS Can Help Streamline Your Holiday Retail Sales

For retail businesses, “the most wonderful time of the year” can be a very challenging and stressful time of the year. With longer hours, increased customer demands, added training for seasonal staff, and more—you have a lot on your plate! To keep your sanity and help ensure your store is reaching peak performance this holiday season, here are some tips on using your point of sale (POS) to save time, better serve your customers, and boost overall sales.

Customize your POS.

Make your customer check out process as efficient as possible by customizing your POS to meet the specific needs of your business. Exatouch® POS streamlines transactions by featuring a row of customizable buttons right on the register screen. For example, you could set one button to make gift card sales, and another to add a gift wrapping fee. 

Pull regular inventory reports.

Regularly use your POS system’s inventory reporting to make sure you have the stock you need to fulfill customer demand. Running out of your most popular products in the midst of the holiday rush means losing valuable sales and potentially upsetting customers. These reports can also be helpful in planning next year’s sales.

Track and reward employee productivity.

With POS data, you can easily track the individual performance of your team members. Consider running a friendly competition to encourage sales and reward your top performers. This is a great way to boost sales. The performance data you collect will also help you make decisions on which seasonal staff should be transitioned into permanent positions.

Save time with gift receipts.

Exatouch® POS gives you the ability to print gift receipts without prices. This makes inevitable gift returns and exchanges easier for everyone. The gift receipt can also include your store’s return policy so all parties are informed.

Credit Card Processing for Businesses in NH, VT, ME, and MA

At MJM Associates, we offer customized POS solutions that fit the specific needs of your business. If your current system isn’t meeting your needs, contact us to take one of our credit card processing systems for a “test drive.”

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10 Good Reasons to Shop Local This Holiday Season (and Beyond)

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. The holiday season is upon us and retailers are doing everything they can to tap into this annual spike in consumer spending—and with good reason. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales represent about 20 percent of annual retail sales each year, but the figure can be up to 30% for some retailers, including hobby, toy, and game stores.

As the big box stores and online retailers continue to dominate most consumer markets, it can be easy to forget about the smaller retail businesses that support our local economy and community all year long. Here are 10 reasons to support small businesses by shopping local during the holidays and beyond: 

1. Your money stays within your community.

When you shop local, your money is recirculated back into your own community. Local business owners tend to spend their profits where they live, making many of their purchases from other businesses within their community.

2. Your purchases support local job growth.

Did you know that small, locally-owned businesses are our largest national employer? In fact, small businesses generated 64 percent of all net new jobs over the past 15 years. Locally-based businesses provide some of the most stable job opportunities, employing over half of all private sector workers.

3. Small, local businesses add to the distinctive character of your community. 

Local businesses are an important part of what draws people to your community, and keeps them living there.

4. Local businesses are invested in your community.

Because they live and work where you do, local business owners are invested in the future of your community.

5. Customer service is a priority.

Small, local retailers tend to hire people with very specific expertise. The result is better overall customer service.

6. Product offerings are geared toward the needs of the community.

Because product offerings are geared toward the specific needs of their local customers—not a national sales plan—local businesses often provide a better range of product choices.

7. Decreased impact on the environment.

Since locally-owned businesses tend to purchase from other businesses in their community, transportation costs are drastically reduced, lessening their overall impact on the environment.

8. Efficient use of public services.

Unlike nationally-owned, corporate retailers, local retail businesses make better use of existing public services, requiring comparatively little infrastructure investment.

9. Local businesses encourage investment in your community.

Economic studies show that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to settle in the kinds of unique, distinctive communities that one-of-a-kind businesses help create.

10. They provide greater support for non-profits.

It makes sense that local business owners take an interest in the welfare of their communities. In fact, non-profit organizations receive an average of 350% more support from local business owners than non-locally owned businesses. 

Consumers encouraged to shop local during Small Business Saturday on November 30.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recognizes the impact that “shopping small” can have on a local community. "Small businesses are the foundation of our economy - half of America's workers either own or work for a small business," said Carlos G. Mendoza, Fresno SBA district director. In an effort to support small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, the SBA co-sponsors Small Business Saturday®, held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving since 2010. This year’s event will take place on November 30.  For more information on how to support Small Business Saturday® in your area, visit the SBA online. 

