Mastercard Survey: 90% of SMEs That Accept Digital Payments in Puerto Rico Report Significant Business Growth

Other key factors for entrepreneurs include security features, valued by 81% of SMEs, as well as the provider’s ability to grow alongside the business (76%) and the ability to accept different payment types (80%) as well as the capability to manage cross-border transactions (76%) also stand out.

For these businesses, aspects such as provider size are less decisive: only 31% prefer large companies and just 24% value smaller providers more. These findings highlight that trust, support, and scalability often outweigh size when choosing who will manage their digital operations.

The study also reveals that in Puerto Rico, 100% of SMEs surveyed, already operating with digital payments, are aware of the additional services their providers offer, and 99% have taken advantage of at least one of them. The most well-known secondary services are facilitating access to credit at 43%.

Faced with this regional landscape, Mastercard continues to support SMEs with digital solutions that enable them to accept electronic payments, pay suppliers in real time, and strengthen their presence in the digital economy. In Puerto Rico, this commitment comes to life through initiatives like Jump All In with Lote 23 offering entrepreneurs the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to modernize operations, expand their customer base, and compete in an increasingly digital marketplace.

From tools like Contactless, biometric authentication with Passkeys and tokenization, to cybersecurity solutions such as the Trust Center and My Cyber Risk, the company equips SMEs with secure, seamless payment experiences tailored to current challenges. These efforts are designed to offer customers and small businesses the tools that are needed for a safe purchase process.

For Mastercard, creating opportunities to strengthen a reliable and open digital payments ecosystem is key for SMEs in Puerto Rico to continue innovating, expanding their opportunities, and contributing to the country’s economic progress.

Scope and methodology of research 

The study was led by Mastercard, and the fieldwork was conducted by the independent research agency Many Minds Group. Between March 3 and April 14, 2025, an online quantitative survey was conducted in 14 Latin American countries, with more than 150 SME owners and directors interviewed in Puerto Rico. The full list of countries surveyed includes Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago.