takepayments blog.

A day in the life of a small business owner can be long and tiring. You have payments to chase, clients to impress and a ton of other stuff that can come at a moment’s notice. This was never designed to be easy which is what makes it so rewarding. It makes downtime so important. You should enjoy your leisure time doing things you enjoy. But, you might actually find that downtime (when you aren’t under pressure) can be the time where real ideas can filter through. We think, as well as doing things you enjoy, you should also be attempting to engage your mind by watching (some) documentaries. With so much on the telly and a plethora of streaming options (Netflix and Amazon Prime) available, you might find that you are spending more time choosing than you do watching - a real first world problem right. But fear not. At takepayments, we are here once again to save you from this dilemma of ‘too much choice’ with some of our favourite documentaries which make great viewing for enjoyment and maybe for ideas as well.

Managing cash flow as a small business can be one of the most challenging tasks you will face. Not only do you have to keep on top of your income and outgoings, but you need to make sure you receive the money you are due at the right time. Firstly, consider whether you might be able to get paid immediately. Depending on the nature of your business, you might be able to take payment there and then using a card terminal. It may also be an option to process card payments via a virtual terminal without the customer needing to be there.

PR, or public relations, is all about the way a business communicates with the general public, promotes itself, and tries to build a positive public image and reputation.  The way a business is represented across all forms of media has a massive impact on how consumers perceive it, so ultimately the better your PR the more successful your business is likely to be.

We don’t need to tell you the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has had a dramatic impact on every area of life as we knew it, including how us Brits are making payments. It’s been a tricky time for businesses, who’ve had no option but to rapidly adapt to keep up with government guidelines and changes in consumer habits.

Taking card payments over the phone lets you reach customers who can't come to your business in person, opens doors that would be closed otherwise during this period and could help you keep trading until everything returns to normal. Wondering how you go about actually doing it? Don’t worry, it’s super simple and you’ve got a couple of options: