The Small Business Guru and North American Bancard provides merchant accounts and services to businesses in Riverside, and in the Inland Empire. Our local merchant services include everything from credit card processing to debit card processing; from getting the right credit card processing equipment to being compliant with payment card industry standards. So, no matter what business you’re in, The Small Business Guru and  North American Bancard has the right payment processing merchant services for you. Our around-the-clock technical support and the industry’s largest selection of FREE equipment, North American Bancard can help propel your business forward.

Most importantly our rates are the most competitive rates in the industry. As The Small Business Guru, I represent you – the merchant – to help you keep more of your own money! You can use our encrypted, PCI Compliant online application by clicking here.

We believe in providing quality cost-effective payment solutions with a variety of products and services to fit your business needs in the ever changing marketplace. We offer a comprehensive line of products and services and deliver multiple options for merchants to tailor payment solutions that fit their transaction processing needs.

Our services include:

• accept all major credit cards, debit networks,
• check verification services,
• Custom Gift and Loyalty Card Programs,
• Free Terminals. We support terminals from leading vendors including Hypercom, VeriFone, and Ingenico.
• ACH Program for recurring billing
• Wireless service and products.

Melody Campbell, known as The Small Business Guru, serves merchants accepting credit cards in Conrad, Montana, Shelby, Montana, Cut Bank, Montana, Great Falls, Montana, Riverside, California, Moreno Valley, California, Murrieta, California, Temecula, California, Perris, California, Lake Elsinore, California. Visit Melody Campbell’s Facebook Fan Page to keep up to date on current news about accepting credit cards.

“I represent the merchant. I will make sure that you have plenty of information to make an informed decision so that you keep more of your own money when you accept credit cards. I work very hard to earn the trust and business of the merchants I serve.”

According to Intuit’s survey, 55 percent of the nation’s 27 million small businesses do not accept credit cards. Those nearly 15 million U.S. small businesses potentially miss out on $100 billion in sales annually. Read more.

Most businesses that are not accepting credit cards are concerned about giving up the amount charged for processing fees, but the truth is by comparison these same small businesses are losing business because those customers that prefer to use plastic are shopping where their credit cards are accepted.

Cash flow is a big issue for small business owners. By accepting credit cards small business cards can eliminate or reduce receivables which allows the small business owner to free up cash. The Small Business Guru and North American Bancard have teamed up to provide small business owners with several low cost solutions.

Brick and Mortar Business – Guaranteed lowest monthly processing fees with no contract, no cancellation fee and a free terminal!

Mobile Business - If you conduct mobile business – Farmers Markets, Swap Meets, Flea Markets, Craft Fairs – accept credit cards any where you have phone service.  Visit www.smallbusinessmobileswipe.com

Melody Campbell, known as The Small Business Guru, serves merchants accepting credit cards in Conrad, Montana, Shelby, Montana, Cut Bank, Montana, Great Falls, Montana, Riverside, California, Moreno Valley, California, Murrieta, California, Temecula, California, Perris, California, Lake Elsinore, California. Visit Melody Campbell’s Facebook Fan Page to keep up to date on current news about accepting credit cards.

“I represent the merchant. I will make sure that you have plenty of information to make an informed decision so that you keep more of your own money when you accept credit cards. I work very hard to earn the trust and business of the merchants I serve.”

Did you know that if you’re a vendor at a farmers market, swap meet, flea market or craft fair you can dramatically increase your sales by accepting credit cards? The most common fear of mobile vendors is that they will have to sign a long term contract with high monthly minimums. Traditionally that was true but not any more!

Mobile vendors can use Phone Swipe which is a device that attaches to either your iPhone or Android Smart Phone. The device is a magnetic card reader. The customers card information is retrieved by an app on your phone that processes the transaction with the processor. Each transaction is secure and none of the information is saved on the merchants phone. Keep reading.  Here are a couple of farmers markets in my local area!

The Riverside Downtown Farmers Market is a place for area farmers to sell their seasonal crops directly to customers. I love this time of year for a fantastic source for fresh, seasonal, locally produced foods.  The Riverside Farmers Market is located on the Main Street Riverside between 5th & 6th, in the arts and culture district of downtown Riverside, it provides a unique opportunity to shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, hummus, aged gouda cheese by Winchester Cheese Co., fresh baked bread from Old Towne Baking Co. and other specialty food items.

