Businesses can take payments anywhere they interact with customers—in driveways, at festivals, in living rooms, or on the move. The global mobile card reader market, an important component of on-the-go payments, is projected to grow from $29.5 billion USD in 2025 to $114.8 billion USD by 2034. While taking mobile payments can require as little equipment as a card reader and a phone, businesses need to build a system that’s reliable and effective for the way they work.

Below, we’ll cover what you need to accept payments on the go, which businesses benefit the most from this capability, and best practices for when you’re taking mobile payments.

What’s in this article?

• What does it mean to accept payments on the go?
  
• What types of businesses benefit from mobile payment capabilities?
  
• What are the key components of setting up mobile payments?
  
• How to set up payments on the go
  
• Best practices for mobile payments
  

What does it mean to accept payments on the go?

Accepting payments on the go means removing the fixed boundaries of the checkout counter. You can safely and quickly take a payment wherever you and your customers are, whether that’s a job site, sidewalk, café, client’s home, or event booth. Your phone or tablet becomes the payment terminal.

You can either accept payments directly on your phone by using a card reader or near-field communication (NFC) technology, or give customers a way to make a remote payment in real time.

In-person payments

With in-person payments, a mobile reader connects to your phone or tablet to accept card and digital wallet transactions. Your phone’s screen becomes the checkout interface where you enter the amount owed.

Some setups don’t need any hardware: modern smartphones can use built-in NFC technology to accept contactless payments directly with no external reader.

Every sale runs through a payment app that handles authorization, encryption, and post-sale receipts.

Remote, real-time payments

There are a few different ways you can accept a remote payment:

• You send a payment link via text or email, and your customer pays from their own device.

• You generate a QR code that opens up a web page where your customer can pay.

• You issue a digital invoice with an embedded payment link where your customer can pay.

These tools turn your phone into a trigger for payment, even if the actual transaction happens elsewhere. You can initiate and complete the payment process quickly, taking advantage of the moment of engagement.

What types of businesses benefit from mobile payment capabilities?

Any business that operates outside a traditional storefront can benefit from mobile payment capabilities. Here are some types of businesses that use these payments the most.

Food trucks and mobile vendors

Food trucks traditionally were mainly cash only. Now, many food truck businesses rely on a smartphone or tablet paired with a mobile reader for all payments. Customers can tap or swipe, which keeps long lines of hungry people moving swiftly, and receipts are sent instantly by email or text—no printer required.

Mobile payments can make these businesses feel modern, efficient, and professional—on par with any brick-and-mortar competitor.

Contractors and service professionals

Contractors who work on location (e.g., plumbers, electricians, home repair specialists) can use mobile payments to close the payment loop up front, rather than sending an invoice and following up. They can accept payment right after the job is done: mobile readers are small and easy to carry, and transactions often take less than a minute.

Faster payments mean better cash flow, less administrative work, and fewer follow-ups. Contractors can get paid immediately after completing the work, and then move on to the next job.

Trainers, teachers, and consultants

If you offer services on-site, such as personal training, music lessons, tutoring, or in-person consulting, you’ve probably dealt with the clunky routine of invoicing after you’ve completed the session. Mobile payment tools can let you wrap up the session and collect payment while you’re still face-to-face. A trainer can hold out their phone and have the client use Tap to Pay. A consultant can text a payment link before leaving the meeting.

Payment happens in real time, while the value of the service is still fresh.

Pop-ups, markets, and event-based sales

Mobile payments allow vendors at markets, festivals, seasonal booths, craft fairs, and traveling pop-ups to accept card and digital wallet payments without wiring, Wi-Fi, or checkout counters. Vendors can take payments in a variety of places, including in a tent, on a table, or from a backpack.

Transactions happen quickly, which keeps lines short and customers moving. It also enables impulse purchases. If someone wants to buy, they can do it right away—without needing to go get cash.

Enterprise field teams

Large businesses with teams in the field (e.g., sales representatives, delivery crews, technicians) can also benefit from mobile payments. A delivery team can collect final payment upon drop-off. A field sales representative can take a deposit immediately after closing a deal. A technician can charge for additional services without going back to headquarters.

Mobile payments can help create a more efficient payment process. They can reduce billing cycles, eliminate paperwork, and create a better customer experience in the field.

What are the key components of setting up mobile payments?

Accepting payments on the go depends on a few moving parts working together: your device, a way to accept the payment, a connection to process it, and backend systems to keep track of everything.

Here’s what you’ll need.

Hardware

At a minimum, you need a phone or tablet. Newer iPhones and Android devices can accept Tap to Pay payments without any external hardware. But if you don’t have this capability, you’ll need a mobile reader, which accepts cards and digital wallets and typically connects via Bluetooth.

