How To Implement A Gift Card Program For Small Business: What You Need To Know & How To Get Started
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In the past, gift cards were something you’d purchase as a last-minute gift or for that hard-to-shop-for person in your life (you know the one). Now, gift cards are much more than that. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, gift cards have become a vital payment tool for consumers. While gift cards are still great for office holiday parties or your picky mother-in-law, more consumers are now using gift cards in other ways, from managing their spending to purchasing cryptocurrencies.
This isn’t just a craze as a result of the coronavirus, either. Even as things start to shift back to normal, the gift card market is expected to continue to grow. According to Allied Market Research, the market is expected to grow from the $619.25 billion reported in 2019 to over $2 trillion by 2027.
For the small business owner, this is great news. No longer are gift cards reserved for the big box stores and large corporations. Gift cards are more accessible than ever, opening up a new revenue stream to small businesses just like yours. And the best part is, you don’t have to go it alone. A number of leading POS companies make it easy for you to create, sell, and accept gift cards from your customers, taking the guesswork out of running a successful gift card program.
If you’re ready to cash in on this opportunity, keep reading. We’ll discuss the benefits of gift cards for small businesses, the top POS systems with gift card programs, and tips for getting your program off the ground.
Learn More About Our Top Picks
| Company | Summary | Next StepsSummary |
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 | Best for mid-to-large-sized businesses that want to implement a gift card program. | Best for mid-to-large-sized businesses that want to implement a gift card program.
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 | Best for small retail & QSR that sell in-store (not online). | Best for small retail & QSR that sell in-store (not online).
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 | Best for integrating with third-party gift card suppliers. | Best for integrating with third-party gift card suppliers.
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 | Best for small businesses that want to sell eGift cards from their POS. | Best for small businesses that want to sell eGift cards from their POS.
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 | Best for traditional & digital gift cards. | Best for traditional & digital gift cards.
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Other Featured Options:
- Toast POS: Best for restaurants & bars that want digital & physical gift cards.
- Upserve POS: Best for restaurants & bars that want traditional gift cards.
- Shopify POS: Best for small businesses that sell online & in-store.
- Vend by Lightspeed: Best for retailers of all sizes that want physical cards for in-store purchases.
Read more below to learn why we chose these options.
Table of Contents
- The Benefits Of Offering Gift Cards For Small Businesses
- The Best 9 POS Systems With Gift Card Programs
- The 3 Types Of Gift Cards You Can Offer Customers
- 4 Ways You Can Implement A Gift Card Program For Your Small Business
- 12 Considerations Before You Launch A Gift Card Program
- Should I Accept Gift Cards For My Small Business?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Gift Cards For Small Businesses
- In Summary: The Best 9 POS Systems With Gift Card Programs
The Benefits Of Offering Gift Cards For Small Businesses
First, let’s briefly talk about the benefits of adding gift cards to your small business.
- Branding: In this day and age, anything that gets your name or your logo out to the public is a plus for your business. You can sell your merchandise and send customers out the door with personalized shopping bags, and your own unique gift card can have the same effect.
- Spending Boosts: Studies have shown that most gift card users spend more than the total on their cards. According to First Data’s 18th Annual Prepaid Consumer Insights Study, US consumers paying with gift cards spend an average of $59 more than the value of their gift card, up from $21 in 2017. The confidence of knowing that at least part of their purchase is already covered can potentially spur the customer to buy more than they had originally intended. On top of that, gift cards have already been purchased, so if it goes unused or there is a small balance left on the card, you still get that profit.
- Improved Cash Flow: Many businesses have been hit hard financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Doors were forced to close, new safety guidelines were put into place, and many businesses saw a significant decrease in sales. One way that some businesses stayed afloat was by selling gift cards. Digital and physical cards could be used online to make purchases or saved for future use. Regardless of how or when cards are spent, the money used to purchase the cards went immediately to the seller, opening up a new source of income and improving cash flow through these troubled times. Having a gift card program in place now can allow your business to do the same when sales slow down or there’s an emergency.
