Payment terminal for cash. Your own business: payment terminals. Installing a terminal has a number of advantages

Payment terminals have become a part of the lives of modern people. They can be found in educational institutions, shopping centers, on the street, that is, in all public places. Many businessmen earn good money from such devices. In this article, we will look at reviews from owners about payment terminals as a business and figure out how profitable this line of business is for beginning entrepreneurs.

What are payment devices used for?

These machines are designed to accept various payments.

With their help you can pay:

Cellular communications;
Cable TV;
Public utilities:
Internet and more.

Such a device operates independently, without operator intervention. The payment apparatus consists of the following elements:

Modem that accepts payments;
Bill acceptor;
Screen;
Printer for printing receipts.

Using this device, the subscriber can quickly pay bills anywhere in the city.

Buy or rent?

There are different ways to organize a business using your own payment terminal. For example, the owner of a chain of stores can install such devices at each outlet. The new service will attract buyers, which will increase sales. In addition, he will be able to receive additional income from payments. Since the device will be placed on its own space, you will not have to pay rent for its installation. Collection and maintenance of payment terminals can be performed by a senior salesperson or store administrator.

If you are interested in a payment terminal as a business, in order for it to generate decent income, you need to create an entire system of instant payments. Experts believe that for a successful start, you should purchase at least 10 devices. Entrepreneurs who do not have large start-up capital on hand to purchase equipment can rent the equipment. Over time, when the business begins to generate good profits, you can purchase the equipment as your own.

Registration

Before installing a payment terminal, you must officially register your activity. First of all, you need to open an LLC in order to be able to enter into agreements with operators of vending payment systems. In addition, it is necessary to register with the tax office to avoid any problems from regulatory authorities in the future.

Business Features

Let's figure out how the business with payment terminals works. Its success is ensured by various factors. First of all, it is competition. In addition, the location of the equipment plays an important role in this matter. Another factor worth noting is wear and tear. If you install the device in a public place, for example, in a shopping center, it will be used more often. Accordingly, the device will fail faster.

The next factor is the average bill. For example, you have chosen a place with high traffic, but here the device is used mainly to make payments for the apartment. Since the interest on rent is too low, you will make little profit. On the other hand, you can get 30–40% of income from minimum payments at some educational institution.

If you can’t decide where to install a payment terminal, a ready-made business will be the best option to start. In this case, you will receive a payment terminal installed in a good location and completely ready for use.

We offer step-by-step instructions for those who are interested in how to start a business using payment terminals:

Find an equipment supplier and order devices from them. Experienced entrepreneurs who have been working in this field for a long time recommend buying second-hand equipment at the start. Thanks to this, you can save a lot and open more outlets. Before purchasing equipment, read consumer reviews of specific models. Thanks to this, you can avoid problems in the future;
Choosing a location. In order for your business to generate good income, you need to choose the right place to install the equipment. In this matter, you should be guided by cross-country ability. The more people pass by, the better;
Installation and configuration. After you choose a location and sign a lease agreement, you can begin installing the equipment. You can do this work yourself, following the instructions, or seek help from professionals.

Payment terminal operation diagram

Financial part

When drawing up a business plan for payment terminals, you must first calculate all costs. First of all, this is rent. The amount of monthly payments largely depends on the ability to negotiate with the owners of the premises, as well as on an individual approach. If you can convince the management of a shopping center or hypermarket that installing a payment device will help them attract more customers, they will offer you the minimum rent. In addition, you need to find out how much the payment terminal costs and what payment system you will connect it to.

Initial costs:

Purchase and connection of equipment – 2.4-9 thousand dollars;
Monthly expenses:
Rent of space for the device – 4–8 thousand rubles;
Internet fee – 600–900 rubles;
Deductions to the bank – 0.1–0.15% of turnover;
Maintenance – 4 thousand rubles;
Collection – 2 thousand rubles;
Income tax.

Now let’s try to determine how much profit the payment terminal brings:

Remuneration from the service provider – 1–3%;
The fee for using the device, which is charged to customers, is 3–5%.

