Ever wonder how small businesses turn into a franchise? Or how a store fails in a a busy location, but the same store flourishes where no one would ever imaged it would?

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A.R.E.

We have all heard that success is dependent on three factor: Location, Location, Location. Well, then what is the right location? One with a lot of foot traffic, visibility, or easy access? The notion of a good location is that it will bring in the most customers and therefor you’ll make the most money. One problem: The better the location in perceived to be, the higher the rent. So a better location needs more revenue just to break even and that may be worth it.

A better way yo look at rent and location is to consider it marketing expense just like you look at all your other forms advertisements.  So if you have a set marketing budget, then the more you spend on rent the less is available for other types of advertising such as mailer and TV adds.  This makes perfect sense since a location with visibility on a main street would to spend less on mailers to ensure that the trade areas customers know of its existence.

More to come soon…, but contact www.AffiliatedResearchEconomics.com if you need business consulting.

Earlier today I walked into an Italian Deli which has one of the best sandwiched I have tasted. The place has been owned and operated by the same family since the 1960s and little has change. Its one of those traditional deli/markets which carries a bunch of imported Italian goods including pastas, wines, a variety of gelatos and of course your meats and cheeses. There is only one problem with the place. It typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes from the time you step in to the time you get your sandwich. Well, a good place does deserve a wait. So, when I am in a hurry,  just phone in my order and pick it up.

A little more about the place it has two counters. The main counter is for walk in customers who want to order sandwiches and make purchases. It has two cash registers, a credit card processing machine, and two scales.  The side counter has one cash register, one large calculator, a separate credit card processing machine, and a scale. It is for pick up customers like me.

So I place my order with the deli on the phone and make my way there. When I walk in, there is a long line at the main counter and about two people at the side counter. So now I am third in line and by chance see my sandwiches prepared and ready in the fridge next to the counter. The lady in front of the line had apparently placed a phone order and was there to pick up some sandwiches. The staff was unable to find her order. Then she proceeded to call her husband to find out what the order was. The staff was still unable to find the order after she relayed the message from her husband over to them. Then the customer was asked by the staff who she spoke to. She stated that when she called, a woman picked up the phone and then a man took the order. (Same thing happened to me). This went on for at least five minutes and I just continued to observe the matter and the store. What was happening?

1. Almost three workers were trying to locate the order.
2. The lines were getting longer at both counters.
3. Customers were starting to show signs of frustration.
4. The lady was now arguing with her husband on the phone.
5. The place was getting so busy that some customers entering the store, were leaving immediately.

As this was going on they just decided to place the order again at which point the lady was asking her husband to once again give the specifics of the order. So once again, they wrote the order down on paper and took it back to make it. As they went back, a third worker returned from the back with the order slip stating that he was already making the order. By now at least eight minutes had passed by and occupied the time of about three workers.

All this was happening while my sandwiches which were ready were sitting in the fridge looking at me. Now the original lady stepped to the side frustrated and the customer I in front of me proceeded to the counter with several items in her hand and apparently. That took another five minutes which included the staff having to look up the price for two items, getting the sandwiches, ringing them up on the cash register, and then running on a credit card machine that took about 25 seconds (I timed it) to process. Just to put in perspective, this entire transaction should have taken under 60 seconds, but too over five minutes.

It was almost my turn after 15 minutes, right? Wrong!

Now the original lady’s order was ready and that took another 5 minutes.

Finally it was my turn after 20 minutes. The staff asked me what I was getting and I actually pointed to the sandwiches in the refrigerator. She got the sandwiches. Had to look up how much each cost and rang it up on the cash register. Then had to take my credit card, run it on a separate credit card machine, wait for it to print, and had me sign. I was only presented with the credit card receipt and no actual product receipt. How is the credit cards receipt and regular receipt consolidated? It is not.

