How to install and connect a terminal for paying with bank cards

What are POS terminals?

In the overwhelming majority of cases, the main goal that POS terminals adhere to is the implementation of settlement and cash services. Installation of POS terminals, as well as collection, payments to counterparties and other elements constitute settlement and cash services.

Using payment terminals, a store can debit funds from the customer’s bank card account and transfer them to the account of the selling company. Payments using plastic cards are one of the integral parts of modern human life. At the moment, almost all existing services and stores not only know what the terminal looks like, but also use it to sell goods and services. Such terminals are called POS (Point of Sale), or, if translated into Russian, point of sales.

For the convenience of users, at those points of sale where card payments can be accepted, at the entrance or near the cash register there are specialized stickers with the logos of the payment systems that this cash register accepts.

The presence of a payment terminal attracts customers and increases the organization’s profit

Operating principle

It is important for both the client and the seller to know how the card payment terminal works. Any payment terminal works according to the following scheme:

1. The client selects goods or services and indicates his intention to pay with a bank card.
2. The merchant or customers then insert the card into the POS terminal (or touch it to the terminal), activating it.
3. Information about the card is sent to the processing center.
4. The computer verifies the account balance on this card.
5. The required amount is transferred to the acquiring bank.
6. A slip is printed - a payment document with data on the financial transaction.
7. One copy goes to the cashier, and the second to the buyer.
8. The bank gives the money to the company, transferring it not to its account, minus the mandatory commission.

These steps are followed for any payment by credit card.

In this case, the store, intending to activate the acquiring bank services for subsequent use, has the right to:

• connect the cash register to the payment system;
• rent one or more POS terminals;
• use your own terminal to pay by bank transfer.

Today there are many types and varieties of POS terminals, which differ from each other in various parameters, including size, cost, operation algorithm and number of components.

The type of POS terminal depends on the retail facility

What types of terminals for bank cards are there?

Terminals are divided into mobile, POS and built-in online cash registers.

A mobile acquiring device is a terminal that can be portable. It runs on a battery, so you can often see it with a courier. Some models of such devices connect to a smartphone - the courier enters transactions on the phone, and the buyer taps or inserts a card.

A cash register POS terminal is a full-fledged cashier’s workplace. This can be seen in a supermarket, for example Auchan. The POS terminal includes a fiscal registrar that transmits receipts to the tax office and additional equipment, for example, a cash drawer, a barcode scanner, and displays.

An online cash register with acquiring is a device that combines a cash register under 54 Federal Laws and a card reader. Terminals from Ingenico, Inpas and Paymi can be connected to Modulkassa. The cash register costs 24,900 rubles, which is more profitable than buying equipment separately.

We connect trade acquiring within a day: you fill out an application, and the next day we deliver the terminal. Delivery in Moscow - one or two days, in Russia - up to a week. The device is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses: restaurants, retail outlets, online stores, beauty salons, dentistry. The device is synchronized with warehouse and sales accounting systems, for example 1C or MoySklad.

We are constantly improving the checkout to make it faster and more convenient. Therefore, the price and number of models may vary. Current information is on our website.

Types of POS terminals by design

There are three types of POS terminals in total, if you look at them from the point of view of the layout of the components. These are monoblock and modular terminals, and it is through them that various processes are carried out that determine how to use the card payment terminal, how much to withdraw and which bank to send to.

Monoblock

Monoblock terminals are designed in such a way that all equipment is located in a single housing. They are installed where there is little throughput. These could be boutiques, small department stores or kiosks.

Modular

Modular POS terminals consist of several modules connected into one network. However, some modules may have a separate housing. For example, a barcode scanner, keyboard, printer and other components may be located separately. You can distinguish a terminal consisting of modules from a monolithic one only by the presence of several cables connecting the components into a single system.

The advantage of such a system is that the modules can be located at some distance from each other, which makes the buying and selling process more convenient for the client and the seller. In addition, depending on the type and modification of the modular system, it can be equipped with various elements.

Modular POS terminals are suitable for places where there are a lot of customers. These are grocery stores and hypermarkets.

Dispersed-modular

The only difference from the modular system is that here you can move components over a distance of 5 meters. Used in food establishments - restaurants, cafes, public catering, fast food, etc.

How to choose the right place to place a payment terminal?

When choosing where you will install the terminal, you should consider:

• Patency. The more people pass by, the more likely it is that they will be interested in your modern payment terminal.
• Availability of open access. The place for the payment terminal must be located on a site that is accessible from at least 1-2 sides. Only in this case will customers be interested in your equipment. No one wants to squeeze sideways to the payment terminal.
• Availability of access to electricity. The space for any payment terminals must be equipped with an outlet.
• Security level. It is not necessary to choose a place for payment equipment in a store or other facility near the security post. Make sure your device is monitored.

Types of banking acquiring and POS terminals

Trading terminals are installed and used in various trading, service and other companies. They can be found in stores, hairdressers, hotels and other similar establishments. A distinctive feature of this type of POS terminals is that there is direct contact between the selling party and the buying party.

Another feature that is more pleasant for the selling side is that in order to use the terminal in trade, it is necessary to conclude an agreement between the seller and the terminal supplier. According to this agreement, the bank supplies the store with:

• the terminal itself;
• other equipment;
• software;
• Consumables;
• opportunity to receive training free of charge.

The store owner undertakes under the contract to create the necessary conditions for the installation of devices for paying for goods and services through a bank card. All these and other features made the terminal popular.

The tariff and type of acquiring depends on the type of trade object and the income received

Internet acquiring

A characteristic feature of this type of acquiring is the absence of any direct contacts between the selling and buying parties. In online mode, customers can pay for services and goods in a simpler and faster way using their own bank card in any online store. In order to do this, just enter your card number, expiration date, as well as other data, including CVC2.

In 99% of cases, a certain amount of funds is written off instantly, after confirmation of the transaction via SMS message.

Mobile acquiring

Another type of POS terminal based on its operating principle is mobile acquiring. At the same time, a POS mobile terminal is installed, which is necessary to pay for services and goods with a bank card. This terminal is also called mPOS.

Externally, it is a card reader that connects to the gadget and makes it possible to transfer funds from the client to the seller using the application.

The use of such terminals can be considered a relatively young and promising direction in acquiring.

The use of terminals in trade in the process of paying by bank card is convenient not only in the store, but also in courier services, medical practice, cargo transportation and other similar services.

mPOS is suitable for those entrepreneurs whose turnover is insufficient to use standard POS terminals. In view of the problems with the implementation of business in Russia in the early stages, mPOS is becoming increasingly popular and the optimal solution, so you should choose such a payment terminal.

Operating principle of a mobile POS terminal

Everything here is as simple as in standard POS terminals. An entrepreneur or store purchases a special card reader and installs the application on the gadget. After registration, the store will have a real mobile terminal that runs on 3G and is capable of accepting cards to pay for services and goods.

Price

The cost of the card reader itself will depend on the company’s requirements, but the minimum price is three thousand rubles. There are companies that either offer to get card readers for free, or compensate the cost with a commission.

The average market commission can vary from 2.5 to 2.75 percent of the transaction amount, so it does not depend on daily or monthly turnover.

What types of mPOS terminals exist

Connectable via various interfaces. These can be Bluetooth, mim-jack and USB. The most budget models in this regard are those that connect to the head unit via a mini-jack or audio jack. As for Bluetooth models, they allow full authorization followed by entering a PIN code during payment.

Reading magnetic stripe, CHIP or combined modifications. In Russia, almost all devices are sold in such a form that they can work with magnetic strips located on cards.

Analog and digital. Encryption modifications are capable of encrypting information from the card before transferring it to the phone.

Using POS terminals has not only advantages, but also disadvantages

Payment terminal. What it is?

A payment terminal (from the Latin “terminalis” – final, border) is an autonomous device (hardware and software complex) that allows you to accept payments from individuals in self-service mode. A special feature of such devices is a software interface configured for the most accessible perception of information. Users should not have any questions about how to work with them - everything should be clear, simple and as accessible as possible.

Using payment terminals, you can make almost any payments to various service providers. You can pay:

• mobile communications (it all began with it);
• services of Internet providers, cable television providers and other providers of modern digital services;
• communal payments;
• fines and various types of taxes;
• monthly loan installment (in connection with the development of the microfinance industry, terminals have become very useful for repaying microloans);
• online shopping.

In addition, the terminals allow you to transfer funds to another person’s card account, top up an electronic wallet or account in a payment system (QIWI, Leader, etc.), and make a transfer to a fast transfer system (Contact, Western Union, etc.). You have the opportunity to transfer a payment to a charitable organization or use the service of the payment system itself, for example, open a virtual card or create your own electronic wallet, and, finally, top up your account in some massively multiplayer online game.

Where did such a sea of ​​possibilities come from (and the number of service providers for terminals under different brands may differ) and why is a percentage charged for payments in favor of some suppliers, but not in favor of others? Let’s answer this question and at the same time consider the principle of operation of the payment terminal.

Advantages and disadvantages of payment terminals

Using payment terminals when doing business is an excellent way to conduct commodity and cash flows. The use of such systems is justified by several advantages:

• terminals are sold at a low cost (especially for mobile terminals), which allows you to save money even at the stage of implementing the trading system;
• terminals, depending on the type, differ in mobility;
• increased level of security of the transaction;
• the ability to sell goods and provide services, as well as work and conduct business around the clock;
• payment terminals can be quickly designed and implemented into your working project, and this is useful for doing business due to the small commission and minimal resources. And in the case of mPOS terminals, you just need to have a smartphone and a card reader.

However, using POS payment terminals also has its disadvantages:

• not all banks support delivery at a sufficient level;
• there is some distrust of any POS terminals from bank card holders;
• lack of guarantee of high-quality and uninterrupted operation in case of equipment problems; debt payment procedure (applies to mobile payment systems).

For those individual entrepreneurs and companies whose turnover exceeds 1 million, payment terminal manufacturing companies can provide discounts or interesting conditions for cooperation.

General characteristics of the payment terminal

A payment terminal is a device through which citizens make money transfers for various purposes. A commission is deducted from the completed payment in favor of the business owner. It is this commission that makes up the gross profit.

The terminal device includes:

• metal case with anti-vandal protection;
• fiscal device that prints a check;
• monitor and touchpad;
• bill acceptor;
• simple computer;
• GPRS modem or GSM version.

The device can be equipped with a watchdog timer and an uninterruptible power supply at the request of the owner.

According to the concept, payment acceptance terminals are divided into types:

1. For indoors.
2. For the street.
3. Portable.

The latter type is used for limited tasks; the structural difference between the others lies in the degree of anti-vandal strengthening of the panel and glass. The cost of the cars is approximately equal to:

• the sample for the room is made taking into account design solutions;
• In an outdoor terminal, the protection is more expensive, but the housing does not have a decorative panel, since this part is either not visible on the wall-mounted version or is not provided.

A simplified plan for a payment terminal business includes finding a place for equipment, concluding a lease agreement, purchasing terminals, and connecting to the payment network.

Installation of a payment terminal in an office building

Some nuances of using POS terminals

Using payment terminals for card payments allows small businesses to open up a large number of different opportunities, including such as:

1. Increased sales. As international statistics show, after installing POS terminals, sales volume increases by an average of 30 percent. This increase in the profitability of the establishment can be explained very simply - bank card holders are more inclined to make high-value purchases.
2. Cooperation. Companies that connect a POS terminal can begin mutually beneficial cooperation with the bank that provides acquiring.
3. The use of terminals in trade eliminates the appearance and distribution of counterfeit banknotes in the company.
4. Opportunity for free training and advanced training for your employees.

In conclusion, it should be noted that installing a classic, improved or mobile POS0 filter will be beneficial for both small businesses and banking companies. More than half of the market share of acquiring in Russia is divided between several large participants - Russian Standard, VTB, Sberbank and others. These companies account for about 74 percent of the Russian market share.

But before purchasing and installing a terminal, you need to study the tariffs and available offers, as well as the features and advantages. Based on the requirements and specifics of your business, you can choose the most profitable and prompt offer.

With each new year, an increasing number of stores, individual entrepreneurs and other small business legal entities join the general system of non-cash payments when selling services and goods. At the same time, companies can receive even more profits and additional profitable opportunities.

