The average retail consumer in 2025 used nearly six different touchpoints when making a purchase, and half regularly used more than four. Those touchpoints increasingly include multiple payment methods. A customer who pays with Interac debit on Monday might use Apple Pay on Wednesday and pull out a physical card on Friday—depending on what is in their wallet, what device they have handy, and which checkout line moves fastest. For retailers, this means payment flexibility is no longer a nice-to-have feature. It is a baseline expectation. The challenge is accepting every major payment method without complicating your checkout process, confusing your staff, or inflating your processing costs to the point where margins disappear. This guide walks through what to accept, why it matters, and how to simplify it all.
The Six Payment Methods Every Retailer Should Consider
1. Chip and PIN Cards
Despite the rush toward contactless and mobile payments, traditional chip-and-PIN card transactions remain the backbone of retail. According to the 2024 Pulse Debit Issuer Study, the vast majority of in-store purchases still run through plastic cards inserted into a terminal. Every POS system must handle this method reliably. The processing cost typically ranges from 1.5% to 2.5% of the transaction amount for credit cards, or a flat fee of roughly $0.10 to $0.40 per transaction for debit cards in Canada.
2. Tap-to-Pay (Contactless Cards)
Contactless payments have crossed the threshold from emerging trend to dominant behavior. In Canada, more than 50% of all transactions are now contactless, and Interac debit mobile contactless transactions surged 53% year-over-year in 2024. In the United States, contactless payment volume is projected to reach $1.5 trillion. For purchases under $250 in Canada, customers simply tap their card or phone—no PIN required. The transaction completes in seconds, which speeds up lines and improves customer flow during peak periods. If your terminal does not support contactless, you are turning away a growing segment of shoppers who no longer carry cash and expect tap-and-go convenience.
3. Mobile Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
Apple Pay dominates the U.S. mobile wallet market with approximately 65.6 million active users and acceptance at 85–90% of U.S. merchants. Google Pay trails with about 35 million users but remains essential for Android customers. Together, they represent the fastest-growing payment category in retail. The 2024 Pulse Debit Issuer Study found that mobile wallets now account for 7% of all debit point-of-sale purchases, and at contactless-enabled terminals, phones and wearables made up 15% of in-store taps. Among younger consumers, adoption is explosive: more than 50% of Gen Z consumers report using Apple Pay or Google Pay weekly. For retailers targeting younger demographics, mobile wallet support is non-negotiable.
4. Interac Debit (Canada)
Interac Debit is not just popular in Canada—it is foundational. Canadians completed 6.6 billion Interac Debit transactions in 2024, and debit accounts for roughly 56% of all card transactions in the country. Interac processing fees are significantly lower than credit card fees—typically a flat rate under $0.40 per transaction, regardless of purchase size. For a $500 sale, that is $0.10 to $0.40 in fees versus $7.50 to $12.50 on a credit card. Canadian retailers who do not accept Interac are effectively telling more than half their potential customers to shop elsewhere. With 94% of Canadians carrying a debit card, this is a payment method you simply cannot skip.
5. Cryptocurrency
Crypto retail payments remain niche but are growing steadily, particularly among tech-forward younger consumers and in higher-ticket retail categories like electronics, jewelry, and specialty goods. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most commonly accepted cryptocurrencies. While volatility concerns have kept many retailers on the sidelines, platforms like Coinbase Commerce allow merchants to accept crypto and convert it immediately to fiat currency, eliminating exchange rate risk. For stores in tech-heavy markets or those looking to differentiate from competitors, crypto acceptance can attract a loyal—and growing—customer segment.
6. EBT/SNAP (U.S. Grocery and Convenience Stores)
If you operate a grocery store, convenience store, or any retailer selling SNAP-eligible food items in the United States, accepting EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is both a service to your community and a revenue driver. Millions of Americans rely on SNAP benefits to purchase groceries, and the program operates in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The USDA offers a free application process for SNAP authorization, and most modern POS systems can be configured to process EBT transactions with a compatible payment terminal. In 2025, industry groups including FMI and the National Grocers Association were actively lobbying Congress to protect retailers from additional SNAP processing fees, making this an increasingly attractive payment method to support.
How to Simplify Multiple Payment Methods
Accepting six different payment types does not mean managing six separate systems. The key is a unified payment architecture that routes all transactions through a single platform.
Use One Payment Terminal for Everything
Modern payment terminals support chip, tap, mobile wallets, and debit on a single device. Look for a terminal that handles all your payment methods natively—this simplifies reconciliation, reduces hardware costs, and minimizes staff training. A unified terminal also means one reporting dashboard showing all transactions regardless of payment type.
Choose a Platform That Lets You Pick Your Processor
Not every payment processor offers the same rates or supports every payment method. Some charge premium rates for contactless transactions. Others do not support crypto or have limited Interac integration. The best approach is a POS platform that lets you choose your payment processor and switch if better rates become available. This flexibility ensures you are never locked into unfavorable terms as your payment mix evolves.
Monitor Your Payment Mix Regularly
Different payment methods carry different processing costs. Debit transactions are typically cheaper than credit. Contactless credit can cost more than chip-inserted credit. Review your payment mix monthly to understand where your processing dollars go. If 60% of your transactions are high-fee premium credit cards, it may be worth adjusting your pricing strategy or encouraging lower-cost payment methods through small incentives.
ShelfPerks: One Platform, Every Payment Method
ShelfPerks simplifies payment acceptance by supporting every major method through a single, unified platform. Retailers can accept chip and PIN cards, tap-to-pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Interac debit—all through one terminal. For stores looking to reach crypto customers, ShelfPerks integrates with Coinbase Commerce, enabling acceptance of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies with automatic conversion to fiat.
Processing rates start as low as 1.83% plus 25¢, and ShelfPerks partners with leading processors including Stripe, Stax, Helcim, and Fiserv. Canadian retailers benefit from deep Interac integration, while U.S. grocery and convenience stores can configure EBT/SNAP support. The ability to choose your processor—and switch anytime—means you are never trapped in a rate that no longer serves your business. iPhone Tap-to-Pay is available immediately with no additional hardware, letting even the smallest retailers accept contactless payments from day one.
ShelfPerks offers a 14-day free trial with full premium access. No credit card required. If simplifying your payment stack while expanding what you can accept sounds like the right move, it is worth taking a closer look.
Actionable Takeaways
- Audit your current payment mix. Run a report on your last 500 transactions and categorize them by payment type. If more than 15% of your customers are paying with a method you are not actively promoting or optimizing for, you may have an opportunity to reduce costs or improve the experience.
- Post clear payment acceptance signage. Customers should know at a glance that you accept tap-to-pay, mobile wallets, and other modern methods. A small sticker or sign at your entrance and checkout can influence whether a customer even walks in.
