Does it feel weird to anyone else that “Back to School” season is already here? For most around the country, kids are heading back to the classroom next week. I still clearly remember the days when school didn’t start until after Labor Day. Those were the days!
Now, it seems like kids get more time off throughout the year with new fall breaks and extended spring breaks, so I guess they have the same amount of time out of school—it’s just not all clumped together during the summer anymore.
But while the kids are grabbing their backpacks and adjusting to their new routines, those of us who sell merchant services should be getting excited, too. The end of summer marks a massive shift in consumer and business behavior.
From the Home office in Early Texas Here are the
Top 10 Reasons Back to School Season is Good for Selling Merchant Services.
Let’s count it down!
10. E-commerce and Mobile Payments are Top of Mind Parents are doing a massive amount of back to school shopping online or via mobile apps. When business owners see this surge in digital spending, they become acutely aware of whether their current payment gateway or mobile processing solution is up to par. It’s the perfect time to pitch seamless online integration.
9. Service-Based Businesses See a Huge Surge It’s not just retail. Tutors, after school programs, martial arts studios, and club sports all see a massive spike in enrollment right now. These businesses desperately need efficient ways to set up recurring billing and handle online invoices which is exactly what a great merchant services package can offer.
8. Q4 and the Holiday Rush are Right Around the Corner Back to school is the opening act for the holiday shopping season. Smart business owners know that if they are going to upgrade their POS systems or switch payment processors to save on fees, they need to do it now so their staff is fully trained before the Black Friday and Q4 madness begins.
7. Morning and Lunch Rushes are Back for Coffee Shops and Eateries With parents doing the morning school drop off and teachers on tight lunch schedules, local cafes and quick serve restaurants see their peak hours condense into rapid fire rushes. Slower, outdated terminals will cost them money. Pitching a lightning-fast modern POS system right now hits directly at a major pain point.
6. Higher Transaction Volumes Highlight Processing Fees When sales volume goes up during the back to school rush, business owners pay closer attention to their merchant statements. Those processing fees suddenly look a lot bigger at the end of August. Reaching out with a proposal that lowers their effective rate is going to catch their eye.
5. Outdated Hardware Gets Exposed Nothing exposes an aging, glitchy credit card terminal quite like a line of ten impatient parents holding school supply lists. When hardware freezes or struggles to read chip cards or can’t do tap to pay during a rush, business owners are incredibly motivated to buy newer, faster, and more reliable equipment.
4. B2B Companies are Spending Remaining Budgets It isn’t just B2C. The end of summer often marks a realization for B2B companies that they need to finish out the year strong. They are looking at their operational budgets and investing in infrastructure (like new payment software and integrations) to set themselves up for a profitable close to the year.
3. Business Owners Are Back in the Office Trying to get a decision maker on the phone in July is notoriously difficult. They are at the beach, at the lake, or wrangling kids. Once school starts, the vacations end. Decision-makers are back at their desks, back in their routines, and actually available to take your calls and meetings.
2. Predictable Schedules Make Appointment Setting Easier Because families are back on strict schedules, business owners are too. It becomes remarkably easier to nail down a Tuesday morning meeting or a Thursday afternoon demo when everyone is operating on a highly structured weekly routine again.
And the #1 Top 10 Reason Back to School Season is Good for Selling Merchant Services is ….
1. The “Fresh Start” Mentality The back to school season isn’t just for kids; it triggers a psychological reset for adults, too. Business owners subconsciously treat this time of year like a second New Year’s. They are open to fresh ideas, making changes, cleaning up inefficiencies, and adopting new technologies to improve their bottom line. Use this momentum to close the deal!
So, even if it feels a little strange that summer vacation is already over, let’s embrace the shift. Grab your coffee, hit the streets, and let’s help these businesses start their “new year” off right!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
David
