There
are a number of different ways to be able to accept credit cards
for your Internet or offline business. If you do business online
you will need an Internet merchant account to begin accepting
credit cards. If you do business in a traditional retail setting
you will need a regular merchant account along with a credit card
processing machine. In a retail environment, you can take debit
cards and electronic checks as well as verify that checks are
good before you accept them. With an Internet account, there is
also a way to accept checks by phone so that the payment comes
right out of your customer's checking or savings account. With
the right merchant account, you can take advantage of these options
and more.
It's Easy to Accept Credit Cards
With an online merchant account, accepting credit cards is easy.
Once you are set up with a merchant account you will receive
access to an online payment gateway such as the First Data ® Global Secure
Payment Gateway or the Authorize.net® e-commerce
payment gateway. Your account provider will send you examples
of HTML scripts to integrate into your website's order forms
so you can sell your products online 24 hours a day, automatically.
Customers will enter their credit card information through
your website when they make an online purchase. You should also
get a virtual terminal to process cards manually online through
a secure website. If you own a traditional brick and mortar
business and will be processing transactions in person, you'll
have to buy or rent a point-of-sale terminal, ie. credit card
processing machine used to swipe cards. Typically it is better
to buy a terminal rather than leasing one. There is more of
an initial investment when you buy but in the long run it ends
up saving you quite a bit of money over leasing. The investment
in a card
machine should always be looked at as helping your business
increase sales and profits rather than being looked at as a
cost to your business.
Customers that use credit cards tend to spend more on purchases than cash buyers. In addition, you will be
able to capture impulse buyers who wouldn’t otherwise
have the cash to make a purchase at your store.
We offer merchant
accounts for Internet businesses with no application or
setup fees. You will have to pay the usual monthly gateway fees
and discount rates. Look for a company that clearly explains
all fees so that you understand what you will be charged for.
The last thing you need, as a startup business owner, is a company
that charges hidden fees that are buried somewhere in the small
print of their contract.
Call 888-760-1700 to learn more about how
your business can start accepting credit cards for increased
sales and profits.
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