Has anyone used this new thing you can get for your smartphone from SquareUp.com?My verizon guy told me about it and I was just checking because In these times I feel if iI took credit cards some would shoe instead of trim because they would have more time to pay because I am If tools are loaded on truck and I haven't been paid it's late!LOL! No but really has anyone tried this?Its free for the reader and plugs in any smart phone I am looking in to it and was hoping someone had used it with good luck before i'm the guinea pig!

I have never used CC's before, but will soon with the web page from farriers united and Jeff Denson. We'll se how it goes.

Ben,

Did you tell Jeff you're a Co-Op member? Do so, and you'll be pleased with the perk you receive. Membership has its privelidges.

Baron Tayler

Ahh, forgot that one, will do!

I have one and have used it a few times punching in the numbers. But have not used the card swiper they give you yet. The clients that pay with credit cards I rarely see, so haven't had the chance to swipe one. You can e-mail them an invoice from the phone at the time of the transaction, along with pictures or anything else you might need to send them.

If you are going to use it a lot they put a hold on over a $1000.00 a week I think. Read the contract close.

I use mine about 2 or 3 times a month, they deposit the money automatically at the end of the week. Best thing is no monthly fees only pay per use and it is comparable fees to other machines with a monthly fee.

cuttinshoer wrote:
On the face of it it sounds good. No monthly fee, just a straight per transaction fee. But... their cost per transaction is high. 2.75% for a swiped card is about 1% higher (in other words almost 30% more expensive) than what I'm paying to NABank. That may not sound like a lot, but 1% adds up to $10 per $1,000 processed, and it doesn't take too many shoeing to reach $1,000. (And if you're keying them in, Squareup is charging you a 3.5% fee. Ouch!) Granted, NABank charges a $9.95 monthly fee, but after the first $1,000 is put through using the Squareup system, it's costing you more than NABank's monthly fee. (Less than that if you're keying them into the Squareup system.) And... NABank doesn't put a hold on your funds, and they credit your account the next business day, or whenever you want, not once a week.

I'm not saying "don't" use Squareup. I'm just pointing out the "devil is in the details," and if you're going to process more than $1,000 a month, you'll end up with more cash in your pocket using a more traditional processor, such as NABank. I posted about my experience with them.

Baron Tayler

Cyber Farrier wrote:
At the amount I am using my squareup, compared to the initial (comparable)equipment cost of $99 and monthly fees of $9.95 to NA Bank(not counting there transaction fees) it would take ten months to equal the charges I paid to square. I didn't use it last month so NA bank would have cost me $10 just to have. I agree that if one was going to do a lot of business NA Bank may be better.

I'm hopein more will post on this topic.....to be honest I can barely turn the PC on and text...It was a big hurtle on the texting so to say the least...so I'm a little worried if the system may not be the best thing for me....but I would say 90 % of my clients I don't ever see much and I would say 40% I have never laid eyes on...and I bill 98% so at all times I could be owed 2k to 4k at all times and I require 30days so I was wondering if keeping a cc on file would end my issue ...its not a real big deal but at times it sure would be nice to know I did not have to bill and then wait....

Travis Reed wrote:
Do you charge a billing fee? That seems like it would encourage most to pay you before you bill them.

This is interesting I have been looking for a low cost way to be able to take credit cards. I don't have a ton of clients that would I would use it for but for the occasional person traveling through and some college age kids I think it would be great. Also nice to have when someone is slow to pay. You can call them and say all you need is there credit card. It would be handy. I fall into Ben's category of not needing it much.

Thanks for bringing this up.

Gilreath Horseshoeing wrote:
No billing charge..80% or more of my client base would not let a billing charge phase them in fact I have on my bill for it to be paid within 10 days..if anythinmg I would think charging a billing charge they would feel 30 days was ok seeing how that's how most billing works...I also have about 20 clients that do not even live in my state just the horse is here for training and they just come in on weekends and or shows....small accounts and back yard horses pay on spot and could not phantom a farrier billing and the english owners could not phantom a farrier not billing....99% of my clients are women and I quess th e man takes care of the bills hell they don't have any cash nor checks...truthfully I don't like dealing with the billing and I have someone do that part. And always wondered if keeping a CC of file would go over ok with clients...and I have noticed when checks do come in its one of them big checks like from a company...the other th ing is most farriers in my area bill and the client expect it..

Travis, Have you thought about billing with paypal?

Clients can possibly reverse the payment, but you dont have those types of clients.

I just have no idea how you can hold a cc on file. A fee would be motivating. I dont bill clients, but if I did...I'd have a fee.

I have a billing fee. The fee is for printing an invoice, putting it in an envelope, putting a self addressed envelope for return check in there, putting a stamp on it, taking it to the mailbox, and waiting on the check to return.

After reading this I went out and signed up for square. It has already come in handy for me. Easy to set up and use. I just have a small charge to go along with it or I raise my rate a little. It is handy for the slow payers and I will like it come show season when folks I don't know ask if I would take an out of state check . This has solved some problems for me. Not something I use all the time but the once or twice a month is sure does come in handy.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

I no longer do shows but this would have insured payment by all of those who:

• Will stop back with a check
• My trainer will pay you
• I'll be right back with another horse
• Ran out of checks, can you give me a bill
• And on and on