Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What payment solutions work well for face-to-face events and activations?
Members recommend several contactless payment options that work reliably at events without requiring dedicated card readers. **Apple Tap to Pay on iPhone** — simple to set up and use directly on your phone. **Square App** — members use this on their phones with no additional readers needed, making it straightforward for event payments. **DOJO** — praised for reliable connection and noted for having good personal customer service support available. **Revolut Tap and Pay on iPhone** — low-fee option that works via your phone. **Shopify POS** — another low-fee alternative mentioned by members. A key practical note: you can take payments without signal for up to 1 hour, which is valuable at events where connectivity may be spotty, though signal loss beyond that window becomes problematic.
What payment processing systems are reliable for point-of-sale operations in drinks businesses?
Members recommend evaluating payment processors based on both functionality and uptime reliability, as system downtime directly impacts sales. **Square** — Currently in use by at least one member; supports card payments and point-of-sale functions. **Zettle** — Long-established option (used reliably by members for years) with built-in EPOS system integration, though recent reports indicate reliability issues in some cases; consider this if stability becomes a concern. **Dojo** — Emerging alternative with reportedly excellent coverage, though members note it lacks built-in EPOS functionality like Zettle, which may require separate systems integration. Key consideration: Members emphasise that payment system downtime is critical—there is nothing worse than being unable to complete a sale. If switching from an established provider like Zettle due to recent unreliability, ensure the alternative has proven uptime before committing.