Local Merchant Services Provider for Small Businesses in NH, VT, ME, and MA

MJM Associates specializes in serving small businesses and understands the significant contributions they make to our local community. And because we live and work where you do, we are fully committed to the success of your business. Contact us to learn more about how to leverage your point of sale system to boost your bottom line.

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Encouraging Repeat Business with Your Point of Sale System

“You don’t earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day-by-day.” – Jeffrey Gitomer, American author, professional speaker, and business trainer

It’s no secret that repeat customers are the lifeblood of any successful business. According to smallbiztrends.com, the probability of selling to an existing customer is 60 to 70 percent, while the probability of selling to a new prospect is only 5 to 20 percent. However, earning a customer’s loyalty and repeat purchases requires a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, with a smart POS (point of sale) system like Exatouch®, there are a number of tools that make growing your customer base faster and easier.

Built-in Integrated Loyalty Programs

An integrated loyalty program is one of the best ways to encourage repeat business. And with Exatouch®, it’s easy to start a program because it’s built right into the system. Using a points-based program, you can offer your customers giveaways, bonus gift cards, or other special offers once they’ve spent a certain dollar amount. Because points are automatically tracked and applied to your customers’ accounts in your POS system, no recordkeeping is required. 

Branded Gift Cards

With programs like eGiftSolutions®, your business can reap the many benefits of offering branded gift cards—just like the larger retailers!  Using your Exatouch® system, you can take advantage of free gift card processing, design and fulfillment services, real-time online reporting, and in-house support. By increasing cash flow with advanced sales revenue, and reaching new customers, branded gift cards can create a continuous cycle of repeat business. 

A Personalized Shopping Experience

Exatouch® has built-in tools that capture detailed information from every customer sale. Once you identify the products your customers purchases most frequently, you can invite them back to your store when a new style or complementary item is available. You can sweeten the invitation by offering a special offer, coupon, or giveaway. By making relevant product recommendations, you will create personalized shopping experiences for your customers. 

Meaningful Customer Connections

With a built-in customer database, Exatouch® makes it easy to stay digitally connected with your regular shoppers and convert one-time purchasers into repeat buyers. By sending emails about new products and special promotions, you will deepen your relationship with your customer and encourage additional purchases.

Exatouch® POS Systems for Retail Stores in NH, ME, MA, and VT

MJM Associates provides sales and service for Exatouch® POS systems for retail stores and other businesses throughout New England. Contact us to learn how you can put this system’s powerful features to work for your business.

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Using your Point of Sale System to Boost Profits

Most of us just think of a point of sale (POS) system as a way to process transactions. But your POS system is capable of doing so much more. Day after day, it captures critical information—from which items are selling the most, to the times when the majority of your customers shop. Here are six ways a cutting-edge POS system like Exatouch® can help you increase your profit margin.

1. Providing Valuable Inventory Insights

Exatouch® POS systems make inventory management easy so you can keep tabs on your stock counts. Using built-in reports, you can easily identify which stock items are slow to move, which ones are selling the fastest, and which ones provide the highest profit margins. And because Exatouch® maintains your purchase order history, you can easily view how many items you purchased the last time you re-stocked your shelves, how much you paid for each unit, and how long it took to move those items. Using these key insights, you can adjust your next inventory purchase to maximize your overall profits.

2. Preparing Your Business for its Busiest Sales Periods

Understanding how your business performed during your busy season can help you be better prepared for the next one. For example, using Exatouch’s reporting features, you can identify how many employees worked on certain holidays, and what you brought in for sales. This helps you plan your staffing to ensure your customers get the appropriate level of service, without paying for any unneeded labor costs. This reporting applies to your inventory as well. Knowing what your best-selling items are will help you determine how much inventory to purchase in advance, allowing you to keep up with customer demand and make the most of your sales.