One machine accepts approximately 150 payments per day. The average bill is 150 rubles. In this case, the monthly income is approximately 30 thousand rubles per month. If you subtract maintenance costs, you will get a net profit of approximately 18 thousand rubles. With average returns, your initial investment will pay off in about 5-6 months. In areas with high traffic, payback periods are significantly reduced.

They bring in a good income. They can be installed next to payment terminals to generate additional income.

Video on the topic Video on the topic

To ensure a good profit you need to work hard and constantly expand your network.

Pay special attention to the following points:

Part of the profit should be invested in the purchase and installation of new equipment;
Search for new partners. In this matter, success largely depends on the chosen payment system. If it doesn't attract new partners, look for a more successful operator;
Constantly monitor the traffic flow of points where payment devices are installed. Many entrepreneurs suffer losses because they chose the wrong place to install their equipment. If you see that the device is not profitable, move it to another, more crowded place;
Constantly improve the quality of service. Thanks to this, you can increase the profitability of the enterprise.

conclusions

Now you know how to make money on payment terminals. This is a fairly attractive and promising source of income. It's perfect for those interested in . According to analysts, the payment terminal market will show positive dynamics for a long time, since it is not completely saturated, so you can safely enter this business.

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The popularity of payment terminals was due to the advent of cell phones, accessible to the general population. In the late nineties and early 2000s, bank cards were not as common as they are now. Services such as mobile banking or online banking, with which you can top up your phone from a card account with literally one movement of your hand, were also undeveloped. The only way out for people was to visit the offices of telephone operators or cell phone stores (for example, Euroset) with their obligatory attribute - queues for a cash register employee. Therefore, the appearance in many public places of touch screen terminals, which allow you to deposit money into your phone account in a matter of seconds and anonymously, even with a commission, was received with a bang.

Despite the fact that nowadays cell phones are topped up in this way much less frequently, the popularity of payment terminals has not fallen; their number is also growing. They almost completely cover the average citizen’s need to pay for the services he requires. Surely you will be interested in knowing how a payment terminal works, what is inside it and how it differs from an ATM?

Payment terminal. What it is?

A payment terminal (from the Latin “terminalis” – final, border) is an autonomous device (hardware and software complex) that allows you to accept payments from individuals in self-service mode. A special feature of such devices is a software interface configured for the most accessible perception of information. Users should not have any questions about how to work with them - everything should be clear, simple and as accessible as possible.

Using payment terminals, you can make almost any payments to various service providers. You can pay:

mobile communications (it all began with it);
services of Internet providers, cable television providers and other providers of modern digital services;
communal payments;
fines and various types of taxes;
monthly loan installment (in connection with the development of the microfinance industry, terminals have become very useful for repaying microloans);
online shopping.

In addition, the terminals allow you to transfer funds to another person’s card account, top up an electronic wallet or account in a payment system (QIWI, Leader, etc.), and make a transfer to a fast transfer system (Contact, Western Union, etc.). You have the opportunity to transfer a payment to a charitable organization or use the service of the payment system itself, for example, open or create your own electronic wallet, and, finally, top up your account in some massively multiplayer online game.

Where did such a sea of possibilities come from (and the number of service providers for terminals under different brands may differ) and why is a percentage taken for payments in favor of some suppliers, but not in favor of others? Let’s answer this question and at the same time consider the principle of operation of the payment terminal.

Principle of operation

Let's talk about how the terminal works, starting from the actions of an individual - the payer, and ending with the actual payment in favor of a particular organization. Let's start with the fact that each payment terminal has its own owner (a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur), who receives a reward by deducting a certain percentage from each payment. The terminal itself is the final component of the system, to which its owner is connected by signing an agreement on joining this system. The system itself, using QIWI as an example, consists of several participants. To put it simply, these are: the agent (the owner of the terminal), the system operator, the settlement bank and the payment provider (supplier). Other well-known brands are built according to a similar scheme: Eleksnet, Leader, DeltaPay, ComePay and dozens more.

