The blog for smart businesspeople
Wednesday, 12 November 2025
That's Christmas 365: How to Run Christmas-Themed Quizzes for Your Pub, ...
That's Christmas 365: How to Run Christmas-Themed Quizzes for Your Pub, ...: Christmas is one of the busiest and most profitable times of the year for hospitality venues. Guests are looking for festive fun, cosy surr...
Tuesday, 11 November 2025
How Small Businesses Can Quickly Start Accepting Card Payments Online or In Person, Before the Christmas Season
Why Small Businesses Need to Accept Card Payments
In today’s fast-moving, cash-light economy, being able to take card payments isn’t just convenient, it’s essential, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
You don't want to be in the situation where you have to turn away a disappointed Christmas shopper because they don't have any cash in their wallet or purse.
Customers expect to pay by card, contactless, or mobile wallet, whether they’re shopping in-store, at a market stall, or online.
For UK small businesses and sole traders, introducing card payment options can boost sales, improve cash flow, and make your brand look more professional.
Let’s look at how you can start accepting card payments, both online and in person, quickly and affordably.
Step 1: Decide How You’ll Take Payments
Before you invest in any system, think about where your customers interact with your business.
In-person payments: Ideal for cafés, salons, pop-ups, and retail outlets. You’ll need a card reader or POS terminal.
Online payments: Suitable for e-commerce sites, digital services, or freelancers. You’ll need a payment gateway or checkout page.
Hybrid setup: Many UK businesses benefit from combining both, selling face-to-face and online with the same provider.
Step 2: Choose a Reliable Card Payment Provider
Finding the right provider depends on your turnover, business model, and budget.
Popular UK options include:
Square: Free account, pay-as-you-go transaction fees. Great for small shops and market stalls.
SumUp: Fast setup with low-cost card readers and no monthly contracts.
Zettle by PayPal: Ideal for sellers who already use PayPal or sell through social media.
Stripe: Excellent for online payments, subscriptions, and integration with e-commerce platforms.
Worldpay and Barclaycard: Traditional merchant accounts for businesses with higher sales volumes.
Tip: Compare transaction fees, payout times, and integration options before you commit.
Step 3: Setting Up In-Person Card Payments
To take payments in person, you’ll need a card reader that supports chip & PIN, contactless, and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.).
Most modern card readers connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and come with an app to manage sales, refunds, and receipts.
Benefits include:
Take payments anywhere, perfect for mobile businesses or markets.
Email receipts instantly to customers.
Sync transactions with your accounting software.
Popular small business readers in the UK include Square Reader, SumUp Air, and Zettle Reader 2.
Step 4: Setting Up Online Card Payments
If your business sells online, you’ll need a payment gateway to handle secure transactions.
Options include:
Stripe, PayPal, and Square Online, all integrate easily with Shopify, Wix, or WordPress.
Shopify Payments or WooCommerce Payments, built-in systems for e-commerce sites.
Payment links or invoices, perfect for freelancers and service providers.
Make sure your website uses SSL encryption (that padlock symbol) to protect customer data and improve trust.
Step 5: Understand the Costs and Fees
Most card payment providers charge a small percentage per transaction, typically 1.5%–3%, plus a few pence per sale.
Although it’s tempting to pass that on to the customer, most UK businesses now include it in their pricing. Offering free and easy card payments can help boost conversions and customer satisfaction.
Step 6: Stay Secure and Compliant
When accepting card payments, you must follow the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
Fortunately, most reputable providers handle the heavy lifting for you, but you’re still responsible for basic best practices:
Use secure payment systems only.
Keep all customer data confidential.
Train staff to spot payment fraud or phishing scams.
Security and professionalism go hand in hand when building customer trust.
Step 7: Promote Your New Payment Options
Once your payment system is up and running, shout about it!
Add “We now accept card payments” to your shop window, website, and social media posts.
Mention contactless, Apple Pay, and online checkout options in your marketing.
Update your Google Business Profile with “Card payments accepted.”
The easier you make it to pay, the more likely customers are to buy.
Step 8: Review, Analyse, and Grow
Card payment systems don’t just process transactions, they provide valuable data, too.
Use built-in analytics to track:
Your best-selling products or services
Average transaction values
Peak shopping times
This insight helps you plan stock, schedule staff, and refine your pricing strategy.
Final Thoughts: Bring Your Business into the Modern Age
Moving to card payments, whether online or in person, can seem daunting, but modern technology makes it surprisingly simple.
With affordable providers like Square, SumUp, and Stripe, small businesses and sole traders in the UK can start accepting card payments in minutes. You’ll enjoy smoother sales, faster cash flow, and happier customers.
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to make your business cashless-ready, and future-proof.
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Learn how small businesses and UK sole traders can start accepting card payments online or in person. Compare payment providers, fees, and setup tips to get paid faster.
That's Food and Drink: The American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) an...
