As mobile payments options are growing in popularity among consumers, more small businesses are tapping into this payment offering, according to the Small Business Health Index from CAN Capital, a provider of small business financing.

Thirty-four percent of small businesses currently accept mobile payments such as Apple Pay, up from just 13 percent in April 2015.

At the same time, only 27 percent of small business owners say their current POS systems are EMV compatible. This means that a large majority of small businesses would be liable for a transaction conducted using a counterfeit, stolen or compromised card.

Despite these potential costs and liabilities, CAN said, 70 percent of small business owners do not plan to invest in new payments technology in the next 12 months.

"It's concerning how many small businesses are leaving themselves open to paying for liabilities and losses from potential credit card fraud," said CAN Capital CEO Daniel DeMeo. "By working with payment processors, small businesses should work out a plan to upgrade their payment systems both to protect themselves and to better serve their customers."

The index reflects the results of an online study of 1,000 U.S. small business owners conducted July 12–July 18 by CAN capital.