3. Adjusting How You Do Business

By running one of Exatouch’s 70-plus reports, you can gather key insights to help you better refine how you do business. For example, you might think of yourself as a retail clothing store, but your high accessory sales might be telling you to dedicate more shelf space for your purses, belts, hats, and jewelry. When you generate a report to learn when most of your customers make their purchases, you might want to adjust your hours to better accommodate their shopping habits. Opening and/or closing even an hour earlier—especially on particular days—can make a huge improvement in your profit margin!

4. Staying Informed

It’s important to have real time information about how your business is doing. And getting and sharing this information between business owners, partners, managers, etc., can be challenging. Exatouch can be easily programmed to create a daily sales report that is mailed to all key parties. It’s like a snapshot of your overall business. This reporting feature can also be used to deliver whatever information your accountant requires to complete their duties.

5. Preventing Theft and Loss

Unfortunately, any time cash is involved in a business, there is a risk of theft. Using Exatouch’s reporting, you can identify how many discounts, refunds, and voids are processed during each employee shift. Having this kind of information can help you detect and prevent fraud and stealing.

6. Identifying Top Sales Performers

POS reports can help you identify your top sales performers so you can recognize and reward them for their outstanding service. And we all know that happy, appreciated employees create happy, loyal customers!

Exatouch POS System Sales and Support with MJM Associates

A robust POS system like Exatouch provides all the data you need to make strategic decisions on how you run your business, helping you boost sales and your bottom line. Talk to the pros at MJM Associates to learn how to put Exatouch to work for your business.

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How Restaurants Can Better Manage Inventory, Boost Profits, and Improve Service

If you own or manage a restaurant, you’ve got a lot on your plate:  scheduling employee shifts, maintaining food inventory, engaging with customers, and more. Many restaurateurs are discovering the benefits of using Fresh Sheet⸺a key feature in the Exatouch® Point of Sale System⸺to improve customer service, better manage inventory, and boost their bottom line. Here’s a review of some of the ways Fresh Sheet can help you streamline your operations and keep your customers coming back for more.

Managing Food Inventory and Maximizing Profits

Undoubtedly, one of the most costly parts of running a restaurant is managing food inventory. With Fresh Sheet, you’ll reduce food spoilage and waste, and ensure you never run out of key ingredients needed for your most popular dishes. With a few touches of the screen, you can easily add, delete, or edit menu specials and items. You can even move menu items with the highest margins to the top of your list, keeping them on top of mind for your staff. These and more functions are built into a smart POS system to set up your restaurant for success.

Making Menu Specials More Lucrative

Your chefs work hard to create specials incorporating fresh, seasonal ingredients. Fresh Sheet supports their creative efforts with POS features that help you better manage those short-lived ingredients. This technology, combined with good communication with your front-of-house staff about the creative specials and highest ticket items, will boost orders. 

TIP:  Come up with a reward system for servers who sell the most of these high-ticket dishes and realize a win-win-win for your chef, servers, and bottom line!

Improving Restaurant Customer Service

One of the most important aspects of good customer service is meeting expectations and avoiding disappointments. There’s nothing worse than taking a party’s order and having to return to the table to tell them an item is no longer available. In addition to disappointing your customer, all that back and forth delays the overall serving time, slowing your table turns, and reducing your profits. This is why your servers need to be up to date on what’s going on in the kitchen. Fresh Sheet can help by tracking menu items as they are ordered. Your servers get real time alerts when an item is about to run out or is no longer available. This information is displayed right on the POS lock screen, so no login is required. 

Exatouch® POS Systems for Restaurants in NH, ME, MA, and VT

MJM Associates is a leading provider of Exatouch® POS systems for restaurants and other businesses throughout New England. Contact us to learn how you can leverage the Fresh Sheet feature to better manage your inventory, improve customer service, and boost your profits.

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5 Myths About Credit Card Processing

The merchant services industry can be quite a challenge to navigate. To assist you in understanding and making the right decisions about your credit card processing, here are some common myths and facts:

MYTH 1: You can’t afford to accept credit cards.

