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CompanyProfile

Adding payments to the toolbox

n 2001, former investment banker Jeff Shavitz
co-founded Charge Card Systems Inc., a national
credit card processing company based out of Boca
I Raton, Fla. Shavitz, sold CCS to Card Connect in
2012 and stayed on as a professional consultant for the
next two years, assisting the company as it moved toward
its 2017 acquisition by First Data.

A serial entrepreneur and top-selling business author,
Shavitz has been engaged and influential in the payment
processing arena for many years. He has published five ISO/MLS contact:
business books, is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur
Magazine and The Business Journal, and is a former Street Jeff Shavitz
Smarts columnist and current member of the The Green
SM
Sheet Advisory Board. He also served as a member of the CEO and Founder
First Data ISO Advisory Board and First Data President's
Council. 201-245-4545
jeff@toolboxpayment.com
Shavitz has launched multiple niche-focused payment
processing companies, including legal payments
company LexCharge, the cash discount brand XeroFees and contractors want immediate payment," he added,
and a cannabis industry payments business known as referring to the market need that ultimately led his team
CBDProcessing. to build the ToolBox Payment mobile application. Shavitz
also pointed out that his team did, "a lot of due diligence,"
In January 2020, an inspiration led Shavitz to found learning there were several other contracting types that
ToolBox Payment, a processing firm and mobile phone would be well-suited to use the application. "ToolBox is
application tailored for trades people and home services now working with contractors and companies covering
contractors. ToolBox Payment is based in Boca Raton, 33 categories, and that list is growing monthly with new
Fla., and is staffed by a mix of 11 employees and strategic companies contacting ToolBox for help," he said.
contractors, with several retailer and association
partnerships in its support network. Mobile commerce innovation

Enabling field contractors According to Shavitz, as market adoption of the ToolBox
Payment mobile application has continued to expand, so
Shavitz, who serves as the company's CEO, noted that has client reception. As an example, he shared testimony
each member of the ToolBox Payment management team from one ToolBox early-adopter: "What a great idea,
has over 20 years' experience starting and selling payment developing a payments app specific for our industry
processing companies, including CCS, which boasted over and our needs," said JP Desrochers, owner of Expert Air
500 salespeople that specialized in a variety of industry Services in Naples, Fla. "ToolBox does not ask for any
types. "Although we are a startup, our management team long-term commitments and no hidden fees, and the
identified this niche to focus on, because we could see simple flat-rate fee structure makes bank reconciliations
a gap in service within the payments industry," Shavitz so much easier for our finance department."
said.
Shavitz indicated comments such as these are becoming
Shavitz indicated the initial idea for ToolBox came to him increasingly abundant as awareness grows around the
after he realized his plumber, electrician and handyman product. "Our client's tools are the lifeline to their business
had all come out to his home during the same month to — whether it's a hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, or
conduct annual maintenance. However, when they were knife — and our ToolBox should be the newest addition to
done working, none of them could accept payment via their toolbox," he said.
credit card.
Thinking ahead, Shavitz feels the product fills an
"With the explosion of the mobile phone, the phone important need and its relevancy will continue to evolve.
should be the contractor's credit card processing device," "I'm very excited, after 20 plus years in the business, to
Shavitz said, adding that the diminishing use of cash be building a technology platform to play in the fintech
and checks has led to growing credit card usage by business model that is so relevant in today's marketplace,"
homeowners. "The homeowner wants reward points, he said.

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