- Repeat Business: Once you’ve set up gift cards, it makes it easy to run marketing or promotions to attract new customers or garner repeat business. Having someone who purchases a gift card and gives it to a friend or family member who may not have previously been inclined to visit your store is a big bonus. However, you can also tack on promotions that, for example, give the purchaser a small gift card as a bonus for purchasing a gift card of a certain amount. You can also provide an additional credit good for a customer’s next purchase once they’ve used their gift card.
- Ease Of Use: Setting up or purchasing gift cards is generally a straightforward process whether you’re going directly through your POS system or a processing company. It can be as quick and painless as clicking a few buttons to activate electronic gift cards, or you can order physical cards, providing your design and company name. If you don’t currently have gift card functionality, chances are customers have asked about it at some point. For minimal time and money, it’s nice to have that option available.
The Best 9 POS Systems With Gift Card Programs
POS systems make gift card programs for small businesses easier than ever. Gift card vendors for small businesses, including Lightspeed, Square, Toast, Clover, and Revel, take the guesswork out of launching a successful gift card program to boost revenue and customer loyalty.
1. Revel
Revel POS Systems
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Best for mid-to-large-sized businesses that want to implement a gift card program.
Revel Systems offers a POS solution that’s most suitable for medium- to large-sized businesses and businesses with multiple locations. Revel Systems has numerous features and add-ons, so it’s no surprise that it has a number of ways to launch your gift card program. The first option is using Revel’s proprietary gift card system, which is available as an add-on for an additional monthly cost (contact Revel Systems to get a quote). Once you’ve signed up, you can order gift cards through your sales rep or use Revel’s partner eCard Systems to design and order your physical cards. Pricing starts at $0.19 per card.
Revel also integrates with several other programs, so if you want digital cards or just want to explore different design options and pricing, those are available to you. Integrations include Givex, LevelUp, Loyaltree, and Paytronix.
With Revel Gift Cards (or one of the system’s integrations), it’s easy to set up your gift card program, sell gift cards online, and redeem cards. Gift card reporting is also available through your Revel POS system to track sales and view how many cards are in circulation. You can also import information into Revel if you previously used a gift card program with another POS provider.
Pros
- In-house and third-party options available
- Digital and physical cards
Cons
- Additional cost to accept gift cards
- Non-transparent pricing
Get Started with Revel POS Systems
2. ShopKeep
ShopKeep POS
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Best for small retail and QSR that sell in-store (not online).
ShopKeep is a highly-rated yet affordable iPad POS for quick-serve and retail SMB that also works on Clover hardware. ShopKeep has built-in support for gift cards included with your POS account, depending on your pricing package.
Once gift card support is activated on your ShopKeep account, it’s super easy to create and order your own reloadable magnetic-stripe gift cards through the ShopKeep Store. The cards can then be activated and redeemed from your register. Gift card pricing ranges from $0.60 to $1.00 based on customization options and quantity ordered. There are no digital card options, and physical cards are redeemable in-store only.
To track your gift cards, ShopKeep has a Gift Card Reporting Portal where you can view sale and redemption totals by location, see the history of a single card, and generate other reports on gift card usage. Issuing, redeeming, and tracking gift cards is intuitive and straightforward, and setting up gift cards with ShopKeep only takes a couple of minutes.
Pros
- No additional cost to accept gift cards
- Easy setup
Cons
- Redeemable in-store only
- No digital card options
3. Lightspeed
Lightspeed POS
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Best for integrating with third-party gift card suppliers.
If you subscribe to Lightspeed Retail or Restaurant POS systems, you’re in luck — you can accept gift cards at no additional cost. Unfortunately, you can’t create and purchase gift cards directly through Lightspeed. Gift cards will need to be purchased through a third-party supplier. You can choose any third-party supplier, although Lightspeed recommends Plastic Printers. One thing to note is that gift card barcodes must be printed using EAN-13 or UPC-A standards for them to be compatible with your POS.