FACT: It’s actually quite the opposite. You can’t afford not to accept credit cards! Today’s consumers often prefer to pay with credit cards, and there are many benefits that come with accepting them--including increased sales, improved cash flow, and more. 

Read more about how accepting credit cards can benefit your business.

MYTH 2:  The bank that gave you your business loan is going to provide the best credit card processing rate.

FACT:  Chances are, your bank subcontracts its credit card processing services. And the true cost of your credit card processing is much more than simply the rate your bank offers you, so shop around!

MYTH 3: The best merchant services provider is the one with the lowest rate.

FACT: This is probably the biggest misconception when choosing a credit card company. When selecting a merchant services provider, don’t just look at the credit card rate. From the cost to purchase or lease your credit card terminals, to monthly service charges--there are many factors that go into determining the effective rate, or the true cost of your credit card processing.

Learn how to determine your effective rate.

It’s important to ask about the level of service you can expect to receive from your merchant services provider. For example, MJM Associates provides local, 24/7 customer service to all our clients. We also have a demo center where you can “test drive” any of our POS systems.

MYTH 4:  With credit card processing, your funds will be delayed.

FACT:  Because credit card sales are processed electronically, funds will be deposited into your account very quickly—typically within a day.

MYTH 5:  If you don’t process a lot of card transactions, you don’t have to worry about PCI compliance.

FACT:  Even if you only accept one card a year, you still must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which exists to eliminate credit card fraud. 

At MJM Associates, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to be PCI-compliant. Contact us if you have questions.

Local Merchant Services Providers in NH, VT, ME, and MA

MJM Associates is your local merchant services provider, servicing business owners throughout New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts. Contact us to discuss the best solution for your needs.

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Building Loyalty with a Personalized Customer Experience

Now more than ever, shoppers expect a personalized customer experience. By combining good old-fashioned customer service with the latest tools and technology, you can give your customers the experience they want and expect from your company. Here are some tips on how to create a personalized customer experience and maintain long-term, satisfied clients:

1. Get to know your customers.

It goes without saying that the best way to serve your customers is to know what they want and need. And it’s the first step toward creating a customer-centric business. Surprisingly, many business owners fall short in this area. Start by placing yourself in your customers’ shoes. How and why do they use your products/services? How do they prefer to shop? What is the best way to communicate with them, and how often? Email? Text? Snail Mail? Consider all these factors when developing a strategic plan. 

2. Make a connection.

The best customer experiences are often created through emotional connections. By making your customers feel emotionally connected and attached to your products and/or services, and your team, they’re more likely to remain long-term, loyal patrons. There are many ways to do this, but here are some great ones to start with:

Make your customers feel welcomed. Anyone who visits your website, office, or store should feel like a valued guest. 

Help them search and find. Your website should be easy to navigate and should speak to their needs and wants. 

Teach the basics. Train your employees on how to serve your customers in a polite and respectful manner. Incorporate role playing exercises to teach your staff how to effectively manage common customer scenarios.

Encourage positive interactions. Customers who interact with store associates are more likely to make a purchase. 

3. Keep them informed.

Ensure your customers are up to speed with your latest product and service offerings. 

4. Let them know they’re appreciated.

When it comes to encouraging customer loyalty, a little appreciation goes a long way! Surprise your customers with a “thank you” email or text, reward large purchases with a store gift card, or create a loyalty program that includes special offers and frequent buyer discounts.

__________________________________________________

Speak with us about the benefits of loyalty programs.

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5. Ask for Feedback.

The best way to know what’s on your customers’ minds is to ask them. Use post-shipping surveys, phone calls, or targeted emails to solicit their feedback. 

6. Stay in touch.

Strong customer relationships don’t happen overnight. It’s important to stay in touch with your customers so you’re always on top of mind. If you’re not regularly reaching out to them about your upcoming events, sales, promotions, and new products and services, chances are, your competitors are!

7. Take advantage of technology.

The right point of sale system will help you keep up with the needs of your customers, and grow your business. Talk to the pros at MJM Associates to learn how to leverage your POS system to better understand your customers’ needs and wants.

