Personal Finance Advice and Commentary

Small businesses today have more credit card processing options than ever. Here’s a basic breakdown of systems for making sales and collecting retail data.

In the race to turn cellphones into credit card readers comes a new app that does just that. Card.io unveiled a mobile application that allows cellphone users to accept credit card transactions by taking a picture of a credit card with their phone and sending a receipt by email to the card’s owner. The app

Thanks to a tiny white plastic credit card reader, some Salvation Army bell ringers will be doing more swiping than jingling this year. The charity — known for its red kettles and bells during the holidays — is testing out Square, the mobile credit card reader, in San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas and New York. The

The little Square plastic reader that could is hitting the big time after retail giant Wal-Mart said it will carry the mobile phone credit card swiper in its stores. That’s good news for the thousands of micro business owners — from crafters to bake-sale moms to at-home wedding cake creators — who turn away potential