: Your machine must accept chip cards and "tap-to-pay" (Apple Pay/Google Pay) to reduce fraud liability.

Before looking at hardware, determine how and where you will take payments:

Ensure the machine supports modern payment standards to protect your business:

: Avoid long-term leases for hardware. It is almost always cheaper to buy the machine upfront than to pay $50/month for four years for a $300 device. 4. Verify Technical Features

: Some providers charge "SaaS" fees for software access or PCI compliance.

: If you are using a mobile terminal, check how many transactions it can handle on a single charge. 5. Finalize the Purchase and Setup Once you have selected a provider and a device:

The cost of owning a machine goes beyond the sticker price. Look out for: