Bottom Line Up Front As an event planner accepting credit card payments, you’re likely eligible for one of the simpler SAQ types — but most planners overcomplicate their compliance by mixing payment methods unnecessarily. The biggest mistake we see: collecting payments via email, phone, and web forms when a single hosted payment solution would reduce … Read more
The Bottom Line: PCI Compliance for Marketing Agencies Most marketing agencies fall into SAQ A or SAQ A-EP for PCI compliance — but here’s what trips them up: assuming their client billing systems are out of scope. When you process client payments through your project management platform, store card numbers for retainer billing, or let … Read more
Understanding PCI Compliance for Your Phone Repair Shop Phone repair shops face unique PCI compliance challenges that most payment security guides overlook. Your business handles high-value transactions for device repairs, often stores customer data for warranty tracking, and typically processes payments through multiple channels — from in-store terminals to mail-in repair payments. The biggest mistake … Read more
Computer Repair Shop PCI Compliance: The Bottom Line Most computer repair shops handle credit card payments every day without realizing they’re sitting on a compliance time bomb. Here’s what you need to know: if you accept credit cards, you need to be PCI compliant — and your typical setup (POS terminal at the counter, maybe … Read more
The Bottom Line for Thrift Store PCI Compliance Thrift stores face unique PCI compliance challenges that most retail guides overlook. Your donation-based inventory model, volunteer workforce, and mix of legacy and modern payment systems create a compliance scenario that doesn’t fit neatly into standard retail templates. The biggest mistake thrift stores make? Assuming their charitable … Read more
The Bottom Line on Ski Resort PCI Compliance Ski resort PCI compliance is uniquely complex because you’re processing payments across multiple touchpoints — from slope-side cafes to online lift ticket sales to rental shops and hotels. Most ski resorts fall under SAQ D due to their integrated property management systems, but many could reduce scope … Read more
Your Payment Security Reality Check Hostels face unique PCI compliance challenges that hotels and traditional lodging don’t — from managing bookings across multiple online travel agencies to processing payments from international travelers using various payment methods. Most hostels need SAQ A-EP or SAQ C, but many incorrectly assume they’re SAQ B because they use standalone … Read more
Bottom Line Up Front Most breweries need SAQ B or SAQ B-IP for their taproom POS systems, but if you sell online or distribute through retailers who process payments, your brewery PCI compliance requirements become more complex. The biggest mistake? Thinking your standalone Square terminal exempts you from compliance — it doesn’t, though it does … Read more
Bottom Line Up Front Most bookstores fall into two PCI compliance categories: SAQ B for stores using standalone terminals, or SAQ A-EP for those with integrated e-commerce. The biggest mistake? Thinking that low transaction volume means compliance doesn’t matter — your acquiring bank requires bookstore PCI compliance regardless of whether you process 10 or 10,000 … Read more
Bottom Line Up Front Most landscaping businesses need SAQ B or SAQ C for their payment processing, depending on whether they use standalone terminals or integrate payments with office computers. The biggest compliance mistake in this industry? Storing credit card numbers in customer management systems or QuickBooks files — a practice that immediately escalates you … Read more