The moral of story: The place has the best sandwiches, but is not operating satisfactorily. It is conceivable that this happens at least once a day and if we assume that the places looses just two customers who don’t want to wait then that is about $30 per day. That is a very conservative estimate. Lets say the places looses another $30 due to employee error. Again, a very conservative estimate, then that is $60 a day and $1500 a month. They are closed on Sundays. That is about $18,000 a year and again is very conservative. Our partners at Affiliated Research Economics (a business consulting firm) put the estimates upwards of at least $60,000 or more.

The solution is very simple: A multi-station point of sale system from Sintel Systems would greatly reduce this. All this at a fraction of the losses being experienced. What kind of a POS systems do they need:

1. Multi-Station Deli/Market POS
2. Integrated Credit Card Processing (included above)
3. Scales
4. Kitchen Display

All this at about a quarter of the estimated annual losses!

We have not named the deli here because we do not want to discourage anyone from visiting this fantastic place. And we do not believe in hard selling. Sintel Systems is a solutions provider and POS is part of our solutions package. I’ve simply let the owner know. We look forward to assisting them and if we do, we plan on keeping you updated.

Question or comments, contact us

CALL US: 855-POS-SALES
EMAIL US: sales@sintelsystems.com
VISIT US ONLINE: www.SintelSystems.com

This is a completely understandable concern and we got an email from a potential customer regarding this. The question is reflective of a smart customer, business owner, who categorizes POS Systems as an investment rather then a cost.

Questions about buying Point of Sale:

• Should I buy a used POS?
  Short Answer: NO

• Should I buy a cheap POS?
  Short Answer: NO

Generally speaking, we would say that your situation with limited finances depend on several matters.  We stress the importance of looking at other available options and strategies that will allow for growth without downtime due to faulty Point of Sale Systems.

• Stage of business: If you have not started operations, then we would say make sure you are looking at POS as an investment and not simply as an expense. It is what will give you control over many aspects of your business and starts repaying you the minute you start using it.

1. So, if you are just starting, look to see if you can reallocate other non essential or deferable expenses towards your POS investment.
2. If you are already in business, see if you can cut any truly unnecessary expenses. Look at some of you reoccurring expenses and see if you can cut them by a few percentage. If you have already done all the math and still can’t budge it, then read on.

• Financing option: We work with several financing companies to help with your financing, but we do not do in-house financing and do not gain any extra benefits when you finance. We see in-house financing and “kick-backs” as a conflict of interest and have decided to put out customers long term interest ahead. You can read more on this subject here: What is the Best Financing method for Point of Sale? In-House POS Financing or Third Party POS Financing?. As for financing, you can always choose this path. Your choice will depend on the rate you can get and how you can allocate the funds you are financing. If you go down the financing path, make sure to go with a trusted source, read the fine print, and read our blog: “free point of sale.”

• Expandable option: If the above options doe not work, then you can consider purchasing one expandable with the option to add a second system when you are ready.
  How do I accommodate my traffic with only 1 unit?
  A POS System should emphases on efficiency.  Transaction Speed is very important. Sintel Systems designed POS Systems based stability and efficiency.  Where most POS Systems process transactions from A to Z in just about a minute at best, we can get it done in under 20 seconds. If that is not enough you must be making enough money to buy another system quick. Read our blog on Importance of Processing Time.

IN CONCLUSION: Given the dependability of a business to process transactions using a POS System it is very important that your POS purchase is not a recipe for disaster.

• FOR EXAMPLE:  Let’s admit that it is possible to loose $10 a day do to various reasons ranging from miscalculation, to mishandling of money. That’s $300 a month.  Starting at $2500-$2800 for a Complete POS System including Support has only a break even point of 8-10 Months.
• FOR EXAMPLE:  Let’s assume that as a Business Owner/Operator it takes about 1 Hour per day, if not more, to complete all administrative duties such as opening, closing, and employee time clock management.  That’s 30 Hours a month. How much is your time worth? As an owner and manager, you should calculate your time at about $27 per hour to start.
• FOR EXAMPLE:  Let’s assume you need Time Cards so that employees can clock in and out. Weather they do it by hand or use the machine you still need to buy the supplies. That’s another cost you will not have since the POS System will supply you with the function and reporting of payroll hours.
• FOR EXAMPLE: Let’s assume each employee gains 5-10 minutes on average every day for being late or break time that’s not deducted. Working 5 Days a week with 5 employees a conservative estimate would be 125- 250 minutes a week wasted or 500-1000 minutes a month.  At a rate of $10 per hour that is 8-16 hours a week totally $80-$160 a month.

For these reason we stress the importance of prioritizing “Point of Sale” at the top with “Product” and “Location.”  It is important for Sintel Systems to provide high quality hardware and software and never provide any used or refurbished POS Systems. It is extremely important to distinguish between expenses and investments in your business. Try to avoid future disasters for the same reasons you would not buy an undependable delivery tuck if your company main line of work was delivery, or buy expired food products if you had a restaurant, or hire cheap labor to manage your business.  POS & security camera systems fall in the same category except that the rate of return on these investment far surpasses any other one.

Question or comments, contact us

CALL US: 855-POS-SALES
EMAIL US: sales@sintelsystems.com
VISIT US ONLINE: www.SintelSystems.com

Part II: The Gelato Challenge (Read Part I)

So we started on this journey and decided to just hit the streets. What we found about San Francisco is that Gelato is served both in dedicated Gelaterias that only sell Gelato & Sorbet and also in other desert shops where the Gelato is part of other goodies. So these are the ones we’ve visited so far:

Fist Stop: Naia Gelateria — 520 Columbus, San Francisco, Ca 94133 (415) 677-9280

Naia - San Francisco - Gelato Store

Second Stop: Gelato Classoico — 576 Union Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 391-6667

Classico - San Francisco - Gelato Store

Third Stop: Z. Cioccolato — 474 Columbus, San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 395-9116

Z Cioccolato - San Francisco - Gelato Store

For information on POS systems for Gelato Shops & Gelaterias go to www.GelatoPOS.com

San Francisco POS – San Francisco Point of Sale – San Francisco Cash Register

Had a call earlier form a customer in the San Francisco Bay Area and first thing he asked was “Why do you claim to be the best point of sale company in San Francisco?” For those who have experienced us, you know.  Not only do we appreciate the trust you put in us, but also the kind manner in which your refer other customers to us. When you refer a business you like to others, you decrease the cost and increase the service for everyone involved. Your referrals allow us to concentrate our resources on our customers instead of advertisements. Remember that we are happy to share in our success with our Referral Program.

So why is Sintel Systems for the bay area????? Because we understand San Francisco like no one else. Few others can claim that they have walked most of San Francisco and instead of trying to sell to you, we have listed to your specific needs. We take our family vacations in the City and visit. We sit at restaurants along Columbus in North Beach, enjoy the Caffes (yes they typically spell it like the Italians) in Cow Hollow, hang out Haight, and get produce at Castro’s Farmer’s Market. San Francisco does it differently and we support it. Its the nations second densest City in the Union, but the big names and corporates have not been able to invade.Most businesses are family run and so are we. We understand that some owners dream of expansion while others just want more time with their families.

So, put your trust in Sintel Systems to help your business grow or make more time to enjoy with the family and understand why Sintel Systems is the best of San Francisco.

Contact us today for all your point of sale needs from North Beach to Mission and beyond, we are ready to help.

Who has the fastest and best payment merchant account services?

Credit Card Processing time is defined as the time it takes to run your  transaction once a credit card has been presented and charged. The bigger picture is total transaction item which starts from the time your customer starts the order until the completion. Obviously the importance increases with increasing volume and also on how busy you get. As an example, a coffee shop runs many more transactions that a restaurant; however, the same applies. Why?

In a coffee shop, the customer comes up to the counter, places the order, and payment is rendered. You employee has minimal movement. In a restaurant, the bill is given to the customer who then presents payment.  The waiter then takes the credit card or payment to the POS station for processing. If the process is quick (within seconds), then the waiter can immediately return the receipts to the customer for printing.  If it take some time, then the employee is forced to either wait or tend to other matters and return. This case would substantially increase the timing. If each transaction is increase by only 3 minuets and the average waiter tends to 8 tables an hour, that is an extra 3 hours per day!!! Wow!!

Now back to the coffee shop example whose transaction is similar to frozen yogurt shops, and all other counter service uses. The main issue with increased transaction times is loss of customers. Lines in your store can be a good sign, but can also deter would be customers, so increasing the speed of each transaction is vital. The average Credit card transaction takes about 15 seconds. So what would happens if you could cut that time by half over 200 typical transactions each employee runs at a counter-service establishment.  That is about 200 times 7.5 seconds. That is 25 minutes of saving. How about if cut it down form 15 seconds to 3 seconds, that is now 45 minutes.

The point of this story is that transaction times are the mos important factor and that is why

• Merchant account fees should not be the sole determinant of your merchant service.
• You credit cards and gift card services should be integrated with the point 0f sale systems.
• Increases customer service.
• Increases customer retention.

Below is a comparison of two credit card processing services:

Read more about this topic and others at our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.

Sintel Systems understands your business from A to Z. Contact us with any questions.

San Francisco POS – San Francisco Point of Sale – San Francisco Cash Register

What is the best POS System for my business in San Francisco and the Bay Area?

Sintel Systems! We are not just a point-of-sale POS company, but also a one-stop solutions provider. Why are we the best to deliver high quality products and attentive services to you?  Because:

1. STAFF: The greatest and most dedicated staff anywhere. We don’t have a sales force, we all techies! You’ll love our staff because we are helpful, friendly, and honest. We believe that a living is earned best honestly. We won’t flood you with fine print and we still do a lot of business just on a handshake!
2. Monitor and control the inventory control, increased and secured processing speed!
3. Connect with your website.
4. Start gift cards and loyalty programs to attract and keep more of your customers.
5. Easy customization.
6. Each POS system has endless features to help you.

Increase your efficiency and profits! Be the best in San Francisco.

Why else Sintel Systems? Because we know San Francisco and its great way of living. All of our staff have traveled to San Francisco and enjoy what it has to offer. If you own a store in San Francisco, chances are you have ran into one of our staff members or already heard of Sintel Systems. Instead of trying to sell, we observe and study every business and understanding the needs. Bet you find no other POS provider knows about Gelato and appropriate POS systems as much as we do!

We share San Francisco’s spirit and are fast becoming the first name and last name to call when you want San Francisco style personalized and friendly service.

Contact us at (855)POS-SALES or (855)767-7253 and let one of our technical staff assist you.

Myth or Reality?

POS Credit Card Processing

As customers have become wiser they understand that credit card processing not only increases their sales, but also generates a small revenue for the credit card processor. This is very true. So this well know notion has been used by some to claim that they will give a free point of sale system just for selecting them as a credit card processor. We all know that in business, something free offered by a business typically required a rate of return. So, the free point of sale is typically a myth. The math just does not work. So why is it advertised, because of selective wording. The POS is “Free,” but there is monthly fee for a certain period of time which eventually leads to much higher overall cost.

If you have been in business, then you know that “if it is too good to be true, then it most likely is!”

If you have just started your business, then you should know that “there is no such thing as a free lunch either!” Here is some humble advise:

1. Look for value not cheap or free
2. Select the tight partners. Form your window cleaners to your POS provider. Make sure they are all honest.
3. Build relationships with those who see you as a customer rather than a transaction.
4. If it takes tons of fine print just to sell you anything then they are betting that you’ll not read it.
5. Compare all your investments pound-for-pound. Remember, value is what your are searching for.