Choosing your own provider may — at first glance — seem like a bit of a hassle. But this gives you the freedom to compare pricing and create custom gift cards. And once they’re created? Lightspeed POS has a system in place that’s ready to accept those gift cards as payment seamlessly. You can also accept gift cards in Lightspeed Retail or Restaurant using integrations such as TapMango and LoyalAction.
Pros
- No additional cost to accept gift cards
- Accepts gift cards from most third-party suppliers
Cons
- No digital gift card options
- Gift cards can only be accepted in-store
Get Started with Lightspeed POS
4. Clover
Clover POS
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Best for small businesses that want to sell eGift cards from their POS.
Clover POS uses its own custom-built iPad-esque hardware. Clover also has a gift card program that integrates easily with this POS system. You can choose from traditional magnetic stripe gift cards or eGift cards that your customers can keep right on their smartphones.
You can design your own physical cards quickly and easily through Clover Gift Cards. You can choose from over 70 designs or upload your own. Pricing ranges from $1.00 to $1.25 per card based on the quantity purchased. Additionally, Clover integrates with various third-party gift card apps, including Loopz, GiftFly, LoyLap, and Factor4.
You do not have to pay any additional fees to accept gift cards through your Clover POS. You only have to pay the costs to produce the gift cards and a flat 2.5% processing fee when you sell a gift card (digital or physical). Both digital and physical cards purchased through Clover Gift Cards can only be bought and redeemed in-store. If you want an online redemption option, a third-party integration will be required. Clover Gift Cards is a great option for businesses that want to sell and redeem digital gift cards from their POS rather than online.
Pros
- No additional costs to accept gift cards
- Digital and physical card options available
Cons
- Third-party integration required for online redemption
- Not compatible with Clover Go
5. Square
Square
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Best for businesses that want physical and digital gift cards that can be accepted online or in-store.
Square has become known throughout the restaurant and retail industries for its low-priced, easy-to-use POS system. The same could be said of the company’s program of gift cards for businesses. Square stands out for its affordable and transparent gift card pricing and easy ordering. You can order digital or physical gift cards with just a few clicks within the Square app.
Square doesn’t charge you anything to accept gift cards — it’s totally free. Pricing for physical gift cards starts at $0.80 per card for gift cards that feature your business name on your choice of a background template. Square also offers starter packs as well as fully customized physical gift cards featuring your own art. Square’s physical gift cards come with a magnetic stripe and are reloadable.
Square also offers digital gift cards. It’s free to set up and sell digital gift cards, and you pay just 2.9% + $0.30 for each gift card that’s purchased.
Pros
- Can be tracked in Square’s gift card sales reports
- Can be used online and in-store
- A fast and simple ordering process
Cons
- Manual tracking required for third-party gift cards
6. Toast
Toast POS
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Best for restaurants and bars that want digital and physical gift cards.
Toast is an Android POS system specifically designed for restaurants. Toast offers a lot of different gift card options. For $50/month, you can accept physical gift cards and eGift cards from your customers. This add-on is in addition to your monthly subscription fee unless you purchase the $272/month Growth subscription, which has gift cards included. Alternatively, restaurants that want to sell digital gift cards without a POS can opt for the $100/month Toast Now Plus digital ordering suite, which includes eGift cards, along with online ordering, contactless delivery, and Toast’s mobile ordering app.
If you sell physical gift cards on the Toast platform, you will also need to purchase the cards, with pricing from $0.30 to $1.00 per card based on quantity purchased and customization. You can also use one of Toast’s third-party integrations to build your gift card program. Available integrations include PayTronix, Punchh, Smart Transaction Systems, SwipeIt, and The Customer Connection (TCC).
Toast makes it easy to sell and accept digital gift cards from your POS, which is not something a lot of restaurant POS systems can say. Gift cards can be redeemed in-store and online. Toast is an excellent choice if you want a full-service restaurant POS with a digital and traditional gift card program as well as third-party options.
Pros
- In-house and third-party options available
- Digital and physical cards
- Easy to set up and implement
Cons
- Additional monthly cost to accept gift cards
7. Upserve POS
Upserve POS
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Best for restaurants and bars that want traditional gift cards.
