Three Cool Ways Entrepreneurs Use iPads for Business Slick slideshows and video conferencing merely scratch the surface of how entrepreneurs are using Apple's iPad for business.

By Diana Ransom

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.


Forget table tents, at Scott Wise' Thr3e Wise Men pizzeria, iPads serve as menus.
Credit: {amanda} williams photography

The iPad 2 may be on many consumers' wishlists, but should you buy in?

Some entrepreneurs may be on the fence -- perhaps deterred by the up to $829 price tag or the up-to-five-week wait. Others may think the Apple device is overhyped and not as useful as some say.

But many have embraced the iPad -- and not just for presenting slick Power Point slides. Here's a look at some creative ways Apple's entrepreneurial faithful are using the iPad -- and how you can too:

Florian and Shannon Radke of Cinnaholic
Berkeley, Calif., bakery Cinnaholic uses iPads instead of cash registers.


Point of sale
When Shannon Radke and her husband Florian launched their upscale Berkeley, Calif., bakery, Cinnaholic, they bagged the old $3,000 and 100-pound cash registers for two $600 iPads affixed to docking stations. They can process cash and credit-card transactions by way of Square, a free app and reader that turns the gadgets into credit-card payment systems with no contracts or merchant account required. Though cash purchases can be processed for free through the Square app, credit-card transaction fees, which range from 2.75% to 3.5% plus 15 cents, still apply.

Menus
If Steve Jobs calls the iPad 2 Apple's "third post-PC product," Scott Wise calls it a menu. At his Thr3e Wise Men pizzeria and brewery, which opened in January, the restaurateur installed iPads on the tables to allow diners to view the menu, the company's website and videos.

Production tool
DJ and producer Rana Sobhany knows a good beat when she hears one, but she's also pretty quick with technology. Using iPad apps like Groovemaker House and Pianist Pro, the New York City DJ is able to weave together seamless beats using just two iPads. She told Switched that the iPads, which set her back $1,200, are cheaper and easier to transport than typically clunky DJ equipment.

What creative business uses have you seen -- or would like to see -- for the iPad or other tablet? Leave a comment and let us know.

Diana Ransom is the former deputy editor of Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'Nobody Ever Gave Me Anything': More Boomers Say They're Not Transferring Wealth to Family Until They're Dead

A new survey from Charles Schwab found boomers are more hesitant to distribute their wealth than other generations.

Franchise

The Simple Formula Behind a Top-Ranked Personal Care Franchise

Great Clips ranked #1 in the personal care category and #33 overall on Entrepreneur's 2025 Franchise 500.

Business Solutions

Business Owners are Cancelling Their OpenAI Membership for This Less Expensive Alternative

1min.AI gives you lifetime access to GPT-4o, Midjourney, Gemini, and more with no recurring costs.

Business News

Fans of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog Combo Are In for a Big Surprise

Costco CEO Ron Vachris announced a change that's coming soon to the company's food courts.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.