A Wireless Merchant Account

Writen by Shane Penrod

A wireless merchant account can bring your business into the 21st century by enabling you to accept credit payments while on the go. All you have to do is get approved for a merchant account and then purchase or lease a wireless credit card processor that can be transported from one location to another by employees who collect credit payments from customers. Here's how it works.

1. Apply for a wireless merchant account by finding a reputable merchant services provider to partner with. You can browse many kinds of merchant account Websites on the Internet to find those that will approve your company for a commercial account that will let you accept credit card payments using a wireless processor. Shop for banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions that offer merchant services. Apply online, by mail, or in person with local providers. In many cases you can get a response within a matter of hours, or at most, a day or two. Most underwriters look at an application to determine whether a company has a good credit history, is able to make monthly payments on a merchant account, and is not involved in a questionable or unsavory business.

2. Once you have been approved for a wireless merchant account, you can immediately select the equipment you would like to use. Check out several units to find one that is the right size and weight for your company's needs, especially if it will be transported for off-site credit processing. You also should be eligible to get a regular credit card processor to plug into any outlet in your store or another location, if preferred. Many units combine printer and terminal for greater convenience. Purchase prices vary greatly, but you can expect to spend several hundred dollars to purchase a quality wireless unit. Your merchant account extras can add to the cost, with the potential for application, maintenance, service, gateway, and discount fees, among others. Find out in advance what you will have to pay for a particular deal up front, monthly, and annually, and make sure the expenses fit with your company operating budget.

3. After implementing wireless merchant account equipment, see how it works for your customers and the degree to which the company benefits. Processing credit payments can help to increase profits, since more customers may be eager to make purchases when they have the flexibility to pay in credit as opposed to paying in cash or by check. If the initial set-up works well, you may decide to move on to other electronic items, like a pager, a check and debit processor, and other types of equipment that can help your company operate smoothly and efficiently. Don't go overboard with buying fancy features that you really don't need. Simply purchase or lease the technology that addresses a specific need that you have already identified. If it works, you can always add more later. If it doesn't, you're only out the investment on the one item.

Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Control Climbing Costs In Your Cleaning Company

Writen by Steve Hanson

Although supply and material costs are likely to be a small part of your cleaning company's expenses, these costs are continuing to spiral, and so controlling these expenses will lead to more profit for your business. These days, prices change quickly, so the total expense of your supplies may not be accurately reflected in cleaning bids. Keeping these costs down are important to remain competitive as well as staying profitable.

Following are tips to keep your costs down:

1. Always buy high quality brand name products that work well for you. If a new product comes out, ask your distributor for a sample that you can try to be sure the product will work in your situation. Low priced chemicals aren't necessarily the best choice. If you have to use more of a "cheaper" product, than you are not really saving any money.



2. Don't make a buying decision solely based on cost. If the product is being delivered to you make sure you know what the shipping charges are and include those in figuring out the total cost of the product. If you need to pick up the product at a local distributor, figure in your time (or your employee's time) and the mileage needed to pick up that product.



3. If possible, make one large order with your vendor instead of several smaller orders. This will help keep your shipping costs down and you may also be able to take advantage of volume discounting.



4. Buying larger sizes or products or chemicals that you mix yourself tends to be more economical than buying products in small sizes or ready-to-use containers.



5. If your employees are mixing chemicals, make sure that they read and follow all label directions. Adding too much water will make a chemical less effective; adding too little is a waste of product (and money) and may cause damage to the floor or fixture that is being cleaned.



6. Think before you buy. New products are coming out all the time. Do you really need to have five or six products, if one will do what these other products promise?



7. Don't be afraid to pass on price increases to your customers. For you to stay in business you need to make a profit. Your customers should understand that for your company to stay in business you can't absorb increased costs.

Help to keep your profits coming in by keeping your supply costs in check. Following these tips will help you take a second look at what you are buying and why. Remember, you are in business to make a profit. Don't throw it away by neglecting your supply costs.

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift!

Pressure Washing At Golf Courses

Writen by Lance Winslow

There are many potential niches for pressure washing companies that often go unchecked. Some are quite lucrative and are worth investigation if you own a pressure washing business. One such niche is the pressure washing of golf courses, clubs houses, golf carts and facilities. To target this specialization of services you will need to slightly modify your sales approach.

Below is an excerpt from a sales letter that our company uses to attract these high-end customers for our pressure washing business. You may use this technique or language in your sales presentation and modify it to fit your particular business model and way of doing things. I recommend you copy this letter and use a red pen to make changes and then re-format it and immediately contact all the golf courses in your area and start getting well paying pressure washing work today.

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The Car Wash Guys industrial division specializes in pressure washing for golf courses. We've cleaned hundreds of golf courses and resorts. As you know, a golfer who has a pleasurable experience at your course is three times as likely to return and refer friends. A recent article in Golf Traveler surveyed 10,000 corporate golfers and discovered that pristine maintenance was rated second only to the challenge of the course as the #1 reason to frequent a golf course. First impressions are obviously important. What does a golfer see as he approaches your club?

Logos and Signage

Valet Areas

Covered Entrance Ways

Golf Carts

Club Houses and Restaurants

Awnings

Look around. Are your golf carts dusty? Are there smudges and scuff marks on them? When was the last time you either waxed or polished them? Are there droppings on your signs, stains in your parking lot, scuff marks on your sidewalks? Do the concrete areas around the clubhouse patio and tennis courts need a little freshing up? Please let us assist you in staying number one as the area's premier golf course with a regular maintenance schedule performed by The Car Wash Guys. Customizing our services with your requirements is our specialty. Add The Car Wash Guys "111% Team" to your team.

· We have two million in liability insurance

· Our machines are quiet and our crews are professional and in uniform

Lance Winslow