Upserve (formerly Breadcrumb) is a comprehensive POS system for restaurants that’s available on both Android and iPad. Upserve users can opt to use the Upserve Gift Cards add-on (available for an additional monthly fee; contact Upserve for more details) or use a third-party integration, such as The Customer Connection (TCC), Swipeit, Opticard, and Paytronix.
Upserve Gift Cards integrates seamlessly with your Upserve POS system, so it’s quick and easy to get started. You can create your own physical gift cards and even receive complimentary design assistance if needed. Cards are priced at $0.19 to $0.79 each based on the quantity ordered. You can easily check out gift card reports from your Upserve portal, and customers can check their balances right from their smartphones by scanning a QR code.
The downside is that cards created through Upserve Gift Cards can only be redeemed in-store. You will have to use a third-party integration for cards that are redeemable online. You will also need to turn to a third-party integration if you want digital gift cards. This makes Upserve best suited for restaurants or bars that prefer physical gift cards that are easy to create and can be redeemed in-store.
Pros
- Quickly and easily integrates with Upserve
- In-house and third-party options available
Cons
- Additional monthly cost
- Digital cards only available through third-party integrations
8. Shopify POS
Shopify POS
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Best for small businesses that sell online and in-store.
Shopify POS is a flexible, scalable retail system that lies at the intersection of eCommerce and iPad POS. Shopify also offers a gift card program. Previously, only higher tier plans had access to Shopify’s gift card program. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, though, Shopify gift cards are now available on all plans.
There is no charge to activate or accept gift cards through Shopify. However, you will have to pay processing costs for physical cards. Pricing ranges from $0.30 to $1.49 per card and is based on the quantity you purchase. If you choose to use digital cards, you’ll pay Shopify’s standard processing fee for each card sold.
Shopify’s gift cards can be purchased and redeemed either at your POS or in your online store. You can create physical cards and/or digital eGift cards, both of which use QR codes. Additionally, customers can redeem Shopify gift cards on your other online channels that use the Shopify checkout, such as Facebook and Pinterest. You can also issue a free gift card with a set value to an existing customer as a reward or promotional incentive.
Pros
- Multiple options for redemption, including social media
- Physical and digital cards
- No additional charge to accept gift cards
Cons
- Cards are not reloadable
- Gift card availability on lower-tier plans may be dropped in the future
9. Vend
Vend by Lightspeed
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Best for retailers of all sizes that want physical cards for in-store purchases.
Vend is a cloud-based, user-friendly POS system that’s a good fit for retail businesses of all sizes. Vend also has a gift card program that’s available to Pro plan subscribers, which is priced at $129/month. Lite plan subscribers will need to upgrade to be able to accept gift cards.
You can use your choice of a third-party provider to create and order your cards, although Vend recommends using its partner Plastic Printers. Prices for your gift cards vary based on the provider you select, as well as customization options and the quantity purchased. No digital card options are available.
One major drawback of Vend is that cards can only be redeemed in-store, so online sellers will want to consider other options for a gift card system for their small business. However, if you have a brick-and-mortar store and already use Vend, this could be the right program for you.
Pros
- Included in Pro plan subscription cost
- Easy to set up
- Can be used with third-party gift cards
Cons
- Not available for Lite subscribers
- In-store redemption only
Get Started with Vend by Lightspeed
The 3 Types Of Gift Cards You Can Offer Customers
So now, let’s give you a few examples of the types of gift cards you can purchase to see what might be the best fit for your business.
1. Digital Gift Cards
In many respects, this is the easiest way to utilize gift card functionality. Digital gift cards (also known as electronic or “eGift” cards) give customers the ability to purchase gift cards online, which can be sent to a friend or used by the customer on your website or in your store.
Some electronic gift cards have a numerical code that you can redeem from your terminal, like a regular credit card transaction. Other programs feature a regular barcode or a QR code (2D barcode) that your business’s POS system can scan from the customer’s phone or printout.