The central role in the functioning of such a system is played by its operator. He is responsible for coordinating and ensuring the activities of the entire system as a whole, ensuring information and technological interaction of all its participants. The settlement bank is responsible for settlements (payments); in the case of QIWI, this is the QIWI bank. In the settlement bank, the operator has a current account to which agents transfer a certain amount of money - the so-called guarantee fund. Such a fund is necessary to ensure the fulfillment of the payment terminal owner’s obligations to transfer accepted payments.

After physical the person (payer) selects the required service on the terminal screen, enters the details (for example, phone number), deposits the required amount into the terminal (inserting banknotes into the bill acceptor) and presses the pay button, then the terminal sends a request via GSM communication (or via a dedicated channel) to the system operator, where processing of this transaction begins. Accordingly, in the settlement bank, the size of the agent’s guarantee fund is reduced by the amount of the accepted payment (debited from the operator’s personal account), and the payment itself is transferred to the accounts of the payment provider in whose favor the payment was accepted. For example, if you want to top up your mobile account with the mobile operator MTS, then it will be the payment provider.

The owner of the terminal receives his reward (commission) from each payment. Additional remuneration from service providers based on results for a certain period of time is also possible. The commission can be fixed for all payments or individual for each payment. The maximum commission amount depends on the tariff plan provided by the system operator. The operator and the settlement bank also take their own commission.

The presence of a service provider (QIWI has 11,000 of them) in one system or another means that an agreement was concluded between the system and the provider to accept payments. The more suppliers, the better for the payer - the wider the range of possible payments.

The commission that is deducted from the payer must be shown on the screen of the payment terminal before paying for the service. Different terminals may have different commissions. This means that the machines belong to different owners, who set different amounts of their commissions. It happens that the commission is not charged at all when paying for the service, for example, when repaying microloans, many microfinance organizations declare a 0% commission when repaying through terminals related to certain payment systems. This suggests that companies (in this case, microfinance organizations) pay the commission themselves on the terms specified in the payment acceptance agreement. They lose a little in the cost of loans, but gain additional loyalty from their borrowers.

How does the terminal work?

There are two types of terminals depending on the installation location: indoors (floor-mounted, wall-mounted, built-in, tabletop) and outdoors (wall-mounted, built-in and installed as free-standing racks). But at the same time, their design is practically the same. The only difference can be in the design of the case: vandal-proof, moisture-resistant, etc.

Any such device is equipped with:

body (made of metal or metal-plastic) made of steel with a thickness of at least 1.5 mm, which allows it to withstand intense mechanical stress;
a computer with appropriate software provided by the system operator;
touch, vandal-resistant TFT screen (monitor);
keyboard in the absence of a touch screen;
a bill acceptor who determines the denomination of the accepted bill and verifies its authenticity. Accepted banknotes are stored in a special box - a stacker, which is removed during collection at the payment terminal;
printer for printing receipts;
uninterruptible power supply;
wireless modem for Internet access and GSM antenna;
watchdog timer, which is a device for monitoring the performance of software, controlling the GSM modem and computer (automatic reboot of the modem and computer when it freezes).

Sometimes terminals are equipped with card readers (for reading information from a bank card), barcode scanners and an additional monitor used for advertising purposes. This is done to expand the range of services provided.

The difference between a payment terminal and an ATM

At first glance, these two devices are absolutely identical. Both handle money, process payments and print checks and mini-statements. However, there are fundamental differences between them. How is a payment terminal different from an ATM? The differences are as follows:

1. The main purpose of the terminal is to accept money for making payments, and the ATM is to issue it. Although there are ATMs with a cash-in function, which can also accept money to repay a loan or to pay various payments.

2. Transactions at an ATM are carried out exclusively using a plastic card and on its account. Moreover, to make a payment, identification of the card holder (entering a PIN code) is required. The terminal can work both with a card and without it. In the latter case, identification of the payer is not required (anonymity is maintained).