Local Merchant Services Providers in NH, VT, ME, and MA

Because we live and work where you do, we’re well-positioned to help you create a personalized shopping experience for your customers. To learn more about our Exatouch, Procharge, and Clover point of sale systems, contact our professional team for a no-obligation consultation.

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Grow Your Business with the Latest Merchant Service Technology

Anytime you partner with a professional services organization—whether it’s an accounting firm, marketing agency, or merchant services provider—it’s essential to make sure they’re the right fit for your business. It’s equally important that they have the knowledge, tools, and technology to support your business as it continues to grow and evolve.

More than Credit Card Processing

“I have found myself always trying to stay ahead of the curve, which at times is very difficult with ever-changing technologies,” says Joel Breton, President of MJM Associates, a leading merchant services provider in New England. Breton notes that merchant services used to be just about the ability to accept credit cards as payments. But today, it’s much more than that.

MJM’s Point of Sale Systems include advanced features and functionality to help today’s businesses succeed:

Inventory Management

Time Clock 

CRM Programs

Loyalty Programs

Analytics and Reporting

Electronic Invoicing

Recurring Billing

Cash Discounting

Financial Reporting

Boosting Profits with Advanced Merchant Service Solutions

“Technology has forced every business to adapt and we, as a merchant service provider, are no different,” Breton notes. For example, MJM Associates’ merchant service solutions provide detailed inventory tracking and reporting. “This allows businesses to identify their top selling products as well as those items that are not meeting sales projections,” he adds. This information helps businesses improve their product offerings, boost their productivity, and maximize their overall profits.

Access to Working Capital? We’ve got that, too.

“When I first started in this business, I never thought that providing access to working capital would fall within our capabilities,” Breton says. But MJM’s merchant provider services now include:

Small Business Loans

Business Cash Advances

Lines of Credit

Is your POS system not meeting your needs? Contact MJM Associates for a free demo.

Embracing the Latest Credit Card System Technology

Companies who do not embrace change fall to the wayside. With access to the latest credit card and POS system technology, tools, and resources, you’ll help grow your business and move ahead of the pack.

Merchant Service Providers in NH, VT, ME and MA

The right point of sale system and merchant services provider will help you grow your business, keep with the needs of your customers,  and maximize your profits. Contact us to learn how to select the right system for your needs.

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Improving the Checkout Experience for Your Customers

You spend a lot of time, money, and effort getting customers into your store. By improving their checkout experience, you will elevate their overall satisfaction with your business, and ensure they keep coming back.  Here are five ways to improve your checkout process:

1. Train your employees in customer service.

Your checkout staff can leave a lasting impression on your customers, so it’s important to train them in the basics of good customer service, including:

Having a warm smile and extending a polite greeting.

Giving full attention to your customers and their transactions.

Asking customers if they found everything they needed and offering help, if necessary.

Opening up additional checkout lines as needed.

A pleasant checkout experience is increasingly rare these days, so it is a good way to elevate your business above your competition.

2. Provide fast and secure card processing.

A smooth checkout experience requires fast and fluid credit card transactions. If your point of sale system and software doesn’t meet the needs of your business, or isn’t intuitive to your employees, it can make transactions less efficient and slower.  The result? A reduction in overall customer satisfaction.

3. Offer several payment options.

Today’s shoppers expect that you will accept all major credit or debit cards. And an increasing number of consumers are using alternative wireless payment methods with services like Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Contact MJM Associates to learn how you can accept NFC-enabled payments.

4. Establish a loyalty program.

A loyalty program makes customers feel special each time they cash out. By tracking your customers’ purchases and eligibility for certain specials, promotions, and discounts, they won’t have to keep a bunch of paper receipts and coupons in their wallets. If you’re interested in implementing a customer loyalty program at your business, contact the MJM team.

5. Partner with the right merchant services provider.

Not all merchant services providers are created equal. The right payment partner will take the time to know you and your business before recommending the best point of sale system for your needs. Be sure to try before you buy. Don’t sign any contracts or buy a POS system without a hands-on demo.

