Credit card terminals are a common sight in almost every retail store and restaurant. They let businesses process credit cards efficiently and securely.

While they are a relatively small purchase in terms of dollars, the total impact they can have on your businesses is enormous. Merchant account providers typically charge half a percent more for keyed-in transactions than for swiped charges, so if your old terminal is not reading cards as well as it used to, it could be costing you money.

Older terminals may also not be able to support debit card transactions. Or, you may simply need more terminals because your business is growing.

Whatever your reasons for buying new credit card terminals, this Buyer's Guide can help you choose the right one.

• Credit card terminals can only be used in conjunction with a credit card merchant account. Need a merchant account? Submit a quote or read our Credit Card Processing Buyer's Guide.
• Many point of sale (POS) systems include credit card readers. If you are interested in a complete POS system, submit a quote or read our POS Buyer's Guide.
• A merchant account provider can help you find the right credit card terminals. Use our supplier comparison tool to review multiple product and service offerings from your PC.