The fees that banks charge for taking payments with their card readers and the hassle of having to use these cumbersome devices are some of the drawbacks we come across when using that payment system.
However, the card is one of Spaniards’ favourite payment methods. According to Minsait’s “Payment methods trends” report, paying with a physical credit or debit card is the preferred payment method for 45% of Spaniards for in-person purchases.
And when it comes to online shopping, 60% of Spaniards opt for physical credit, debit or prepaid cards.
Although paying by card is Spaniards’ favourite, interest in and awareness of digital payment methods is also growing. For example, the study cited above reveals that around 15% of those surveyed in our country express a preference for payments via digital or mobile wallet —Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc.— or via instant transfers, such as Bizum.
In fact, a few months ago Emprendedores discussed the boom in the use of Bizum and explained how to use this payment method in any business.
Likewise, a Mobile & Connectivity study points out that 82% of those surveyed say they know and use QR codes. It also indicates that 42% of the Spanish population already pays by holding their phone up to the terminal.
The Navarre company Muxunav, specialising in the development of hardware and software for digital payment systems, has listened to customer demand and found the key to offering the self-employed a solution that makes taking payments easier and solves the drawbacks of using card readers.
This company has launched an electronic payment method that lets the self-employed turn their phone into a virtual card reader. Its new solution, which goes by the name of LaKuenta, offers self-employed workers an alternative to cash payment, thus avoiding the risk of theft or loss of money.
The digital payment method developed by the Navarre company offers a smooth, fast and secure way to pay. The system works through a website, with no need to download an app, and allows access via smartphone, tablet or PDA.
In addition, it offers an interesting advantage when it comes to improving management, since it automatically generates the invoice for download.
It is very simple and intuitive to use. The user only has to go to the LaKuenta website and enter the amount for the product or service they want to charge for.
After this step, the system directly generates a QR code and the customer only has to scan it with their phone’s camera, thus doing away with the card reader.
The website offers the option to pay with the four most widely used methods today. So, in addition to being able to pay by bank card and commercial Bizum, it includes Google Pay and Apple Pay, channels used by more than three million users in our country and which will account for 93% of electronic payments in 2026, according to data from a Telecoming study cited by Muxunav.
LaKuenta users pay a monthly fee of €7 for the use of the service —€76 if contracted for the whole year—, with no minimum term.
In addition, they have to pay the fee required by the payment method chosen by the customer: 0% in the case of commercial Bizum and 0.30% for bank card, Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Muxunav offers an initial free 14-day trial period. In addition, the company has signed a collaboration agreement with the Spanish Association of Self-Employed Workers (ATA) to offer its 280,000 members special conditions when signing up for LaKuenta, reducing the monthly fee to €6.
