Staples and Intuit have announced a, three-month pilot scheme that will see the office supplies firm become the exclusive UK retailer of Intuit’s new Intuit Pay payment solution.
The Intuit Pay solution allows small enterprises to securely receive credit or debit card payments on the go via their mobile device.
Transactions can be conducted face-to-face using the Chip & PIN card reader, which connects to an Intuit Pay app on a compatible smartphone or iPad using Bluetooth. Merchants can also accept payments by entering card information online from their laptop.
Setting up an Intuit Pay account is entirely free, meaning users can start taking payments online almost immediately, with the majority of users approved within minutes.
The card reader is also available from £49 (£58.80 including VAT) with no ongoing contract or monthly fee for the customer.
“At Staples, we have a long history of providing small business owners with the latest products to help them keep their company moving forward,” said Louise Barber, head of Retail Marketing, Staples. “Businesses increasingly need the flexibility to take payments from customers anytime, anywhere. Our partnership with Intuit brings cutting-edge Intuit Pay technology to our UK customers, demonstrating our continued commitment to support small businesses.”
A recent survey by Intuit of 1,000 small businesses in the UK found that only 19 per cent of micro-businesses – that’s firms with less than ten employees – currently accept card payments. However, 47 per cent said they would accept cards if there was a more affordable way of doing so using their smartphone or tablet.
