Cynthia Pace Photography: Capturing lifelong memories
Cynthia Pace isn’t your average artist. Not only is she an excellent photographer, but she’s also a talented fine art painter. And, for the past 25+ years, she’s combined these two skills to transform portraits into one-of-a-kind family heirlooms, passed down for generations to come.
As a former teacher, she made art her career long before running her own studio. One day, after her children were born, Cynthia obtained a business license and started taking photos professionally.
"It sort of happened overnight," she explained. "My husband redid a space for me downtown, and it just snowballed. It was an unexpected joy."
So, Cynthia Pace Photography was born. Ever since, she’s helped the Lexington, South Carolina community capture lifelong memories through fine art. Her high-end products are more low-volume than child portraits, but business kicks into high gear when Christmas comes around. She’s particularly known for her Santa photography, which involves multiple sets that take weeks to set up.
"Those are very long days and weeks," Cynthia added. "There's never a quiet moment.”
Searching for the right system
After years of using the same payment processing software, Cynthia grew tired of the system. It didn’t let her go in the direction she wanted to take her business, so she started researching options.
She had three priorities:
- QuickBooks integration: Cynthia wanted a payment system compatible with QuickBooks accounting software, allowing her to create invoices and generate reports.
- Better pricing: Credit card processing rates can undercut profits, so she needed a solution that could help her save on monthly fees.
- Customer support: As Cynthia said, “Change is hard.” Having used the same system for years, she knew she’d need a vendor’s help to simplify the transition.
Why Sekure
Easy of use
User-friendly reporting
Dedicated support
Faster payments
Exclusive rates
She was familiar with all the well-known providers, but none matched her criteria. PayPal’s support was lackluster and Stripe was too expensive. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before she received a call from Sekure Payment Experts.
After talking with Sekure, Cynthia realized it was the ideal solution for her business needs. Not only could the new payment system integrate with QuickBooks and her other software, but it also came with lower rates. Plus, working with Sekure meant gaining the dedicated support of her own Payment Expert.
Onboarding as easy as 1-2-3
As Cynthia said, change can be hard. But it doesn’t have to be.
"Sekure made the change very easy,” she explained. “We made an appointment and they walked me through everything. We also ran a few tests to ensure it worked with my new software.”
This level of customer service was meaningful to Cynthia. In fact, it’s the biggest reason she chose Sekure. Credit card processing is complicated with tons of industry jargon and hidden fees. However, her Payment Expert helped clear up any confusion and show rate comparisons.
"They showed me all the comparisons of the financials and answered all my questions. And It wasn't a quick phone call," she joked. "I asked a lot of them."
This gave Cynthia confidence that her new system would fit her needs. But if she ever does run into trouble, she knows exactly who to call.
"My Payment Expert was very specific about keeping their phone number in a place I could easily get to it and that I could call anytime," she said. "But I haven't had to call because all my questions were answered."
I’ve never had anybody reach out and ask me how I’m doing with my credit card processing, and how can we work on it together? It feels like more of a partnership, like Sekure cares about its clients and making them successful.
Hassle-free processing and continuous support
Not much has changed since the transition, which is exactly what Cynthia wanted. Her new payment system works seamlessly with the software she uses, so there wasn’t a cumbersome transition. It allowed her to get up and running to focus on what she does best — creating cherished heirlooms.
“I appreciated that someone from Sekure called to check on me,” Cynthia said. “You'll never have Stripe or PayPal call and ask how it's going."
In addition to continuous customer support, she’s getting paid much faster. Previously, she’d have to wait for funds to become available, but Sekure offers fast, flexible deposit options.
Another key advantage is the system’s QuickBooks integration, which Cynthia describes as “wonderful.” It allows her to generate reports, which she uses to make informed business decisions. She can also easily see how much in fees she pays monthly, helping her keep track of credit card processing costs. Of course, with Sekure, she’s guaranteed to receive the lowest rate possible.
"The rates will affect me positively, especially with the volume season coming up," she said. "It's definitely going to save me money."
How much could you save? Find out with a free statement analysis
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