3. Payments made by payers through the terminal are debited from the account of the system operator (from the guarantee fund), and at the ATM all crediting/debiting operations are carried out with the card holder’s account.

4. ATMs belong to banks, while terminals can belong to individual entrepreneurs or legal entities without a banking license who enter into an agreement to join the system (in other words, buy a franchise).

5. Terminals have a wider range of services provided.

7. The ATM is more secure both at the software level and at the physical level. The thing is that the probable damage from direct or software hacking of ATMs is incomparably greater (this is not only a larger amount of money loaded into the ATM, but the possibility of hacking the software, which can give all this money to the fraudster, see methods of ATM fraud in). But both devices are hacked, although terminals get more damage due to their prevalence.

Payment settlements using plastic cards have become an integral part of the lives of many people in the world. It is convenient, reliable, accurate and affordable. Therefore, many stores and service providers meet their customers halfway and install terminals that allow them to make payments using a non-cash system. We will talk about how POS terminals and, in particular, the mobile terminal for paying with bank cards work in this article.

According to Smart Insights, the volume of payments through mobile terminals in the world increased from 0.5 billion in 2013 to 2.4 billion in 2016. It is predicted that in the future this figure will also not slow down and will amount to 3.6 billion in 2017, and already 5.4 billion in 2018.

POS terminal: main components of the acquiring complex

In order to answer the question: POS terminal - what is it, you need to turn to the translation of the word from English. POS stands for Point Of Sale and is translated as point of sale. A POS terminal is a software and hardware complex that cashiers use when paying clients with bank plastic cards.

The complex performs a number of functions necessary for the successful operation of a retail outlet.

monitor (with its help the operator controls the entered data and information about the payment and the product);
system unit (in which operations are performed to process and store transaction information);
buyer display (designed for the client to control information about the product, its price and quantity, as well as to familiarize himself with the final purchase amount);
keyboard (used to enter product information);
card reader (can be built-in or stand-alone);
printing device (designed for printing a receipt);
fiscal part (used to store banknotes online; there are mechanical (opened with a key) and automatic (opened when the system signals that the check is issued));
software.

In fact, a POS terminal, we can say that it is the same device as a cash register - it is used to carry out trading operations. However, in addition to accounting for sales, this device also accumulates other information, for example, the price, description and expiration date of the product, change counting, etc. Equipping a sales area or an enterprise that provides any services with such a device allows you to simplify and speed up the process of implementation monetary transactions, make it more accurate.

The payment terminal for plastic cards has a unique name and is registered in the State Register of Cash Registers (CCM).

It is prohibited to make changes to the modification of POS terminals.

A POS terminal is also called a software device that accepts payment cards. It can be either independent or part of the complex that we described above. An independent, portable terminal for payment by bank cards can be used in small shops. This compact mobile device consists of a processor and RAM, display, keyboard, microprocessor card reader, magnetic card reader, GPRS modem, battery, built-in receipt printer and power supply. It must also be registered in the cash register register.

Types of POS terminals

Depending on the layout of the functional components, POS terminals come in two types: monoblock and modular.

Monoblock

In monoblock terminals, the equipment is located in one housing. This type is found, for example, in terminal models IBM 4694, ICL TeamPOS 5000.

Such devices are usually installed in places where there is little traffic, say, in department stores, boutiques, etc.

Modular POS systems

Modular POS systems consist of modules, some of which have their own separate housing. So, for example, a keyboard, a printer, and other components can exist separately. You can distinguish a modular terminal from a monoblock terminal by the presence of many cables that connect parts of the equipment. The advantages of these devices are that all system modules can be placed at a certain distance from each other, making the payment process convenient for both the cashier and the client.

Modular POS terminals can be equipped with the necessary elements depending on the needs of the outlet.

Such terminals for paying with bank cards are suitable for stores with high throughput - super and hypermarkets, grocery stores, etc.

