With card payments on the rise, cashless tipping has become a standard practice across many service-oriented enterprises. From restaurants and cafes to beauty salons and hotels, the convenience and flexibility of card tips are appreciated by both customers and businesses alike. But how does tipping with a card work? In this blog post, we will…
If you’re a business enthusiast looking to start your own venture, there are plenty of factors to consider before turning your dream into reality. One of the most important ones is business structure. There are several different types of business structures in the UK. Each business model comes with its own legal distinction, tax implications,…
If you’re part of the property market in the UK and fall under the category of commercial property owners, an important thing to bear in mind is your annual business rates or non-domestic rates. Your local council relies on something called rateable value or business rateable value to determine the payments you need to make…
If you’re a self-employed individual in the UK or are filing for a Self-Assessment tax return, one of the most important things you’ll need is your Unique Taxpayer Reference number. But what does this number mean and what does it represent? Who needs to obtain a UTR and why is it important? In the following…
It all started in 2014 from a simple search for a functional apron. One of the founders of Mental Syndicate took part in the first Barista Jam in Bulgaria – an event for coffee making professionals. He searched for a suitable apron and after failing to find one, he and his friends created their own…
In our digital-first world, every business owner is quickly realising the importance of having a professional website. Acting as the window into your brick-and-mortar or online store, a sleek and modern design will set you apart from your competition. Apart from making your business more competitive, you can attract new clients and improve business profitability….
Businesses that accept in-person payments or payments online know how critical the checkout experience is for their customers. A more efficient checkout process can be the tipping point for a great or poor customer experience. Ultimately, business owners want to focus on the former and not the latter. So, how do these merchants ensure that…
The retail landscape is incredibly competitive, no matter whether you are running an online store or relying on physical locations to attract customers. In such a dynamic environment, standing out from the crowd can be a significant challenge. One of the ways to build a solid customer base and guarantee customer satisfaction across channels is…
If you’ve ever made a payment by swiping your credit or debit card through credit card readers or card terminals, you’ve used magstripe payments. Although this payment solution has dominated the industry for years, it’s slowly being phased out as more reliable, secure, and convenient alternatives that gain popularity. In the following sections, we explore…
Ever since online shopping became available, major actors in the online payments space have tried to minimise the risk of fraudulent transactions. This was originally done with two-factor authentication as part of 3D secure authentication. If you are a merchant who offers shoppers ease and convenience in terms of making online purchases and these concepts…
Payment fraud is a serious concern for both merchants and consumers who shop online. Having your card details stolen is a serious risk to your sensitive financial information. Meanwhile, merchants face the risk of chargebacks, fraud and other issues if payment authentication is not accurate. Payment authentication was introduced to address this concern. And while…
Across the world, the issuing and use of EMV cards are rising rapidly. These credit and debit cards aim to make card-present transactions more secure. And this has resulted in a drastic reduction of card fraud globally. For this reason, merchants operating brick-and-mortar locations and physical stores are increasingly equipping themselves with EMV card readers…
When it comes to online payments, two major contenders stand out in the space: Samsung Pay and Google Pay. Although several others exist, these two global payment giants are making waves and introducing ease of payments to millions of people worldwide. If you’re new to these options for making contactless payments, you’ve come to the…
When it comes to contactless payments, using a mobile device is among the top preferred options in the UK. For those using an iOS device or Apple devices like the Apple Watch or iPhone, using the Apple wallet for shopping is quick, easy, and convenient. In the following sections, we’ll review what it takes to…
In recent years, contactless card payments have skyrocketed in the UK. For example, studies reveal that over 93% of all in-store card transactions of less than £100 were completed via a contactless payment. This demonstrates the shift in trending global card transactions, encouraging more and more businesses to accept contactless payments. Plenty of popular wallet…