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Saturday, 8 November 2025
Why Every Restaurant Should Be Using Yumpingo for Real-Time Guest Feedback
Learn why this easy-to-use tool is helping UK restaurants improve service, menus, and profitability.
What Is Yumpingo and Why Does It Matter?
Running a restaurant in today’s competitive climate is about more than good food, it’s about creating an exceptional guest experience every single time.
Yumpingo is a digital customer feedback platform designed for the hospitality industry. It allows diners to give quick, meaningful feedback immediately after their meal using a tablet or smartphone.
Unlike long surveys or waiting for online reviews, Yumpingo provides real-time, structured insights that managers can use straight away to enhance both service and menu performance.
How Yumpingo Works
Guests receive a simple digital prompt after their meal. Within one minute, they can rate:
That information is then sent directly to your restaurant’s Yumpingo dashboard, allowing you to track trends and identify areas for improvement.
Integrated with POS systems, it links feedback to specific transactions, helping you pinpoint what’s working, and what needs attention, with impressive accuracy.
The Benefits of Using Yumpingo
For restaurants across the UK, Yumpingo offers tangible advantages that traditional comment cards simply can’t match:
Live feedback: Real-time insights help managers respond fast.
Dish-level detail: Understand exactly which menu items customers love.
Team engagement: Recognise and reward high-performing staff.
Higher response rates: Quick, digital surveys encourage more participation.
Improved reputation: Solve issues before negative reviews appear online.
It’s an easy way to turn feedback into action, and action into improved customer satisfaction and profit.
Refine Your Menu with Confidence
Chefs and managers can use Yumpingo data to guide menu development.
When you can see precisely how guests rate each dish, you’re better equipped to:
Update recipes based on feedback
Retire under-performing items
Identify signature dishes that boost repeat business
Yumpingo turns guesswork into a measurable, data-driven process.
How Yumpingo Enhances Your Online Reputation
Every restaurateur knows that online reviews can make or break a business.
By collecting and analysing feedback internally, you can resolve any service or food issues before they go public, meaning happier customers and better online ratings.
Yumpingo effectively acts as your first line of defence in maintaining a strong reputation.
Is Yumpingo Worth It for 2025?
Absolutely. As the UK restaurant market continues to evolve, tools like Yumpingo offer a competitive advantage. Whether you manage a local pub, café, or multi-site chain, real-time feedback helps ensure consistency and quality across every service.
For 2025 and beyond, investing in guest intelligence technology isn’t just smart, it’s essential for sustainable growth.
Yumpingo gives restaurant owners and managers the ability to listen, adapt, and thrive. By harnessing real-time data, you can improve service, enhance menus, and boost profitability — all while ensuring every guest leaves with a smile.
In short: Yumpingo turns feedback into your most valuable ingredient for success.
SEO Basics for Small Business Websites: Boost Your Online Presence
https://thats-business.blogspot.com/2023/11/seo-basics-for-small-business-websites.html
Friday, 7 November 2025
That's Christmas 365: The Best Delivery Services for Christmas Sellers: ...
That's Christmas 365: The Best Delivery Services for Christmas Sellers: ...: Discover the best UK delivery services for Christmas gift sellers, from Royal Mail to DPD and Evri. Ensure your festive parcels arrive safel...
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
That's Food and Drink: UK Craft Distillers Unit in Call for Spirits Inclu...
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The Power of Presentation. Why a Gieves & Hawkes Suit Is the Ultimate Business Gift
A Gift that Means Business
A bespoke suit from Gieves & Hawkes isn’t just clothing; it’s actually a very powerful statement. For over 250 years, this British institution has dressed world leaders, military officers, and corporate high-achievers who understand that appearance and professionalism go hand in hand.
To gift a Gieves & Hawkes voucher this Christmas is to give someone the opportunity to experience true craftsmanship, and to invest in their confidence and success.
Tailoring Confidence and Authority
When you wear a suit tailored to your precise measurements, you stand differently. You speak differently. A bespoke Gieves & Hawkes creation enhances more than appearance, it amplifies self-assurance. The process itself, from private fitting to final presentation, is an education in refinement and precision.
And, due to the special tailoring processes employed by Gieves & Hawkes the suit, over time, moulds itself to your body.
A custom suit tells the world that the wearer cares about detail, about quality, and about doing things properly — qualities that define great leaders and successful entrepreneurs alike.
Accessories that Speak Volumes
Beyond the tailoring, Gieves & Hawkes offers exquisite finishing touches, silk ties, shirts, pocket squares, and fine leather goods that complete the look of distinction. Each piece embodies quiet authority, the hallmark of true style.
Why It’s a Smart Business Gift
Corporate gifting often leans towards the practical, but the most memorable gifts are those that inspire transformation. A Gieves & Hawkes voucher is the epitome of luxury and thoughtfulness: a gift that reminds the recipient of your appreciation every time they wear it.
Whether given to a valued client, a business partner, or a colleague celebrating a milestone, it’s the ultimate way to say: you’ve earned this.
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