These models are presented mainly by such a manufacturer as Siemens Nixdorf.

Each resident of Russia, according to statistics, is the holder of 1.5 payment cards.

There is another type of acquiring terminal - dispersed-modular, which allows you to move components at a distance of 5 m from each other. Examples of such devices include models NCR 7453, OMRON POS FIT 7000. Dispersed modular terminals are very convenient for use in restaurants, fast food chains, etc.

How payment using a POS terminal works: how the system works

For an ordinary buyer of a product or service, it is well known how to use a card payment terminal. The principle of such non-cash payment for him consists of several simple steps: the card is inserted into the card reader, the PIN code is entered, the device displays the inscription “approved”, the printer prints a receipt. In reality, there are much more complex operations behind this type of payment. After all, the terminal itself plays the role of only a link in the chain of processes carried out during a card transaction.

At the checkout, the client informs that he wants to pay with a bank card.
If the purchase amount is significant, the cashier may require the presentation of an identity document.
The cashier uses the keyboard on the terminal to enter the purchase amount and asks the client to insert the card into the card reader.
The client or cashier (depending on the service at a particular point and the installed equipment) inserts the card into the POS terminal reader for bank cards. It is also possible to swipe the magnetic stripe of the card in a special reader or, if contactless payment is possible, to apply the plastic to the screen. If necessary, the client is prompted to enter a PIN code on the keyboard (depending on the settings of the terminal and card). After this, the data is read from the chip or magnetic stripe of the card.
The information read from the card (data + purchase amount) is transferred to the processing center of the acquiring bank.
From there, the information is sent to the microprocessor system data center for the authorization process (SME Data Center). Here the card is checked for presence/absence in the stop list. If the answer is positive, the information goes to the next stage - to the issuing bank.
The issuing bank, that is, the institution that services the card, checks it for legality, the availability of funds necessary for the purchase and, if the result is positive, gives the go-ahead for the transaction, and also assigns an authorization code for the transaction. The information flows in the reverse order: issuing bank – SME data center – acquiring bank – POS terminal.
The POS terminal issues two receipts, which indicate the purchase amount, authorization code and other information about the transaction. The cashier keeps one check for himself, the other is given to the client.
After issuing the check, the terminal sends a message to the processing center about the successful operation.

“refusal” – most often when the purchase price exceeds the limit contained on the card;
“withdraw” means that the card is blocked for some reason by its owner or the bank;
“request to the bank” means that the bank required additional information about the cardholder.

Money is not credited to the point of sale account immediately upon transaction. First, they are debited from the account of the acquiring bank, and after a few days (according to the legislation of the Russian Federation - up to 30 days) they will be transferred from the account of the person who paid for the purchase to the account of the acquiring institution. In this case, the amount of the purchase made will be blocked on the buyer’s account for the time being.

In the global trade system, there are 18 million enterprises specializing in different types of goods and services, where you can pay with a bank card.

Types of acquiring

As it becomes clear from the information given above, the presence of a POS terminal in a store in itself does not make sense if it is not connected to a banking service that allows points of sale and services to accept payment cards for payment. Acquiring is carried out by acquiring banks. Retail outlets enter into an agreement with them. At the same time, banks can provide POS equipment for rent or sell it along with a contract on favorable terms. The contract specifies the amount of commission that is charged when conducting a transaction on each card. It can vary from 1.5 to 4% of the purchase price.

trading terminals;
Internet acquiring;
mobile acquiring for individuals.

For information about different types of acquiring, its advantages and disadvantages, watch the video in more detail:

Trade POS terminals

Trade POS terminals are the most popular and widespread. We talked about the principles of their operation and types above. Each retail outlet selects the most suitable device option for itself, including choosing between stationary and portable ones. Most often, shops, hairdressers, hotels, cafes, etc. resort to installing such terminals for paying with bank cards.

The main feature of trading terminals is that when they are used, there is direct contact between the seller and the client.