You lose some of the benefits of branding by not having physical cards in your storefront, but you can’t beat the convenience — or the affordability. While eGift cards have no production cost, traditional gift cards cost about $1 each to produce.
2. Barcode Gift Cards
If you want to set up physical gift cards, consider gift cards with barcodes. A gift card with a barcode acts as a unique account for the customer that uses it. You can store and search a customer’s information via their account using a barcode scanner. When the gift card’s balance hits zero, there is usually the option to reload it. Barcodes tend to be popular for membership or customer loyalty cards because they are quicker to scan and don’t require as much data security.
Digital gift cards that use barcodes can be scanned from a phone or printed piece of paper. You can also use gift cards with QR codes, a type of barcode that requires either a 2D barcode scanner or a smartphone/iPad/tablet to read.
3. Magnetic-Stripe Gift Cards
The other option for physical cards is to have magnetic stripes. In fact, more often than not, physical gift cards use magnetic stripes, as they have superior data security compared to barcodes. These reloadable cards swipe through your credit card terminal the same as any debit or credit card, and the amount gets automatically deducted from the customer’s account information stored on the stripe.
The only issue with magnetic stripes is that if the card is stored for a long time in a wallet or purse, the stripe can eventually wear out, and it can be difficult to look up the customer’s information in your system. Nevertheless, magnetic-stripe gift cards are the easiest and most secure way for most brick-and-mortar businesses to accept physical gift cards.
What About Gift Certificates?
Some businesses still sell gift certificates, but that’s not as commonplace as it was in the ’80s and ’90s, before credit card usage was as prevalent as it is now.
Fun fact: Due to people using counterfeit gift certificates, Blockbuster invented the gift card in 1994. In addition to the counterfeit risk, gift certificates also aren’t reusable or reloadable, which can make it less likely that the customer will spend more at your business than whatever the certificate entitles them to. And being made of paper, certificates are far less durable than gift cards and more difficult to track and manage credit for if the customer doesn’t spend the entire balance.
However, gift certificates can still be advantageous, especially for certain business types. Generally, gift certificates are more effective for services rather than for monetary amounts. For example, a spa business might sell gift certificates entitling the recipient to a free massage, or a salon might sell certificates for a free haircut. If you have a service-based business, it can be beneficial to sell gift certificates to introduce new customers to your services and, of course, to make money by selling the certificates themselves, as health and beauty services are popular gifts. A gift certificate for a free spa day can make for a more personal and desirable gift as opposed to a gift card with money on it.
Of course, you can also sell gift cards in addition to gift certificates, perhaps selling gift certificates only for select products or services rather than cash value.
Gift certificates are also less costly to produce than gift cards so that could also be a consideration.
4 Ways You Can Implement A Gift Card Program For Your Small Business
Now that you’re aware of some of the benefits of a gift card program for small businesses, as well as some available options, let’s briefly talk about how to add them to your offerings.
1) Offer Gift Cards Through Your POS
If you want gift cards, the first step is to talk to your existing POS company/payment processor. If they can’t do gift cards, look for alternatives.
Offering gift cards through your POS is the easiest way to get started, and it ensures that your gift card program works with your POS. A POS with an in-house gift card program makes things easier in terms of gift card payment processing and reporting. You can easily track both gift card sales and redemptions and generally see how well your gift card program is going. However, if your POS integrates seamlessly with a third-party gift card software program, this can sometimes work just as well (more on third-party integrations in a moment). If your POS does not offer gift card functionality at all, you may want to consider upgrading to a modern cloud POS system that does.
If your POS does offer a gift card program, make sure to check if it’s an additional add-on. For example, some companies, such as Square, offer gift cards for free on all accounts — you only have to pay for the cost to produce the cards themselves. Other companies, such as Toast, charge an extra monthly fee on accounts with gift card functionality.
2) Use An Integrated Third-Party Gift Card Company
You can also shop around and select your own gift card company directly if you have specific or unique needs that your POS system’s gift card functionality doesn’t provide. But if you plan on using these cards with your POS, make sure that they’re compatible first. If you already have a gift card provider from a third party, some companies have a system in place that allows you to transfer your information into their program seamlessly.
