Daniel Foster, Product & Payments Technology Editor

Articles by Daniel Foster

Rolled US dollar bills in 20, 10, 2 and 100 denominations scattered on a light surface

Oct 23, 202610 min read

Surcharging vs. Cash Discount vs. Dual Pricing: Which Is Legal?

Surcharging vs cash discount vs dual pricing: compare card brand rules, debit limits, signage and state law so you can pick a compliant fee-offset model.

Daniel Foster

Close-up of a businessman in a dark suit and white shirt cuff carrying a closed white laptop under his arm

Oct 23, 20268 min read

RTP vs. FedNow vs. ACH: Which Instant Payment Rail Fits?

RTP vs. ACH vs. FedNow: compare speed, limits, cost, finality and bank support so you know when instant bank payments are worth it for your business.

Daniel Foster

Polished wooden bar counter with a metal Reserved sign and leather check presenter, warm blurred lights behind

Oct 23, 20269 min read

Pay-at-the-Table Handhelds: Faster Turns and Safer Card Handling

See how pay at the table handhelds change restaurant checkout, tipping and card security, plus what to check on Wi-Fi, battery, and training before rollout.

Daniel Foster

Smiling customer service agent with a headset in a call center, colleagues on calls at cubicles behind her

Oct 23, 20268 min read

How to Store a Customer's Card on File Safely and Legally

Learn how to store a credit card on file safely with tokenization, the right authorization form and consent steps that hold up in disputes.

Daniel Foster

Woman's ringed hand typing on a laptop showing an online shoe store while holding a credit card in her other hand

Oct 23, 20268 min read

How to Choose a Payment Gateway Provider for Your Business

Compare payment gateway providers on cart compatibility, fees, fraud tools, recurring billing and data portability so you pick a gateway you won't outgrow.

Daniel Foster

Overhead view of a curved glass jewelry kiosk in a mall, its lit display cases lined with necklaces and rings

Oct 23, 20268 min read

BNPL vs. Layaway: Which Payment Plan Sells More for Your Store?

BNPL vs. layaway compared for retailers: who carries credit risk, what each costs, when you get paid, and how each affects inventory and returns.

Daniel Foster

Six colleagues talk in a bright office with desktop monitors, one man holding a clipboard

Oct 22, 20268 min read

Shopify Third-Party Payment Gateways: When to Use One

Weighing a Shopify third-party payment gateway? Learn when an external provider makes sense, what fees and trade-offs to expect, and how to switch cleanly.

Daniel Foster

Bakery counter with crusty bread loaves and pastries in wooden crates, two aproned staff working in the background

Oct 22, 20268 min read

Merchant Account vs. Payment Aggregator: Which Fits Your Business?

Merchant account vs payment aggregator: compare approval speed, fund holds, pricing and stability so you know when it's time to switch to your own account.

Daniel Foster

Businessman in a dark suit and glasses talking on a smartphone beside large sunlit office windows

Oct 22, 202610 min read

How to Accept Credit Card Payments Over the Phone

Learn how to accept credit card payments over the phone: the right tools, what to collect, AVS and CVV checks, PCI-safe handling, and staff scripts.

Daniel Foster

Masked shopper in a white top at a glass display counter as a woman in black hands over an item in a busy market stall

Oct 22, 20269 min read

High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Merchant Accounts Explained

Compare a high-risk vs. low-risk merchant account: what underwriters review, how fees, reserves and contracts differ, and how to qualify for better terms.

Daniel Foster

Side view of a white tablet POS stand with a built-in card reader slot, angled on a white background

Oct 22, 20268 min read

Credit Card Terminal vs POS System: Which Do You Need?

Credit card terminal vs POS system: use catalog size, staff count and reporting needs to choose the right setup without paying for more than you need.

Daniel Foster

Close-up of white, gray and black shirts on wooden hangers in a small clothing boutique, shoppers blurred behind

Oct 22, 202610 min read

Best POS System for Small Business: A Buyer's Checklist

Find the best POS system for small business with a checklist that weighs features, total cost, processing lock-in and contract terms before you sign.

Daniel Foster

Businessman in a gray pinstripe suit holding a tablet with a glowing blue screen in a modern conference room

Oct 22, 20269 min read

ACH vs. Credit Card Payments: Costs, Speed, and Risk

Compare ACH vs credit card payments on fees, settlement speed, returns and chargebacks, and learn when to steer recurring or high-ticket customers to ACH.

Daniel Foster

Hands holding a handheld POS terminal printing a receipt, beside an open cash box and paper rolls on a wooden counter

Oct 21, 20268 min read

What Is a POS System? How It Works and What It Does

What is a POS system? Learn how POS hardware, software and payment processing fit together, and how to spot processing lock-in before you sign.

Daniel Foster

Smiling woman in a white blazer at a wooden desk holding a payment card while using a white laptop, black background

Oct 21, 20269 min read

Recurring Billing Software: How to Choose the Right One

Compare recurring billing software on what matters: retries, card updaters, proration, self-service and integrations that cut churn and admin time.

Daniel Foster

Empty bright meeting room with white tables, black chairs, wall-mounted TV and whiteboards on herringbone floor

Oct 21, 20269 min read

Countertop vs. Wireless vs. Mobile Card Readers: Which Fits Your Business

Countertop vs. wireless credit card terminal, or a mobile reader? Compare connectivity, battery life and total cost to match hardware to where you get paid.

Daniel Foster

Card being inserted into a handheld card payment terminal

Oct 20, 20268 min read

Smart Payment Terminals vs. Traditional Card Machines

Is a smart payment terminal worth it, or will a basic EMV countertop machine do? Compare features, costs and fit so you don't overbuy hardware.

Daniel Foster

Shopper browsing leather goods on shelves in a bright boutique

Oct 20, 20268 min read

How to Choose a Retail POS System: A Guide for Independent Stores

Choose the right retail POS system for your independent store: inventory and variants, barcode hardware, returns, online sync, and the quote terms to check.

Daniel Foster

Hand with pencil checking a receipt next to a calculator and notebook

Oct 20, 20268 min read

Interchange-Plus vs. Flat-Rate Pricing: Which One Costs You Less?

Compare interchange plus vs. flat rate pricing with side-by-side cost math at $10K, $50K and $150K a month, and learn to find your effective rate.

Daniel Foster

Hand swiping a card through a handheld card terminal

Oct 20, 20269 min read

Debit vs. Credit Card Processing Fees: What Merchants Pay

Debit vs credit card processing fees explained: regulated vs. exempt debit, PIN vs. signature routing, and how to see debit savings on your statement.

Daniel Foster

Payment card and notebook beside a laptop on a white desk

Oct 19, 20265 min read

What Is a Virtual Terminal? How to Take Card Payments Without Hardware

Learn what a virtual terminal is, how it handles phone, mail and invoice payments from any computer, what keyed sales cost, and how to keep them secure.

Daniel Foster