Choose the right terminals

When choosing a self-service terminal, you should pay attention to its appearance, the composition of the components from which it is assembled, and the history of the manufacturer.
Appearance (case design) is important because devices in modern case designs are more trusted by users than outdated models from the early 2000s. Since then, manufacturers have done a great deal of work to improve the design of devices, and new models are more ergonomic, economical and meet current requirements for automatic calculation devices. A competent manufacturer’s equipment usually includes components that have been proven by long-term operation. These include CashCode bill acceptors, Custom printers, and Elo touch screens. Experienced developers do not skimp on components, using equipment from well-known brands and timely updating components taking into account the release of improved models. Since 2020, self-service devices must necessarily have an online cash register (requirement of Federal Law-54). Since such CCPs are a new development, their installation and subsequent operation in most cases causes difficulties. Therefore, when purchasing a terminal, you must first study the issue, choose a cash register from a reliable manufacturer and check the availability of this particular model in the configuration of the selected terminals.

In addition to all of the above, it is necessary to study the history of the machine manufacturer, read reviews about it online and on our forum in order to exclude the possibility of purchasing from unscrupulous suppliers.

Tariffs and conditions of banks for trade acquiring

Consider the most favorable terms of trade acquiring and compare the tariffs of leading banks.

Important! To work with merchant acquiring, you first need to open a current account (this article shows the best conditions of banks for opening a current account, and we will now look at some banks for merchant acquiring).

Modulbank

An excellent bank for entrepreneurs and ONLY for entrepreneurs!

Trading terminal - free of charge! It is possible to purchase it on credit at a rate of 16% of the cost of the terminal. Delivery within 5-7 working days after payment. All equipment settings for your business are made by bank representatives. All you have to do is turn on the terminal and start accepting payments.

• The transaction fee is fixed at 1.9%.
• The cost of connecting the terminal is free.
• The cost of the equipment is 24,500 rubles. (ICT 250 CTLS/ GPRS wired), RUB 30,000. (IWL 250 GPRS wireless), RUB 33,000. (IWL 250 Wi-Fi portable). Equipment from Ingenico.

More detailed information about trade acquiring in Modulbank can be found on the bank’s website.

Official website of Modulbank

Bank Point

An excellent bank for entrepreneurs and ONLY for entrepreneurs!

To sign up for the service, the client does not need to go anywhere, just log into the Internet bank and sign a pre-prepared agreement there. There is no need to pay any additional payments or security deposit. You can receive money into your account the very next business day. There is no need to buy a terminal: it can be rented for a year, and then it will remain the client’s property.

• Transaction fee - 1.6 - 2.3%
• The cost of connecting the terminal is free.
• Equipment cost - From 23,000 rubles to 31,000 rubles. There is an installment plan for 12 months. Verifone terminals models 520 (portable and stationary) and 675.

More detailed information about merchant acquiring in Tochka can be found on the bank’s website.

Official website of Tochka

Raiffeisenbank

Transaction fee – from 1.9 – 2.2%

Monthly fee for using electronic terminals: from 190 to 990 rubles. for 1 terminal.

The cost of connecting and registering the terminal is from 490 rubles. up to 29,990 rub. per terminal.

All numbers depend on your turnover. The higher the turnover, the more profitable your tariff.

Connect acquiring on the official website of Raiffeisenbank.

Here are more details about tariffs for trade acquiring from Raiffeisenbank:

VTB

Transaction fee:

— turnover up to 100,000 rubles. per month for 1 terminal 2.7%;

— turnover from 100,001 to 150,000 rubles. per month per 1 terminal 2.2%

— turnover from 150,001 rub. per month per 1 terminal 1.6%

Terminal maintenance - from 0 to 1000 rubles. per month. (depending on the tariff)

Terminal price:

• Stationary POS terminal from 10,000 rub. for 1 piece
• Portable POS terminal from 16,000 rub. for 1 piece
• In the “Small Business” tariff, a POS terminal starts from 2,600 rubles. for 1 piece

Here are more details about the tariffs for VTB 24 merchant acquiring:

VTB official website

Trade acquiring in Sberbank

This is the most mysterious bank of all existing ones. We called, wrote, asked and received no answers. The employees’ answer is always the same: “Come to a bank branch and an employee will calculate the conditions for you individually.” They don’t even say the commission percentage from start to finish.

