Better Together: How Merchant Services Helped Huffman Electric Make Getting Paid Easier

For small business owners, getting paid shouldn’t be complicated. As customer preferences change, offering convenient payment options can make it easier for customers to pay, and help businesses keep payments moving.

For Huffman Electric, a longtime electrical contractor serving customers throughout the mountains of West Virginia and Highland County, Virginia, that meant adding the ability to accept credit cards. When more customers began asking for a card payment option, owner Matthew Huffman turned to a relationship he already trusted: F&M Bank.

Through F&M’s Merchant Services program and support from Carly Knicely with Celero Commerce, Huffman Electric was quickly able to begin accepting credit card payments and give customers another convenient way to pay. It’s another example of how the right relationship and the right business payment solution can work better together.

See how a trusted relationship with F&M helped Huffman Electric add credit card payments and make getting paid easier.

1. Tell us a little about Huffman Electric and your relationship with F&M Bank.

I’ve been an electrical contractor for more than 20 years, with much of our work focused on solar systems, particularly off-grid solar. We work throughout the mountains of West Virginia and along the Blue Ridge in Highland County, bringing electricity through solar to hunting cabins, vacation homes, and other remote properties.

F&M is a great hometown bank. They know me when I walk into my local branch, and they know my business.

2. What led you to start accepting credit cards, and how did F&M help?

When I first started the business, almost everything was paid by check or cash. Over time, more customers started asking if they could pay by credit card, particularly for service work and smaller bills. Eventually, I had enough customers asking that I decided it was something I needed to offer.

I really didn’t know where to begin, so I called F&M, explained what I was looking for, and they immediately connected me with Carly, who helps with the Merchant Services program.

3. What was your experience working with Carly and getting set up with Merchant Services?

The process was very straightforward and fast. I really didn’t know anything about accepting credit cards or how to get started, but Carly made it easy. I believe we were registered and signed up either the same day or within just a matter of days. Since then, I’ve already used it several times, and it’s been easy to use. I’m liking it so far.

4. What difference has accepting credit cards made for your business?

Taking credit cards has been a good thing for the business. I had a couple of invoices that had been overdue for a few weeks, and after getting set up, I reached back out to those customers and sent them a link to pay by credit card. They paid within a couple of hours. My customers like it; it’s a more convenient way to pay and has helped me collect payments faster. For larger projects, check or wire transfer still makes more sense, but for service work and smaller bills, having the credit card option has been very helpful.

That’s the value of working with a banking partner who understands your business and can connect you with solutions that fit the way you work. Whether you’re looking to accept credit cards, streamline payment processing, or give your customers more convenient ways to pay, F&M Bank’s Merchant Services team is here to help.

Ready to make getting paid easier?
Explore F&M Bank’s Merchant Services solutions and connect with our team to find the right payment options for your business.