Merchant Services Provider in NH, MA, VT, and ME

Your point of sale system is critical to your checkout process and the overall success of your business. Contact us to learn how to select the right system for your needs.

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The True Cost of Your Credit Card Processing

When you cash out at the grocery store, your receipt clearly tells you what each of your purchases cost. So if the $6 watermelon you bought rang up as $8, you’d immediately know you were overcharged. Unfortunately, merchant credit card statements aren’t this straightforward. At best, most of them are confusing, and at worst, they frequently include “hidden fees.” As a business owner, it’s important to know the true cost of your credit card processing. 

Calculating Your Effective Rate

When reviewing your credit card statement it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the various charges—from interchange rates and POS equipment costs, to monthly minimums and transaction category fees. Don’t let these line items bog you down. Instead, take just a few minutes to calculate your effective rate, or the true cost of your credit card processing.

To determine your effective rate, pull out your most recent statement. Simply add up your total fees and divide that number by your total monthly card volume.

 Here’s an example:

Last month’s TOTAL monthly charges added up to $672.76

Your total card sales for the month were $18,978.36

By dividing your total monthly fees by your total monthly volume, you will arrive at your effective rate:

Understanding Your Credit Card Processing Rate

Once you know how to calculate your effective rate, you won’t have to keep track of your transaction fees and monthly charges. It’s important to keep an eye on this number each month. Because the prime interest rate changes overtime, you will see some variation. However, if you see a drastic change in your effective rate, be sure to contact your merchant services provider.

Choosing the Best Merchant Services Provider

If you’re looking for a new merchant credit card processing company, do your homework before signing on the dotted line. “All too often companies reel customers in with a low rate, and then add in a variety of hidden fees—causing the customer to pay significantly more than they expected,” says Joel Breton, president of MJM Associates. Since your credit card processing can have a major impact on your bottom line, it’s important to know what you’re getting into before signing a contract.

Related:  5 Common Mistakes When Choosing an MSP

Merchant Credit Card Processing in VT, NH, ME, and MA

MJM Associates prides itself in providing local merchant credit card processing services. Because we live and work where you do, you can count on us for the highest level of honesty, integrity, service, and support.  If you’re looking for a MSP or have questions about your current credit card processing system, contact us. We’re here to help your business succeed.

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5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Merchant Services Provider

Choosing the best merchant services provider for your credit card processing can be overwhelming. Since this decision can have a major impact on your bottom line, it’s important to know what you’re getting into before signing a contract. To help you make the right decision for your business, here are five common mistakes to avoid when choosing a merchant services provider.

1. Failing to thoroughly read your contract.

The biggest mistake you can make is failing to carefully review your contract. We understand that this type of contract can make even the most attentive reader’s eyes glaze over, but there’s a lot at stake. Take the time to go through your contract line by line, and ask questions about any area you don’t understand. If you’re not satisfied with the answers you’re getting, don’t sign anything!

“I’ve met many business owners who’ve rushed through this important decision, ending up with a contract that’s negatively affected their bottom line for years,” says Joel Breton, President of MJM Associates.

2. Choosing an MSP based on selling price alone.

Many merchants make the mistake of choosing an MSP simply because it offered the lowest price. “Price is just a number. In our industry, processing rates are set by the card brands and issuing banks, so we have no control over it,” Breton explains. “You should choose an MSP who takes the time to learn about your products, services, and business model, so they can recommend a system that will be able to grow with the needs of your company,” he adds.

In addition, be sure to ask what kind of customer service and support you can expect to receive with your contract. All too often, sales reps disappear once you’ve signed on the dotted line. For the best customer service and support, work with a local merchant services provider. Because they live and work where you do, they’ll be more invested in your business.

3. Selecting an offer that’s just too good to be true.

When it comes to credit card processing offers, the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” usually applies. Be wary of any merchant services provider that offers an agreement that is significantly lower than its competitors.

RELATED: Why You Should Be Wary of “Free” POS Systems

 4. Not understanding the true cost of your credit card processing.

Interchange rates. Monthly minimums. Transaction categories. POS equipment costs.