But we spent a long time digging on the Internet and from other sources we managed to find out the approximate tariffs for Sberbank merchant acquiring.

Necessarily:

• Availability of a current account in Sberbank.
• Installation of a remote customer service terminal.

Transaction fee depends on turnover.

• If over 1,000,000 rubles, then 1.8%;
• up to 1,000,000 rub. up to 2.4%.

But reviews on the Internet about Sberbank’s merchant acquiring indicate that this is not the limit of the commission. At low speeds there were cases where the percentage increased to 3.4% and even 4%. Moreover. If you do not agree with the increase in interest, then they will quickly come to you and take away the terminal.

If everything is stable with your turnover, then as a rule the interest rate, as indicated, is 1.8 - 2.4%.

With all this, Sberbank is a leader in trade acquiring.

Official website of Sberbank

Alfa Bank

We contacted Alfa Bank employees and received an answer that they are no longer engaged in “Terrestrial” acquiring. Clients are offered a UCS partner. At the moment, Alfa Bank provides only Internet acquiring.

What is merchant acquiring

The most convenient form of payment today is a bank card. Increasingly, in hotels, shops, restaurants and other companies, instead of the usual banknotes, people hand over a plastic card to pay for services. In this regard, the number of companies that introduce trade acquiring is increasing every day. Not only major players in the market, but even private entrepreneurs understand that we are talking about the fight for customers!

There are 3 types of acquiring:

• mobile acquiring
• Internet acquiring
• merchant acquiring

The latter will be discussed in today’s article.

Trade acquiring is a banking service that allows all sales representatives to accept bank cards instead of cash when paying for goods and services using a special terminal. You will learn in detail how to obtain this service in this article.

In addition to the general definition of non-cash payment, merchant acquiring has another side. In fact, this type of service implies the provision by a banking organization of special equipment, as well as settlement, technological and information services. Any company that accepts bank card payments from any of the well-known payment systems can use the service.

The subjects of this process are:

• buyer;
• salesman;
• acquiring bank;
• payment systems.

Sometimes, a processing company is added between the store (seller of goods/services) and the bank. Large banks, as a rule, have their own processing center.

In general, the task of a processing company is to install and register acquiring equipment, as well as process and store information on all operations passing through the terminal.

The presented service is due to a huge number of advantages that are relevant both for large trading companies and for private entrepreneurs. Thanks to this, acquiring is now only gaining momentum.

By connecting to merchant acquiring, you receive:

• Increasing your organization's competitiveness.
• Increasing cash flow by attracting bank card holders.
• Consumers will be able to spend large amounts of money because they are not limited by cash.
• The risk of receiving counterfeit banknotes is reduced.
• The speed of trade and settlement operations increases.
• Bank card holders are more likely to make large and unplanned purchases.
• Reducing costs for ensuring the safety of funds (collection).
• The level of optimization of the entire customer service process is increasing.
• Payment security guaranteed! Loss, theft, fires, and even a cashier's error - all this fades into the background.

Acquiring - types and application

There are 3 types of acquiring, which involve the use of POS payment terminals.

1. 
   Trading stationary.

   These are familiar POS payment terminals installed in stores, supermarkets, restaurants and other organizations that provide product and service services provided through personal contact between the seller and the consumer. To do this, the bank providing the services and the entrepreneur enter into an agreement, according to which the banking organization provides equipment and software for the operation of the POS terminal, and also trains employees in the rules of using the terminal. For his part, the entrepreneur is obliged to provide conditions for the installation of equipment and accept cards for payment from clients to pay for goods and services. This type of terminal is the most common.
2. Internet service. This type of acquiring is used in the absence of direct contact between the entrepreneur and the client. The selection of a product or service takes place online, and payment is made using a bank card in a special online store service in the same way. In the dialog box, you enter the details necessary to make the payment: card number, expiration date, owner’s full name and CVC2. A confirmation code is sent to the mobile number linked to the card, after entering which in the appropriate field the funds are debited.
3. Mobile terminal. In addition to the usual stationary POS terminal, you can also install a mobile version of mPOS. It can also complement a regular terminal. In fact, it is a card reader capable of connecting to a smartphone through a special application and transferring funds between accounts.