BluePay Blog

New Year’s resolutions are usually reserved for personal goals — from losing weight to saving money.  But it’s also possible to apply these “betterment” principles to the business world. Every organization has room for improvement. Making your operations more productive, cost-effective and enjoyable can help you generate higher profits.

Topics: Small Business Tips, PCI Compliance and Fraud Prevention

December 14, 2018 is one of the best shopping “holidays” of which most customers and businesses have never heard.  It’s National Free Shipping Day.  The name alone obviously appeals to shoppers all over the country. Customers always love when businesses foot the bill and offer free stuff.  However, this annual event can be a boon for e-merchants as well.

Topics: Small Business Tips

There isn’t a business on the planet that couldn’t use an infusion of money. Having a little extra liquidity can ease cash flow concerns or help cover next month’s expenses.  In fact, many companies take out small business loans for the purpose of making ends meet.  A loan sometimes makes sense even if you don’t actually need one to stay afloat. When invested wisely, the money borrowed can help grow your business — and the returns will far outweigh any interest payments you need to make.

Topics: Small Business Tips

For many small businesses, customer acquisition is top priority. By attracting a steady stream of new users, companies in this category are guaranteed to continue generating profits.   They’re not wrong, but it’s actually much easier to convert existing users than it is to find new ones. According to a recent Bain & Company analysis, a 5 percent increase in customer retention rates translates to a 95 percent boost in profits.

Topics: Small Business Tips

It’s not too early to start working on your 2019 small business customer experience strategies for better business operations. In fact, the holiday season is an ideal time to collect intelligence about your new and existing customers. That’s because there will be more people out there shopping in stores and online now than the rest of the year.  Here are some customer experience methods to consider for 2019: 

Topics: Small Business Tips, Due.com Partner Posts

There’s a new trend that keeps cropping up in cities all over the globe. It goes by many names, including “flash retail,” “temporary retail” and “pop-up shop.” However, the basic idea is the same:  A merchant rents an unused space on a very short-term basis (i.e., a few days to a few months).  This temporary location targets high-traffic areas frequented by pedestrian shoppers.  The merchant makes as many sales as possible for the duration of the rental agreement.  Like that, the pop-up shop disappears — only to be replaced by some new merchant.

Topics: Small Business Tips, Mobile Payments

As an entrepreneur or business owner, it’s not your personal credit score that you should track. There is another credit score out there for your business. And, this score may need similar attention to your personal score to get the credit you need for your business.  What is a Business Credit Score?  Your business credit score is similar to a personal credit score, like those produced by FICO.

Topics: Small Business Tips, Due.com Partner Posts, Recurring Billing and Electronic Invoicing, B2B

America has a very complex relationship with social media. On one hand, platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have:  Introduced a whole litany of privacy concerns  Helped spread misinformation and “fake news”  Been linked to depression and cyberbullying  On the other hand, we love connecting, sharing and liking too much to completely unplug. In fact, 70 percent of Americans have at least one social media account.  As a business owner, the takeaway is clear. 

Topics: Payment Trends, Small Business Tips, Fun Posts

We’ve written extensively about the sharing economy and how consumers increasingly prefer renting items instead of buying them outright.                   Uber is a prime example.  A close cousin of the sharing economy is the “experience economy” — a growing trend that also de-emphasizes “ownership.”  Instead, the focus is on experiences.  Just think about all the holiday gifts you’ve received over the years — from ugly sweaters to socks to hot new gadgets. Even the best “physical” presents in the world lose their luster over time.

Topics: Small Business Tips, Financial Institutions

Every year, YouTube compiles an ever-growing list of Black Friday montages in which crazed shoppers fight over heavily discounted items.  Most of the videos take place at big box stores, which is where large crowds tend to congregate. But Black Friday is a major cash cow for all retailers — big and small. In fact, more than 100 million people brave the madness (in-person) every year. That’s just on a single day.  Millions more go shopping on Small Business Saturday, generating $15-plus billion  in sales for local retailers.

Topics: Fun Posts, Small Business Tips, E-Commerce and Online Payments, Mobile Payments