What do you feel has made you successful?

[ECLLC]

I am very new to using square. What do you feel has made you successful or not successful here? @Everyone 

[JK_Fiber_Art]

Hi ECLLC,

Regardless of what Credit Card Processing Service you use - you can be successful.  What one has to consider is costs and benefits - case in point:  We used to use our local bank as they offered Credit Card Processing but, there was a catch.  In addition to Transaction Processing Fees, there was a monthly charge - it didn't matter if you had sales or not or even if your business was seasonal - there was still a monthly fee.  Square has many advantages for small businesses - if you use their basic services, you only pay a Transaction Processing Fee when you have a sale, you don't need any extra hardware except for your smart device or computer - both require access to the internet but, you would most likely already have that.  There's no contracts and you can even setup your own online website for free.  We were successful before Square - we're just saving on business expenses now which in turn allows us to use some of those funds for other projects.  Just our thoughts of course.

jk

[Candlestore]

@ECLLC ;

What has made me successful, Planning, Research, Good Decision making, happy accidents and of course lots of alcohol after work.

1. Planning - You need to think ahead and Plan what you will need to have in stock to sell in a Month or so, that way you can order now to have it then.
2. Research - You need to research what business tools you will need and which ones fit you best.  The tools can be anywhere from what you need to make your items, your items themselves to sell based on price or quality, computer programs to manage your financials, and even your CC processor.
3. Good Decision Making - Being able to put together your plans with the research to make an educated guess that is the best for you at the time.  I can buy candles and resell them, but then they may not be as good a quality.  
4. Happy Accidents -  Sometimes you get lucky, you roll around in a manure field end somehow come out smelling like roses..... don't count on this but it does happen.  We use an ingredient to shrink our Pillar candles so we can slide them out of the Molds.  Too little they stick, too much no scent when they are on display but smell great burning.  Ideally you need to be in the middle.  Well we used just enough to get them out of the mold, and then for better visual we had Waves and circle patterns form accidently.   We thought this batch was ruined, nope we put them on display at regular price and named them Lava (scent).  Now people keep asking for the Lava type candles.
5. Alcohol after work,  Not good during working hours you may say something to a customer you regret.  But after hours at home with friends or family it is a great way to talk out some frustrations that you otherwise may keep inside.  For example we make candles, candles from Heat begin to Melt.  It is Summer Time and 98 degree F outside, Cars can reach even HIGHER temps from sun.  No idea how many people get home after buying candles, and shopping etc, and then call and say there is No wick or my Pillar is deformed, can I exchange it or I want my $$ back this jar candle has no Wick.  Then I take the Jar and point to the TWO tabs that are the bottom of our Jar wicks, and then point to the SIGN by the register that says " Caution Wax Melts and Glass Breaks We are not responsible for your item after you leave the store."  Then they still try to argue.