“Eat fresh, eat local, eat here and have a family fun day out!” is the theme of the Perris, California Farmers’ Market. The Farmers Markets will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on D Street between Second and Third streets. Last year’s weekly farmer’s market was a run-away hit with many vendors selling out.

Right now the device for your phone is free. Complete a simple application to request the free Phone Swipe Device and set up your account.

According to the 2008 Study of Consumer Payment Preferences, conducted by BAI Research and Hitachi Consulting, 41 percent of shoppers say they have cut down on their use of cash over the past two years. And 97 percent of these respondents said they are opting for credit, debit and gift cards instead. According to Intuit “The ease of credit cards facilitates impulse purchases. Studies have shown that people tend to spend more – and make more frequent purchases – when they are using plastic rather than cash. “

There are two levels of service for the Phone Swipe. Option B is the most popular with mobile businesses because there rate is a low 2.69% plus .19 per transaction. That’s it! No monthly minimums to meet. No contract. No early termination fee. If you don’t use the device then it will cost you nothing.

If you live in or near Cut Bank and you have a vehicle that needs tires there’s a good chance that you have already met Dave or Michelle Losing – owners at Cut Bank Tire. Of course Cut Bank Tire sells tires for auto, light truck, trailer and ag. Their service team provide alignments, mechanical work and service calls. This shop is known for it’s fast, friendly customer service.

301 West Main
Cut Bank, MT 59427
Today 7:00 am – 5:30 pm
Phone 1 (406) 873-5025
Email tireup83@gmailcom

I am very pleased to welcome Dave to the merchants that The Small Business Guru Payment Solutions services with credit card processing services.

The Small Business Guru Payment Solutions services small to medium sized businesses with merchant card solutions, accepting credit card payments. We offer special multi-location rates and discounts. Please call if you have questions or if you would like an analysis on the rates you are now paying. Quite often we uncover hundreds and sometimes thousands in annual cost savings. It never hurts to get a no-cost analysis.

I want to welcome Bob at The Lighthouse Restaurant in Valier, Montana to the merchant group doing business with The Small Business Guru Payment Solutions!

The Lighthouse Restaurant

16085 Valier Highway, Valier, MT.

1 (406) 279-3798

The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm – Closed Mondays & Tuesdays.

They will tempt you with Sue’s Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake but the good ole fashioned traditional American burgers, seafood and steaks will keep you coming back to the rustic restaurant and lounge  located at the front of the Rocky Mountains right on Lake Frances.

I am very pleased to be servicing the payment solutions for this great restaurant in Valier, Montana. Thank you for your business Bob & Sue. Welcome to the merchant group.

After a two year hiatus from the Get More Business Show – we’re baaaack!

Join me daily at 9 am Pacific on the new Get More Business Show.

Your customers are going or have gone mobile, have you joined them? On Monday, March 12th, 2012 join in the conversation about Mobile Marketing and Loyalty Programs for Independent Retailers.

Why is this good way to advertise?  There are many reasons. Let us give you two. First, your offers are delivered and read quickly. Most text messages are read within 5 minutes of being sent. Unlike the newspaper or direct mail, you don’t need to wait for it to be printed then delivered. So, if you’re having a slow day, you can quickly send out a coupon to encourage customers to come in. The second reason is your customers don’t have to clip your paper offers or remember to bring them. Everyone remembers to bring their phone!

Q: “What if I never use coupons for my business, even those on the internet or on text messaging?”

Q: “I already have an email list. Can this work with my email?

Q: “I don’t want to be a nuisance or spam my customers.”

Q: “Why can’t I just compile a list of customers myself and send out coupons from my phone – I don’t need you guys.”

Learn why Street Savings is the mobile marketing solution for your business. These and your call-in questions will be answered by Brett Weiss, of Street Savings, our new sponsor for the Get More Business Show. Call in to the live show at (646) 716-6288 on Monday morning at 9 am Pacific.

