Yes, ice cream trucks take credit cards, and although ice cream trucks are usually a cash-only business, some have started offering electronic payment options, adding another layer of safety for employees and customers.
According to reports, consumers these days prefer to use credit and debit card payments when shopping. Since only a few people still carry cash in their wallets, it is necessary for businesses to accept plastic if they want to succeed. With mobile payment processing options and modern point of sale systems, nearly any ice cream truck owner is capable of accepting credit and debit cards.
An ice cream truck can use a payment processor to accept credit, debit, gift cards, and even contactless payments. Note that all the operator needs to do is acquire a payment terminal from a merchant services company and connect it to their point of sale system. With this device, customers can insert or tap their credit and debit cards to pay.
Ice cream trucks can also accept credit cards via an online ordering platform. With technology leading the way, customers can place an order online; schedule a pickup time, and then pay.
However, many businesses are hesitant to accept card payments because of the added fees. Payment processors charge a certain percentage per transaction. For example, a business might pay 2.5% to the payment processor on any purchase. So if a customer orders $100 of Ice cream, the ice cream truck will pay $2.5 in fees.
Ice cream truck profit margins are low, so a business can indeed lose money on order if the credit card fees are too high. For this reason, many Ice cream trucks have a minimum order value for credit card purchases. Typically, this is around $10.
Types of Credit Cards that Ice Cream Trucks Take
Credit cards carrying the logo of the Visa or MasterCard payment networks are the most widely accepted by merchants in the United States! More than 46 million merchants in over 200 countries and territories accept Visa cards, and 37 million accept MasterCard.
Almost 11 million U.S. merchant locations accept both cards. Here are credit cards that most ice cream trucks take;
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Citi Double Cash MasterCard
The Citi Double Cash MasterCard is one of the most popular general purpose credit cards in the U.S., based on cards-in-force. The main features of the Citi Double Cash MasterCard: unlimited cash back on new purchases, unlimited cash back on purchase balances carried forward, low introductory interest rate, and no annual fee.
The Citi Double Cash MasterCard is rated with 5 Stars for overall value including pricing, rewards, availability, acceptance, service, and feedback. The Citi Double Cash MasterCard is issued by Citibank with approximately 35 million cardholders in the U.S.
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Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa card is renowned as one of the most common general credit cards in the U.S. Americans love this card because of its main features that include unlimited cash back, low introductory interest rate, and no annual fee.
In addition, there is a $150 cash back bonus offer for customers signing up directly online for the Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa. The Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa card is issued by JPM Chase with approximately 82 million cardholders in the U.S.
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Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa
According to industry statistics, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa card is rated with 5 Stars for overall value including pricing, rewards, availability, acceptance, service, and feedback. The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank with approximately 17 million cardholders in the U.S.
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BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ MasterCard
The BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ MasterCard card is quite popular in the United States and generally acceptable. The main features of the BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ MasterCard card: up to 3% cash back, low introductory interest rate, and no annual fee.
Currently, there is a $200 cash rewards bonus offer for customers signing up directly online and making $500 of purchases in the first 90 days. The BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ MasterCard card is issued by Bank of America® (BofA) with approximately 45 million cardholders in the U.S.
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USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature
Note that people prefer this card because it offers unlimited cash back, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees. Currently, there are Special Benefits for the Military for customers signing up directly online for the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature card.
The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature card is rated with 5 Stars for overall value including pricing, rewards, availability, acceptance, service, and feedback.
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Discover it® Card
Note that the Discover it card is rated with 5 Stars for overall value including pricing, rewards, availability, acceptance, service, and feedback. The Discover it card is issued by Discover Financial Services (DFS) with approximately 60 million cardholders in the U.S. for all of its credit card products
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S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature
The primary features of the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature card: unlimited points, low introductory interest rate, and no foreign transaction fees.
In addition, there is a 20,000 FlexPoints bonus offer and a first year annual fee waiver for customers signing up directly online for the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature card. This makes this card one of the easily accepted in the United States.
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Capital One Venture MasterCard
The Capital One Venture MasterCard is a popular card amongst Americans and currently, there is a first year 40,000 Bonus Miles and first year annual fee waiver offer for customers signing up directly online for the Capital One Venture MasterCard.
The Capital One Venture MasterCard is issued by Capital One Financial (COF) with approximately 83 million cardholders in the U.S.* for all of its credit card products
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American Express Blue Cash Preferred
This card comes with a $150 cash back first year bonus offer, a $200 amazon.com cash back offer, and a first year annual fee waiver for customers signing up directly online for the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card. This makes this card an ideal choice for customers, and this American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is issued by American Express with approximately 47 million cardholders in the U.S.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
They are quite popular because reward points are worth 25% more when redeemed via Pay Yourself BackSM as statement credits you use to pay for existing purchases in select, quarterly rotating merchant categories. In addition, holders can exchange their reward points for cash, gift cards, and travel, among other options. The card occasionally offers special reward promotions with various partners such as Lyft, Peloton, and DoorDash.