takepayments blog.

Whether it's buying a coffee on the go or snagging that last-minute online deal, a complex chain of events happens behind the scenes of each card transaction to ensure every penny finds its way to where it’s meant to be. Over 11.6 million card transactions are made every day, so that’s a lot of steps that must be carried out to keep your customers happy – and your business running.

Starting your own business? With the thrill of turning your passion into a profitable venture comes the need to sort out some formalities, including registering your business name and address.  Whether you're crafting handmade goods from your kitchen table or setting up a tech startup, it's crucial to get these details right.

Running your own business is an incredibly rewarding experience, giving you the freedom to be your own boss and shape your future. But let’s be honest — there’s a lot to keep on top of. From working out taxes to setting up payroll, the admin side of things can sometimes feel overwhelming. One of those responsibilities is business rates. And with new changes brought in from April 2025, understanding what they mean for your business is more important than ever.

In 2023 alone, UK businesses lost £83.3 million to authorised push payment (APP) fraud, which is when a victim is duped into sending money to a fraudster. Whether it’s clever phishing emails, AI-powered deepfakes, or sham insurance policies, scammers' tactics are constantly evolving. While ensuring your business has the required card payment security measures is one of the best ways to protect you and your customers from fraud, prevention also means being clued up on how scammers are tricking people out of their hard-earned cash.

As a small business in the retail industry, no doubt you’re au fait with the ins and outs of accepting payments; it’s the backbone of trading, after all. But when it comes to refunds and returns, not everyone is as clued up despite the fact they’re a by-product of working in sales. With nearly one in ten (9%) of all products purchased in brick-and-mortar stores being returned, businesses need to have an efficient product refund system in place to make the exchange as streamlined as possible for all parties. As well as this, 62% of shoppers said they were more likely to shop online if they could return items in-store. This shows just how important in-store refunds are to customers and how much of an impact they can have on eCommerce overall.