To install a terminal for paying with a bank card, you need to pay about 15 thousand rubles for its purchase or pay 1 thousand rubles a month for rent. The interest that banks charge when paying for each purchase ranges from 1.5 to 3.

Owners of retail POS terminals are more inclined to believe that it is better to purchase devices than to rent - they can pay for themselves in 5-6 months.

A prerequisite for installing the terminal is the preparation of a package of documents. For example, in order to install a POS terminal using the services of Sberbank, you need to open a current account at this institution, into which all the money received from sales from customers’ cards will be credited. Also, the owner of the retail outlet where the terminal is planned to be located must provide the bank with a document confirming ownership or ownership (lease agreement). It may take up to 10 days from the moment the terminal installation agreement is signed until the installation procedure itself.

With online acquiring, clients do not contact sellers directly. Payment is made online. The client can quickly pay for any purchase in the online store by providing the necessary information about the card: its number, expiration date, last name, first name of the owner, CVC2 code. The transaction will need to be confirmed using a password sent via SMS to the bank card holder’s mobile phone number. As a rule, money is debited from the client's account immediately after confirmation.

Internet acquiring may cost its owner free of charge, or you may need to pay up to 6 thousand rubles for connecting (or customizing) the payment page. The fee charged by acquiring banks for using Internet acquiring is 2.5-4% of the amount of each transaction.

Mobile acquiring is most suitable for individual entrepreneurship (IP): in taxi services, courier delivery, transportation, repair and service organizations, for private doctors, and other workers who provide services on the road.

This device is a mini-terminal in the form of a card reader, which must be connected to a mobile phone or tablet with Internet access and a special mobile application installed on it.

Today, the mPOS terminal is the most compact device that the market of these devices can offer.

The operating principle of the terminal for paying with bank cards via telephone is as follows. After purchasing a card reader and installing a special mobile application, the device must be registered. Using the application, you can keep track of payment transactions and create templates for speeding up. The peculiarity of this type of payment is that the check is sent to the client only electronically by email or SMS message.

Mobile payment terminals using bank cards for individual entrepreneurs come in several types:
have a connection via Bluetooth, USB port or audio jack;
read the magnetic strip and chip;

Along with the advantages of mPOS terminals, such as portability, round-the-clock access, security, lower cost compared to POS terminals, their use also has a number of disadvantages. So, one of them is that in Russia there are only a small number of banking institutions that are ready to provide mobile acquiring. Today, mobile acquiring is provided by such large banks as Sberbank, Alfa Bank, Privatbank, Promsvyazbank, etc.

There are about 10 mobile acquiring services offered on the Russian market. The most popular systems are 2can, LifePay, Payme, Sum Up. iPay and iBox are also gaining popularity. Less common are Simple Pay, RBKCard, Termite, Paybyway.

The main disadvantages of mobile terminals also include a low level of security, the length of the payment procedure, and distrust of the system on the part of clients.

Many people are interested in the question of how much an mPOS terminal for card payments costs. When concluding an agreement with a bank, it may be free or you will need to purchase it. The price for such a terminal starts from 1,600 rubles. Mobile terminals are not available for rent. The commission for mobile acquiring is 2.5-2.9% of the cost of the product or service.

How to install the software and how to use the mPOS terminal, watch the video:

POS terminals as a business: pros and cons

Of course, the popularity of POS terminals will grow every year, and more and more selling companies will strive to resort to acquiring services and install online payment terminals. Accordingly, this business is promising and will generate an increasing amount of income, since it is beneficial to all its participants: clients, sellers, banks providing acquiring services, mobile operators.

For example, if we talk about the development of the payment terminal business, then in the years of its formation, starting in 2006, the annual profit from them was about 300 billion rubles. In 2009, it already amounted to 700 billion. A similar trend awaits the POS terminal market.

Most likely, in the near future the number of services and acquiring banks will grow. The mobile acquiring segment remains underdeveloped today, and you can still try to enter it. It is this type of business that opens up the most opportunities for new players. If we talk about the distribution of money during mobile acquiring, then the main amount is transferred to the issuing bank servicing the merchant’s current account; The acquiring bank and the service providing the service charge their own commissions. The latest services, as we have already written, are available only 10.

