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Donovan Long on forward-thinking merchant services

By Donovan Long

Owner, Donovan Long Merchant Services

Entering the merchant services market in 2016, Donovan Long has since gone above and beyond providing payment systems for his clients.

By partnering with Paymentsense and Dojo – forward-thinking market leaders in payment solutions – Donovan, and his team of five, are swiftly delivering enhanced services for their customers with technology at the forefront and excellent customer service at the core.

Proud to support businesses of all sizes, Donovan’s client portfolio extends from hospitality businesses to events including the Bournemouth 7s Rugby Festival and Sandpolo, the British Beach Polo Championships.

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What advice would you give to new clients unfamiliar with the concept of merchant services?

New business owners typically tend to get card machines set up by their bank and high street banks aren't what we call merchant services banks. They're usually just given a terminal, charged through the nose for it on a lease and each transaction rate is usually pretty high as well.

Every industry and type of business is different. I look at the card turnover, the split between debit and credit cards, and the average transaction value, then work out and broker a deal that's bespoke for the client.

How can a good merchant services solution help support business growth?

There are definitely financial savings to be had in finding a better deal and package, but it goes beyond that.

85-90% of my clients are in hospitality; in the food and beverage industry a lot of the attraction for the client is the integration between systems, which reconciles everything between all the terminals. It makes things much more efficient, it saves numbers getting inputted incorrectly, and accounts for everything.

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"I don't think cash will ever go but I've installed card machines into several pubs and restaurants that have chosen to go cashless completely, just because it can all be accounted for.”"

How is the technology behind merchant services evolving?

The Dojo technology is a smart terminal, you can do so much more with it. The reporting is instant, you have an app on your phone so you can see money coming in in real-time. The business owner can be off-site but still see how much they’ve taken on a daily, weekly, monthly basis.

With card payments, typically the industry standard is you wait for three to five business days for your money to come in. This technology enables us to give you your money almost instantly. For a business owner, particularly for small businesses, that cash flow is invaluable.

Have you seen any changes as a result of the pandemic?

Yes, absolutely. The shift from cash to card is up almost 40% globally. Everyone’s using their phones or watches; contactless card amounts have increased to £100 and you can pay up to £10,000 on Apple and Google Pay.

This means that the merchant card statements for all business owners are also up to 40% higher so everyone is keen to try and get a better deal and make sure it’s the right deal. We’ve had some massive growth since COVID.

Do you think we will become an entirely cashless society?

I don’t think cash will ever go but I’ve installed card machines into several pubs and restaurants that have chosen to go cashless completely, just because it can all be accounted for. It makes things easier if it’s all digital.

"The shift from cash to card is up almost 40% globally. Everyone's using their phones or watches; contactless card amounts have increased to £100, and you can pay up to £10,000 on Apple and Google Pay."

Donovan Long - Owner, Donovan Long Merchant Services

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

I’ve got a lovely family: a wife and two children along with two British Bulldogs. We live on a farm in Winchester. I love family time; I love being out and about whether it’s in the sea or being outdoors and active. I enjoy cooking and I do a lot of hosting.

Who or what has a positive influence on you?

Anyone with an entrepreneurial mindset because everyone’s got a different story to tell. I like to pick bits from podcasts or read about different people and their different journeys, it’s always good to try and take a little nugget or gem away from everyone.

What are you currently listening to, reading, or watching?

I’m just in the middle listening to the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby with James Haskell, Mike Tindall and Alex Payne. It’s funny and they’ve got some interesting stories and guests.