POS companies may integrate with one or a handful of companies that specialize in gift cards. Again, you will want to see if these integrations are free or come with a fee. The easiest way to set up gift cards with a third-party integration is to go directly through your POS system to make sure that it syncs up seamlessly.
3) Use A Standalone Third-Party Gift Card Company
In some cases, a company may use a standalone gift card company because they use a very basic POS that doesn’t have any gift card integrations, the price is too high, etc. If the gift card company you want to use does not work with your POS, you will need to use a workaround to process gift card transactions separately from regular transactions. In some cases, you may be able to use a company that will build a custom software integration that connects your POS software to another business software (Zapier is one example). Or, if your POS has an open API, you may be able to pay a developer to create an integration for you.
4) Use An eGift Card App
A digital-only gift card option can be an easier, greener way that your business offers gift cards without spending too much on plastic or even integrating your POS if you don’t want to. With some eGift card services, you simply sell eGift cards online, download an app to your mobile device, and use your mobile device or a scanner to scan the customer’s QR code from their phone or printout. Or you can email gift cards to recipients in the form of a numerical redemption code. Some eGift card programs generate 16-digit codes that you can key into your terminal and process as a regular Mastercard transaction, eliminating the need to integrate your POS with gift card software.
Web-based gift card apps allow you to sell eGift cards online, including on social media and your company website. However, most eGift cards can be redeemed both online and in your store. Companies that sell eGift cards may charge a small monthly fee or charge a percentage-based fee for each gift card sold.
Giftfly, GiftUp, Yiftee, and Givex are some examples of eGift card companies/apps for SMB. As mentioned, many cloud POS providers offer digital gift card options too.
12 Considerations Before You Launch A Gift Card Program
Here are some crucial things to think about before you decide to implement a gift card program at your small business:
- Can you accept gift cards using your current POS software and equipment?
- What gift card programs does your POS offer (in-house or via third-party integrations), and what are the associated costs?
- Does any of the other business software you currently use offer gift card functionality?
- Is it important that your POS integrates with your gift card program (for sales reporting, ease of use, equipment considerations, etc.)?
- If your POS does not or can not accept gift cards, would you consider upgrading to one that does?
- Does your business have an online presence — either for eCommerce or promotion?
- Are you willing to pay a monthly fee to include gift card functionality? If so, how much?
- Do you want to sell physical gift cards, digital gift cards, or both?
- Do you want to use gift cards to drive loyalty or promotions (for example, issuing free gift cards for promotions)?
- How will you market your gift cards? Do you have social media accounts for promotion, plans to start an email marketing campaign, or advertise in your brick-and-mortar location? Do you have the time to implement these plans, and are there any associated costs?
- How many cards will you need?
- What is your budget to produce your gift cards?
There are so many options for accepting gift cards at your business, but if you weigh all of the above considerations, you should be well on your way to figuring out what kind of gift card program you need.
Should I Accept Gift Cards For My Small Business?
Businesses around the world are selling billions of dollars per year in gift cards, so what’s holding you back? The gift card industry is only expected to keep growing, so now is your time to take action, whether you run a small boutique, a popular local restaurant, or a business that’s based solely online.
Setting up a gift card program allows you to open up a new revenue stream that can draw in new customers and improve loyalty among your existing customer base. You have the freedom to choose the type of program that works best for your business while expanding your brand with minimal cost and effort.
If you haven’t taken advantage of this functionality yet, it might be time to do some research or contact your point of sale provider to see what your options are. In some cases, it’s as simple as a few button clicks to get you up and running.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gift Cards For Small Businesses
In Summary: The Best 9 POS Systems With Gift Card Programs
- Revel POS Systems: Best for mid-to-large-sized businesses that want to implement a gift card program.
- ShopKeep POS: Best for small retail & QSR that sell in-store (not online).
- Lightspeed POS: Best for integrating with third-party gift card suppliers.
