Valued Merchant Services

11/02/2026

The cost of not accepting credit cards can be difficult to see because a business never receives a statement showing the sales it might have missed.

Processing fees are visible. Equipment expenses are visible. But when a customer leaves because a business only accepts cash, that potential sale may never appear in the records.

Does that mean every cash-only business should start accepting cards?

No. It means the decision deserves a closer look.

A business should compare the cost of card processing with the possibility of additional sales, the expense of handling cash, customer payment preferences, and the profit remaining after completing a transaction. The right answer depends on the business, its customers, and its margins.

I’ve worked with small business owners in merchant services since we co-founded Valued Merchant Services in 2006. One thing I’ve learned is that the lowest processing expense does not necessarily create the best overall business result. At the same time, adding credit cards does not automatically guarantee higher sales or profits.

In this guide, I’ll explain what cash-only businesses may be giving up, examine the actual costs of accepting cards, and walk through a realistic example for calculating whether the change could pay for itself.

Quick Answer: Is It Worth Accepting Credit Cards?

Accepting cards may make financial sense when the contribution from genuinely additional sales and any operational savings exceeds processing fees, equipment expenses, and other related costs. A cash-only business should consider how many customers prefer cards, how many purchases it currently loses, its average ticket, its profit margin, and how much existing cash business would shift to cards. The answer is not the same for every merchant.

Read more: https://www.valuedmerchants.com/the-cost-of-not-accepting-cards

10/30/2026

Learning how to read a credit card processing statement starts with five numbers: your card sales volume, transaction count, processing fees, other account charges, and net deposits. Find those figures, verify how the fees were calculated, and reconcile the money that reached your bank account. This helps you understand what accepting payments actually costs your business.

A merchant processing statement is more than a monthly bill. It’s a record of card transactions, fees, settlements, adjustments, and other activity associated with a merchant account.

Unfortunately, statements can be difficult to interpret. Different providers organize information differently, and some use technical abbreviations that aren’t immediately clear to business owners.

You may see dozens of interchange categories, percentage-based charges, per-transaction fees, network assessments, and monthly account expenses. Some charges are deducted before deposits arrive, while others are billed separately.

That can make the actual cost considerably different from the single processing rate a merchant remembers being quoted.

Since co-founding Valued Merchant Services in 2006, I’ve worked with business owners who wanted straightforward explanations of their processing expenses. Some discovered charges they didn’t recognize. Others learned that their existing arrangement was already competitive.

In either situation, understanding the statement creates a better basis for making decisions.

This guide explains how to read a credit card processing statement in seven steps, identify and verify common charges, compare pricing models, reconcile bank deposits, and understand why your Form 1099-K may report a different figure from your net deposits.

Read more: https://www.valuedmerchants.com/how-to-read-a-credit-card-processing-statement-7-steps

10/27/2026

Choosing the best POS system for your business means finding the right combination of software, hardware, payment processing, and support.

A touchscreen may look impressive in a demonstration, but the real test is whether the system helps your employees serve customers, keeps your records accurate, and works reliably during a busy business day.

I’ve worked with business owners in the merchant services industry since we founded Valued Merchant Services in 2006.

During that time, I’ve watched point-of-sale technology change from traditional countertop terminals and cash registers into sophisticated platforms capable of managing sales, inventory, employees, appointments, online orders, and much more.

That progress has created opportunities for small businesses. It has also made choosing a POS system more complicated.

Today, two systems that look nearly identical may have completely different features, payment processing requirements, software subscriptions, hardware compatibility, and support arrangements.

The cheapest system isn’t necessarily the least expensive to operate. The platform with the most features may not be the easiest for your staff to use. And buying a new POS doesn’t automatically mean you’ll save money on processing.

My advice is to start with your business, not the equipment.

This guide explains what to look for, which questions to ask, and how to evaluate your options before making a long-term commitment.

Tablet POS, cash drawer, barcode scanner, card terminal, software and support. Here's what small businesses should compare before buying a POS system.

10/19/2026

Built in Idaho. Serving the entire Gem State.

From Boise and the Treasure Valley to Twin Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Pocatello, and eastern Idaho.

Valued Merchant Services helps businesses compare processing costs, POS systems, online payments, and ways to improve how they get paid.

Our national headquarters is in Idaho Falls.

Headquartered in Idaho Falls, VMS helps businesses across Idaho compare processing costs, POS systems and payment options. Request a free statement review.

10/14/2026

Starting later may change your options, but it doesn't eliminate them.

Five years from now, you'll either have five years of progress or five more years of wishing you'd started today.

09/30/2026

Financial success is better when it’s about building freedom, not proving someone else wrong.

Use criticism as temporary fuel if you need it, but build a life you’d still want even if nobody who doubted you ever saw it.

09/01/2026

Consistency matters, but being consistently useful matters more. Give people a reason to remember your name, respond to your ideas, and come back tomorrow instead of simply trying to post more often.

08/17/2026

People often remember the leader who asked the person closest to the problem what they thought before asking the person with the highest title.

08/13/2026

Build Something You Own: Why Small Business Still Defines the American Dream in 2026

The American Dream has never really been about owning a building, having employees, or putting your name on a sign.

At its core, it has always been about building something you own.

Read More: https://www.valuedmerchants.com/build-something-you-own-why-small-business-still-defines-the-american-dream-in-2026

08/01/2026

The internet is crowded with people trying to prove how smart, rich, or right they are.

Be the person who shows up just to be kind.

It’s the ultimate competitive advantage in a world that’s currently running low on grace.