For more information about Street Savings for your business

• Speed Customer Checkout: With a barcode scanner and computerized cash register, you can checkout a customer in half the time required with a conventional cash register.
• Increase Accuracy: Checkout is more accurate because the price of every item is specified in your POS.
• Reduce Theft: By using a computerized cash register, you can reduce theft by an average of 2½% because every piece of inventory in your business is monitored.
• Control Inventory Shrinkage: By comparing on-shelf inventory to your computerized reports, you can monitor breakage and non-theft inventory that “walks” out of your business, as well as track new items as they arrive. Computerizing reduce inventory shrinkage by up to an additional 2½%.
• Manage Inventory Levels:  Computerized inventory reports allow you to track trends and seasonal sales to order more efficiently. Studies have shown that retailers who do not use computerized inventory management tend to overstock their stores by 20 to 40%. Let’s assume your store carries an average of $125,000 in inventory. If only 20% of that inventory is overstock, you have invested $25,000 in excess inventory.
  Generating sales is more than just having available product to buy, it’s having the products your customers want, when they want them . As an example, how many times a week do you, or your sales staff, say: “Sorry we’re out of stock on that right now.” Maybe it’s only a $20 item, and maybe it only happens twice a week. But how does that translate to real numbers?
• Monitor Your Margins: Inventory reports can help you recognize and stock more products that bring greater profits and fewer products that carry lower profits.
• Keep Track of Your Customers:  Your best customers are your present customers. Customized mailings based on computerized contact lists can help keep your customers coming back.

Over the next few days I will talk more about each of these reasons why it’s is “money in the bank” to install a POS system in your retail business.

1. How did this year’s sales compare to last years sales? past 3 – 5 years?
2. How did this year’s profits compare to last years sales? past 3-5 years?
3. What are the top 5 selling items and the bottom 5 selling items in your inventory?
4. Has your customer based changed significantly?
5. Who brings you the most business?
6. Did the business meet it’s goals in 2011?
7. Are repeat sales up, down or flat?
8. Are customer referrals up, down,  or flat?
9. Who sends you the most referrals?
10. Is overall equity up, down or constant?

The honest answers to the above questions will help you to determine things like

• What products are going to sell well during the holiday season?
•  How much inventory must be purchased to meet demand?
• Will markdowns be required as you begin the new year?
• And as the fourth quarter comes to a close, retailers are expected to make the largest prediction of all: Can growth and profit be expected in the new year?

Without the tools for proper analysis of your financial situation, this prediction is nothing more than an uneducated guess. Whether a “big box” retailer or a small mom and pop retailer you need to have accurate information without hours of work to access this information. The simplest way to have this information at your finger tips is with a POS or point-point-of-sale system. A POS is critical management and operations tool for a strong business. It’s kinda crazy to put as many hours into your business as most small business owners do – and you’re probably no exception – and not have a smart exit strategy. One day you’re going to want retire and sell the business so you can travel the world in style, right? Don’t shake your head and say, “I wish!” With a POS system you will have the management tools to have the financial insight to give your business the leadership it needs to succeed. When you eventually sell your business you will be able to produce the information that shows all the reasons why buying your business is a good investment. Our POS systems have over 80 reports to analyze your business, everything from inventory to labor costs. Call for a complete analysis and ROI on your investment into a POS for your retail store or kiosk.  Call me today. I can help –  951-293-0775.

Independent Retailer is the leading trade publication for independent retail store owners. Each month, Independent Retailer

2012 trends on tap - As a prelude to this month’s cover story we asked around the industry to find out what trends are on operators’ minds. A look at what folks are going to be paying attention to next year.

2012 trend book: growth - How do you spell “opportunity”? Nontraditional locations, self-service catering, pop-ups, trucks, kiosks, retail products—that’s how. “We’re looking at a real, long-term shift in the consumer mindset,” says Robert J. Nyman, president of The Nyman Group Ltd. “Age and demographics no longer define where you go, because that’s not what’s driving behavior. Now it’s daypart and price point.”

2012 trend book: food - Restaurants may be watching their food purchasing pennies more carefully, but that isn’t hampering creativity in the kitchen. We gathered predictions from a team of expert forecasters; here are the top food trends to watch in the coming year.

2012 trend book: beverages - You don’t need a crystal ball to advise you that beverages will play an important role in 2012. Harder to predict is where to focus your efforts and investments in the broad beverage arena. Here are a few nascent drink trends that according to the experts are poised to gain traction in the year ahead

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