- Clover POS: Best for small businesses that want to sell eGift cards from their POS.
- Square: Best for traditional & digital gift cards.
- Toast POS: Best for restaurants & bars that want digital & physical gift cards.
- Upserve POS: Best for restaurants & bars that want traditional gift cards.
- Shopify POS: Best for small businesses that sell online & in-store.
- Vend by Lightspeed: Best for retailers of all sizes that want physical cards for in-store purchases.
Erica Seppala
Expert Analyst & Reviewer at Merchant Maverick
An expert in accounting, finance, and point of sale, Erica has been researching and writing about all things small-business since 2018. Erica's insights into personal and business finance have been cited in numerous publications, including MSN, Real Simple, and Reader's Digest. She is a graduate of Limestone College.
View Erica Seppala's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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Most eGift cards can be redeemed both online and in your store. Companies that sell eGift cards may charge a small monthly fee or charge a percentage-based fee for each gift card sold. Thank you for this post.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
I am looking for a “gift” type card that can be managed (activated or deactivated), to use at participating retailers and restaurants in the local area. The idea of the card would be to give a discount, for example to a dining bill. The card would not be loaded monetarily
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Dave,
This is a good question. Some of the third-party gift card integrations might have something like this but we aren’t aware of any offhand. It would definitely be an advanced feature as what you’re after is not technically a gift card. If you find something that works, please come back and let us know!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
I am interested in cards that can be given to clients throughout the country and can be reloaded from one location without the physical card in hand. Is this service available?
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi there Jennife3r,
Yes, some companies have eGift card programs where they’re able to reload a customer’s card if the customer has the number. Or there can be a gift card/loyalty program where a customer’s information is stored and can either be accessed by that customer themselves or an employee to add funds.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
i want to be able to set up a gift card shelf like you see at the Dollar Generals or Wal Mart where i can sell other companies gift cards ( outback amazon visa ect.) like they do at my service station, but i cannot find a company that offers such a thing. Anybody that could pointe me in tbe right direction would be greatly appreciated
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Kevin,
That’s a great question. This post is about setting up gift card functionality for your own store, and to that end, we don’t have any posts (yet) on selling third party gift cards. You may be able to sell gift cards for other stores by purchasing directly from a wholesaler, to sell them like you would sell any other product. If you figure it out, please come back and let us know! All our best!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Thanks for this great article. Our client’s online store uses Stripe and they recommend a gift card option by Giftup.com – do you have any insights on this particular option as compared to those you have reviewed here?
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Siobhan!
Unfortunately, no. We haven’t reviewed Giftup, so we really can’t give an opinion one way or the other. Best wishes.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
My family business has 15 POS and due to the virus would like to reduce/eliminate cash from the POS at the bars. My first thought is to use gift cards, but I also would like to offer a gift card that is not exclusive to our business. For sanitary reasons, I would like to keep cash away from the food/beverage POS and sell a major credit gift card at our box office that could be used at our bars and still afford our customers to spend any remaining money left on the card at a different location. Example – right now I can buy a VISA gift card at CVS or Walmart and use that card at CVS or Walmart or at any other business that accepts major cards. I have asked my bank and they do not do this. Someone does and I am hoping you do or can point me in the right direction. Thank you, Julie Carswell 850-524-6901
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Hi Julie,
We double-checked with several major POS systems and it doesn’t look like they offer the ability to sell gift cards that can be used anywhere like VISA gift cards but it’s a good idea. Currently, many systems let you purchase third-party gift cards that can be used at any of your locations and can be used digitally but they don’t allow for the balance to be used just like cash anywhere.
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Can you not purchase prepaid Visa or MC with your logo imprinted on the card? That way your customer buys it from you with your brand, but can spend the money anywhere. Of course, they will think of you first since it’s your branded card.
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Hi Dale,
You definitely can order prepaid Visa or Mastercards co-branded with your logo. I did a quick google search and found a company named “Omni Card” that offers co-branded prepaid cards, though we haven’t reviewed them, so I can’t give an opinion one way or the other.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.