According to 2014 data, the market for mPOS terminals accounted for less than 1% of the market for classic POS terminals.

The disadvantages of POS terminals as a business include the fact that they take root much more slowly and poorly in the regions; people are less accepting of innovations.

Your own business: payment terminals

Accepting money from the public

...Where to start

“The most important thing in the business of accepting payments from the public is to install a terminal in a pass-through location,” says Vadim Leybin, CEO of the International Wireless Systems Corporation (which produces terminals for accepting payments).

Each of the entrepreneurs involved in accepting payments for services through terminals has their own set of motivations for landlords - supermarket chains, shopping centers, universities, and the metro. The standard set of benefits for the landlord looks like this: providing visitors to the supermarket and shopping center with additional services, as a result attracting new customers, and, of course, the rent itself per 1 sq. m. m of area - this is exactly how much is needed to install one terminal, and sometimes two (the dimensions of the terminal depend on the design).

Sometimes the landlord may refuse to rent out the coveted square meter, citing, for example, the fact that the shopping center already has a mobile operator point that accepts payments.

“Any controversial issues can be resolved through negotiations,” Maltsev is sure. – You must understand that the landlord also runs his own business, and, by and large, he will not be able to use this square meter in any other way. Of the more than 1,300 Eleksnet terminals installed in Moscow, only one works during the hours when the point of the cellular dealer renting space in the same store is closed.

Need I say that the “issue price” in this case is solely the amount of rent or a one-time remuneration to the landlord?

As Maltsev and Kuzin recall, when Eleksnet’s business was just starting, there were practically no difficulties with rent. Nowadays it is becoming more and more difficult to negotiate.

“The problem is that in recent years a lot of “prospectors” have appeared in our business,” says Maltsev. – Interest in the payment acceptance market has increased rental rates: sometimes the landlord asks for more than $5,000 per month per square meter, although a fee of no more than $500 can be considered economically justified. The second factor contributing to higher rents is the limited supply of space amid growing demand.

How it works

Having agreed on the installation of terminals, they, of course, need to be purchased and installed. If the location is chosen correctly, then the money, of course, will not flow like a river, as it would have flowed several years ago, but every day one terminal will collect 20-30 thousand rubles. The owner of the terminal independently sets the amount of the commission for transferring the payment to the operator or provider of housing and communal services, Internet provider, etc. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the service costs the payer, as a rule, 3.5% of the payment amount, in the regions - a little more. Another 1 to 1.5% of the amount of collected payments is awarded as a bonus by the mobile operator. The payer's money, once in the terminal, is immediately debited from the sub-dealer account of the company that owns the terminal and sent to the account of the cellular operator or service provider.

After launching the project, the most important thing is network maintenance. For example, if the company’s account runs out of money, the terminal stops making payments. From time to time you need to change the cash register tape and fix any breakdowns that occur.

Prospects in two capitals

Today, according to Eleksnet company estimates, more than 2,100 cash acceptance terminals have been installed in Moscow. More than 1,000 of them are terminals of Eleksnet itself, which occupies about half of the capital’s market. The rest of the market is divided between several players who have built a network of 100 or more terminals: I-box (257 terminals), Sprint-Net (166 terminals), Molniya (108 terminals), Pay Station (90), E- transfer" (76). Some terminals are installed by banks: for example, in Moscow SDM-Bank accepts payments, in St. Petersburg - Promstroybank.

As Maltsev says, the capital’s market for accepting payments for mobile communications services is “cooling down after overheating.” Thus, at the end of 2005, the share of this type of payment in the overall structure of the company’s turnover decreased by 4.1% (to 87.7%). But the share of payments related to banking products is growing - money transfers, loan repayments, etc. According to Eleksnet, monthly growth within this segment is 15-17%.