With so many contract details and variations among pricing strategies and program structures, many merchants sign contracts without knowing the true cost of their credit card processing.

“The best way to do this is to look at what I like to call the effective rate,” Breton explains. To find your effective rate, add up your all the fees associated with your contract, and divide that number by your average or estimated total volume. This will allow you to make an apples-to-apples comparison among competing MSPs.

5. Signing a long-term contract with steep termination fees.

A long-term contract is great—for your MSP. Don’t lock yourself into a long-term contract, especially one with steep termination fees. A reputable merchant services provider like MJM Associates builds its success on happy, returning customers, not by locking businesses up with the threat of a hefty contract cancellation fee.

Choosing the Right Merchant Services Provider

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right merchant services provider for your business. Before selecting a new MSP or renewing an agreement with your current provider, carefully consider each of the points noted above. And above all, make sure your MSP has a thorough understanding of your business.

Credit Card Processing Merchants in NH, VT,  ME and MA

If you’re looking for a credit card processing provider, contact the knowledgeable professionals at MJM Associates. We understand that choosing an MSP can be little overwhelming. We’re here to explain your options and help you choose the one that works best for you and your business.

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Why Your Business Can’t Afford NOT to Accept Credit Cards

When you first open a business, it feels like a lot more money is going out than coming in. Any smart business owner is always looking to get the maximum ROI for every dollar spent. But some small businesses, in an attempt to keep costs down, don’t accept credit (and debit) cards. This can be one the biggest mistakes you’ll make as a business owner and we’ll tell you why.

Accepting Credit Cards Boosts Sales

According to Small Business Trends, accepting credit cards can significantly widen your customer base, boosting your sales. One survey, sponsored by Intuit, found that 83% of small businesses that accepted credit cards experienced an increase in sales. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed increased their sales by at least $1,000 more a month and 18% made at least $20,000 more a month.

Alexandra Lozano, attorney and author says that not accepting credit cards was one of the worst mistakes she made in running her business. “I did not accept credit cards for years. I feared that credit card processing fees would make me lose more money than I would make. I was wrong—so, so, so wrong. The first month that I started accepting credit cards, my income doubled. Within about six months of accepting credit cards, I began having six-figure months,” she says. “If I could go back in time, this is the first thing that I would change,” she adds.

Your Customers Will Spend More Money

Using a credit card is quicker, easier, and more convenient than paying with a check or cash. Because your customers are not limited to whatever cash they have on hand, credit cards also increase impulse purchases. And according to research from Psychology Today, paying with a credit card is a lot less “painful” for your customers than using cold hard cash.

“In a sense, the combination of credit (which itself is an abstract concept) and payment that comes at a much later point in time may act as a numbing balm for the pain that is normally associated with spending money,” explains Hal E. Hershfield Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Marketing at New York University's Stern School of Business.

You’ll Improve Your Cash Flow

Because credit card sales are processed electronically, funds will be deposited into your account very quickly—typically within a day.

You’ll Reduce the Risk of Fraud

With secure credit card processing from a provider like MJM Associates, you’ll reduce the risk of fraudulent payments. One bad check can take a big slice out of your profits and waste valuable time tracking down the customer.

You’ll Save Time and Money

As a business owner, you know that time is money. By increasing your credit card sales, you’ll reduce the amount of staff time spent on counting and depositing cash. Because electronic credit and debit card sales provide a detailed report for each transaction, you’ll also spend less time on manual accounting and bookkeeping tasks.

Choosing a Merchant Services Provider

Choosing a merchant services provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting your business. Do your research and choose a vendor that truly understands your unique business needs. And before you sign on the dotted line, make you know the true cost of your credit card processing. This decision can affect your bottom line for years to come. 

Credit Card Processing Merchants in NH, VT,  ME and MA

If you’re looking for a credit card processing provider, contact the knowledgeable professionals at MJM Associates. We understand that the process of getting your business ready to accept credit and debit cards can be a little overwhelming. We’re here to explain your options and help you choose the one that works best for you and your business.

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