The credit card fees generated by most operations are not sufficient to justify a real POS system with real service. That in many ways is s a good thing. If fees were high enough to allow for a free systems, then you would have to pay higher fees to the merchant account which in turn would force you to increases your prices and suffer lower sales. This was you at least know that once you buy the system or finance it for a set term to own, then you would not keep paying higher fees on every transaction forever.

Contact us at (855)POS-SALES or (855)767-7253 and let one of our technical staff assist you. Remember that Sintel Systems has only technical experts more hungry to advise you than to sell to you.

The short answer is we offer value, not cheap point of sale, but read on to get the whole picture.

A common question we get from our potential customers is “What is the difference between Sintel Systems POS and a national recognized brand such as Micros?” This is a very intelligent and smart question. After all our we are able to offer POS system at what seems to be cheap prices. The smart customers know that there must be a fundamental reason a system is cheaper than another. Most often cheaper POS systems are of lower quality or miss the needed service and support.

Sintel Systems does not provide cheap POS systems, but rather great value. How do we do this? Very simply. We focus on our customers.

• First, we don’t have a dedicated sales force. This means that we don’t have people whose sole responsibility is sales. Our staff is comprised of solely technical experts who actually understand POS and your business.  As our saying goes, “You sell it, you support it.” This means that it is very likely that the person selling you the system will also be the one training you. This allows our staff top concentrate on the long term relationship with each customer. The point of purchase is just the beginning of a long lasting relationship. Every customer becomes a friend.
• Second, we do not have an enormous advertising budget. We depend on a referral system where most of our clients are refereed to us on some shape or form.  This not only allows us to pass the savings onto our customers, but ensures that all our customers are satisfied.
• Third and most importantly, we are honest and reliable. We don’t burry our customers with hidden fees and long contracts.  So we are trusted and don’t need to deal with unhappy customers. Many firms assume that revenues generated by dishonest and deceptive practices outweigh the costs. We don’t believe in that and treat everyone as we would treat our own friends.

So we do not offer cheap point of sale systems, but rather a great value with excellent customer service. Our customers are relationships, not simply transactions. And this why Sintel Systems is your trusted source. We actually did a side-by-side comparison between us and point of sale systems you see advertised as Free.

Contact us at (855)POS-SALES or (855)767-7253 and experience the advantage you get when you come to Sintel Systems for your point of sale needs.

Point of Sale System Financing

In-house financing is when the company selling the POS to you also finances the system within the company. Outside financing is when either 1) the company selling you the POS gets an outside financial institution to get you financed or 2) when the customers obtains a loan from a bank to get the system. Sintel Systems utilizes outside financing for customers who desire financing. We don’t make any money from your financing or take any “kick backs.”

Many customers do not realize the difference between the two and its potential implications such decision may make. There is an inherent conflict of interest if the company selling you the POS also finances it internally. There are three (3) main reasons you should keep your point of sale and it source of financing separate.

Three reasons to keep POS and it source of financing separate:

1. HIGH COST: The focus of your POS company should be on providing you the best point of sale and service, not making money off your financing. When you use in house financing, the focus shifts. They first push the customer toward financing and do anything to get you financed even if it is not in your best interest. One common way is high interest merchant account loans. Stay away from this.
2. SERVICE: We all run our businesses with the intention of succeeding; however, unforeseen circumstances can lead to tough times. Sometimes you miss payments as you try to focus limited resources in difficult times. When you use in-house financing, they cut your service when you miss payments. The goal of your POS provider should be to help you out of tough times not make the hole wider.
3. YOUR FINANCES: Your financing company should not have access to all your business transactions. That is too much information for such companies to have.

So what’s happened recently is that banks and credit card companies front as point of sale providers. The advise is to make sure that you know who you are dealing with a POS company or a bank. Keep them separate. This should be part of your business plan and strategy.

If you like more information on financing, contact Sintel Systems at 855-CCTV-SALES. If you like to proceed with a financing application, please see here.