“Banking products now account for about a third of payments in our system, and the share of payments for mobile communications has decreased to 65-70%,” says Sergei Kuzin.

Eleksnet pays the greatest attention to bank payments, linking its further development with this line.

Things are somewhat different in the Northern capital. The segment of payments for mobile communications is still growing, and the share of payments for banking products in the structure of Eleksnet’s turnover already exceeds 50%, as Yuri Maltsev says.

Forward to the regions

Remember the army saying “the bad soldier is the one who doesn’t want to become a general”? Newcomers have practically no prospects of becoming a general in the market of instant payment terminals in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Another thing is the regions. Here the market is unsaturated and there are many opportunities to become, if not the first, then a noticeable and successful player. Like, for example, the Tver company Sunrise, founded by Sergei Pavlov and his two partners four months ago.

27-year-old Pavlov and his comrades came into the business of instant payment for services from the gambling business. Over the past three years, they have been installing gaming “columns” in their native Tver, working as hired managers for a salary and a percentage of the profits. Pavlov was forced to part with this source of income, and at the same time start his own business, by recent changes in legislation aimed at combating “pillars”.

“Recently, many gambling market operators have switched to payment terminals for services, since from a technical point of view the markets can be called adjacent,” explains Pavlov of his new business interest. – And although so far we are only investing money without seeing a profit, I believe that the potential of the business is enormous: by the end of the first working day we took 500 rubles out of the terminal, and today it collects tens of thousands of rubles.

So far, the partners have installed 10 terminals in large Tver chain stores “Volzhanka”, “Tverskoy Product” and “Pelican”, they plan to install another 15-20 devices, and then begin developing the Tver region.

By the way, the results, which the founders of Sunrise have not yet seen, have already been noticed by the owners of cellular communication stores located in the same supermarkets where the company’s terminals are installed.

“I heard that they are already looking askance at the guys: salon visitors prefer to quickly top up their account through a nearby terminal, rather than stand in a common queue with telephone buyers,” notes Vadim Leibin from MKBS.

“How am I better?”

It is clear that the mobile payment market is becoming increasingly competitive. Therefore, before you engage in an “instant” business, you should ask yourself the question: “How am I better than leaders?” ..

Equipment

Where to buy terminals from

The International Wireless Systems Corporation has been producing terminals for instant payment for mobile communications and other services since 2004. The latest model offered by the manufacturer is T3. It embodies everything that an “ideal” terminal needs. Unlike its predecessors, it is equipped with a bill acceptor for 1500, not 600 bills, and a receipt tape for 180 m, not 60 m. All this makes servicing the terminals easier.

T3 works through the most successful payment system in Russia, CyberPlat, and is assembled from components from leading manufacturers in the world, so cases of breakdowns and malfunctions are minimized. If problems do arise - without this it is impossible to operate a single technical device - then they are resolved promptly. Partners working in remote regions are consulted by MKBS by telephone. Faulty parts of the terminal are exchanged for new ones free of charge during the warranty period (1 year). A longer warranty period may be established for certain components.

MKBS offers other additional benefits for clients. Thus, every 11th terminal is provided free of charge (the cost of T3 in the final configuration is $3,350). When purchasing large quantities, there is a system of discounts, the size of which is discussed individually. MKBS will select the terminal equipment that is necessary in your case. In addition, the manufacturer works with banks and leasing companies - provided that the customer himself negotiates with them.

MKBS terminals are installed not only in Moscow and the regions, but also abroad: in some Russian embassies - for example, in Kazakhstan - and in some hotels popular among Russian tourists - for example, in Turkey.

Terminal T3 is:

– motherboard (assembly information to be confirmed)
– anti-vandal touch monitor 17"" (TFT 17"" LCD ACER 1716s)
– A-Touch touch panel
– metal case 2-3 mm thick
– Cash Code bill acceptor-validator (for 1500 banknotes)
– receipt printer AV-268 with automatic ribbon cutting

SB #09 (50)

*The article is over 8 years old. May contain outdated data

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