If you’re working long hours, consider a battery pack. If you’re partly stationary, consider a tablet stand or receipt printer.

Software

You need a payment app or point-of-sale (POS) system to run transactions. It should let you:

• Enter payment amounts or select products

• Connect with your reader or accept payments

• Process the payment securely

• Issue a receipt

• Track the sale and sync it with your inventory system

Many apps include added features such as tax calculation, tipping, refunds, and item catalogs. Choose one that fits the way you sell and integrates cleanly with your broader business systems.

Connectivity

If your phone can’t reach the internet, your payment might not go through. Wi-Fi works fine in fixed setups, such as pop-ups with local networks, but LTE or 5G is common for true mobility—especially in the field. Some apps have offline mode, which can store a transaction and submit it later.

If you’re working events or remote sites, test your signal ahead of time. Make sure you’re fully charged and carry a backup battery with you.

Backend tools

Strong backend tools help you:

• Email or text receipts to customers in real time

• Log each transaction for easy reconciliation

• Sync sales data with inventory, accounting, or customer relationship management (CRM) systems

• Track revenue by day, product, or location for performance insights

Instead of treating field transactions like separate records, your system should fold them into your normal operations. Providers such as Stripe offer a real-time Dashboard and integrations that make it easy to manage all payments from a unified platform.

How to set up payments on the go

Setting up mobile payments means piecing together hardware and software to achieve a simple workflow. Here’s how to get it up and running.

Choose your platform and hardware

Start by deciding how you want to accept payments: mobile reader, Tap to Pay on a phone, or both. Then, pick a payment provider that supports that setup. Look for one that supports multiple types of payment so you and your customers have flexibility. For example, devices supported by Stripe Terminal can handle EMV chip cards, contactless cards, and digital wallets.

When choosing your tech and your provider, consider:

• The experience: Is the app intuitive? Does it work with your existing systems?

• Your sales environment: A solo vendor might be fine with just a phone, while a more structured team might need tablets, stands, or receipt printers.

Once you’ve made your decision, sign up, link your bank account, and order any necessary hardware.

Set up your device

Install the provider’s app on the phone or tablet you’ll be using. Log in, pair your mobile reader if you have one, and configure the basics:

• Add your business name and receipt preferences.

• Set up products or services, if your app supports a catalog.

• Adjust tax, tipping, and signature settings to match your workflow.

If you’re using Tap to Pay on an iPhone or Android and don’t need any other hardware, confirm that your device supports it and that the feature is enabled.

Run a full test

Before you go live, test the entire flow: charging a card, collecting a payment, sending a receipt, and seeing the transaction appear in your dashboard. Try every payment method you expect to use.

Test in your actual environment, too. If you’ll be at a street fair, check cellular coverage where you’ll be working, and make sure your device stays connected.

Train yourself or your team

If you’re working solo, complete a few practice runs until the process feels natural. If you have staff, train them on:

• Starting and canceling a sale

• Troubleshooting issues (e.g., card declines, app crashes, connectivity problems)

• Sending receipts

• Handling refunds

• Keeping devices charged, connected, and secure

Consistency matters, especially in front of customers.

Go live and monitor

Once your system is set up and tested, start using it in real transactions. In the beginning, double-check that each sale shows up correctly and that all settings behave as expected. Refine as you go.

Best practices for mobile payments

Once mobile payments are part of your workflow, you need to remain vigilant about your security practices, connectivity, transaction records, and customer experience. Here are some best practices to keep the mobile payment experience up and running the way you want it.

Payment security

Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication on your payment account, and regularly update your device and app for security patches. Lock your phone or tablet with a PIN or biometric ID, or both, and shield the screen when customers enter PINs or signatures. Make sure you always know where your phone or reader is—don’t leave it unattended.

Connectivity and power

Use a cellular or Wi-Fi network you trust, and know how to switch to offline mode if needed. Bring backup batteries or chargers, especially for long days.

Data syncing

Make sure your mobile sales aren’t siloed. Many platforms sync transactions automatically to a POS or payments dashboard, but check that:

• Inventory is updated in real time

• Sales are logged for accounting and tax purposes

• Customer emails (if collected) are stored appropriately

• Reports reflect all your sales together in one place

Customer experience

Guide customers through the flow (where to tap, how to sign, and when they’ll get a receipt) and always confirm that the transaction went through before wrapping up. Offer multiple payment methods to reduce friction and customize receipts with your branding, if possible.

The easier you make it to pay, the more likely customers will complete the transaction and come back next time.