Merchant Account

2007-08-07T02:36:00.000-07:00

Merchant Account Provider Services
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod]Shane Penrod

Could your company benefit from merchant account provider services? A merchant account can help your business set up a system to accept credit card payments. When your payments have the option of paying by credit card instead of by cash or check only, they will appreciate the versatility and convenience that having a choice of payment options provides. You may be wondering how merchant services can assist your business to grow. Take time to find out some of the ways that this special account can aid your company’s interests.

Small business owners can apply for merchant account provider services from many banks and lenders around the area or from other parts of the world. A merchant account works something like a personal credit card account to provide your business with a credit line and technical equipment that will allow you to accept credit card payments as well as e-checks and debit cards. If you are tired of tracking bad checks or waiting for monthly payments to arrive, installing a credit card processor may be just what you need. Your clientele will admire your company’s progress into the 21st century electronic age, and your will be grateful for the fast processing of credit card payments at the point of sale. You will enjoy the professionalism with which you can conduct company business while earning your customers’ respect.

Merchant account provider services can help you get the equipment you need to collect credit payments on the spot. Depending on the type of business you operate, you can get a desktop credit card processor for use at the checkout line or cashier’s window. If you deliver goods or services to customers at their homes or businesses, your merchant services account will provide you with a wireless credit card processor that you can take on the road for prompt payment at the time of delivery. A more sophisticated option is to install a dial-in telephone credit card processing service so that customers can key in a credit card number when they order products or services over the telephone by responding to pre-recorded prompts.

Perhaps the fastest growing credit card processing option that you can obtain with the help of merchant account provider services is a company Website. When visitors come to browse your wares, perhaps directed to your site by a search engine or word of mouth, they will enjoy the opportunity of checking out your product lists with photos and pricing details. If they find something they like, they can order online and pay by credit card. The lending institution that is underwriting your merchant account will coordinate credit card processing with a gateway company that will funnel payments in real time for deposit in your company account. A small transaction fee for each payment or a low percentage rate overall is what you will pay for this service, although other fees may apply.

With so many credit payment choices to work with, isn’t it time for you to check out the array of services that your company can tap into when you partner with a lender to request merchant account provider services?

Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod http://EzineArticles.com/?Merchant-Account-Provider-Services&id=109633

Merchant Account

2007-07-31T23:04:00.000-07:00

Merchant Credit Card Account Applications
By Shane Penrod

Since a personal credit card provides us with the means to make
life easier and more enjoyable, can you imagine what a merchant
credit card account can do for your business? This type of
account is more than just a line of credit. It is an entire
service package that offers support to help your company
flourish and grow. Of course, as with any other type of credit
account, it is important to use it responsibly. The first step
toward obtaining this type of financial and technical support is
to submit an application.

Finding a merchant credit card account company is not hard at
all. You just have to check with bankers in your area to see if
they provide this service and are willing to work with you.
Barring that route, you can do an online Internet search to find
merchant account providers who are accepting new clients. There
are plenty of banks and professional lenders who are looking for
entrepreneurs to work with. They often will take a chance on new
business owners if they think you have the potential to become a
trusted client. But first you will need to pass muster by
demonstrating your company’s capabilities in a few distinct
areas. One is that you have a solid credit history and are not
in bankruptcy. A copy of your company’s credit history should be
adequate proof for this requirement. A second criterion is that
your business has enough income to meet the new expenses of a
merchant account. Bank statements or an annual report should
help with this concern. Another thing the lender will want to
know is the type of business you are doing. If you traffic in
pornography, are engaged in telemarketing, or have left a trail
linking your company to some unsavory dealings, the underwriter
may decline your application. Conditions can vary; so ask about
the eligibility requirements before applying.

The next step toward applying for a merchant credit card
account is to submit the application. Some lenders provide an
online form that you can submit electronically, although you may
be charged a fee for this privilege. Other loan agents will let
you download a print application that you can complete in ink
and mail by U.S. post. Either way, you will probably receive a
response to your application within a few days by e-mail or in a
letter. If your application is accepted, you can immediately
begin to use your credit line and service package to set up a
credit card processing system. Working with an account
associate, you can arrange to install a credit card processor at
your store’s checkout area. Or you can buy a wireless model for
several hundred dollars and take it with you on the road when
you service computers or appliances, or make deliveries to homes
or businesses. Discuss the applications of your new merchant
account with the loan officer to clarify limits and equipment
options for your company’s use.

You won’t be able to enjoy the use of merchant services until
you apply for them, so ask your preferred lender about the
application process for a merchant credit card account.

About the Author: Shane Penrod is the founder of
http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com Specializing in allowing
merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from
national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant
account rates and fees, please go to
http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Merchant Account

2007-07-27T05:20:00.000-07:00

Merchant Credit Card Terminals
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton]Kent Pinkerton

Merchant credit card terminals are electronic devices offering fast, low-cost means to authorize and process credit card transactions. They are very commonly used in retail stores and restaurants. Most merchant credit card terminals accept all major credit, debit, and private-label cards offering low-cost credit card authorization, check guarantee, and data capture for a range of retail applications.

A terminal to process credit cards is a great investment to your business. Most merchant credit card terminals support Internet-based services such as e-mail, electronic signature, interactive electronic coupons, onscreen advertising, cash management reporting, and e-commerce. They make transactions more convenient, faster, and accurate for both customers and merchants.

At first, merchant credit card processing terminals verify your customer's card information. Then they withdraw money for the purchase from the customer?s account and deposit it directly into your merchant account. The most important units of merchant credit card terminals are card readers with a small keypad and display. They require power supply and can communicate through a telephone line. Modern terminals are powered by batteries and can communicate wireless or over the Internet. They come in several sizes and prices.

There are many types of merchant credit card terminals: traditional terminals (with or without printers), wireless terminals, and virtual or software-based terminals. Merchants with a permanent place of business need a basic card reader terminal. In this case, the terminal is placed right on the counter where all transactions take place. For businesses that constantly change locations, a wireless credit card processing terminal is a good choice. It is suitable for merchants who are always on the go.

Millions of merchant credit card terminals ship annually and the majority have the same basic functions and features. It can only be used in combination with a merchant account that processes credit card transactions. Businesses already using credit card terminals need to buy extra equipments to maintain additional services such as debit card transactions and issuing and accepting gift cards. A number of terminals also support additional forms of payment such as electronic bank transfers and phone cards. [http://www.e-CreditCardTerminals.com]Credit Card Terminals provides detailed information on Credit Card Terminals, Credit Card Terminal Systems, Wireless Credit Card Terminals, Credit Card Processing Terminals and more. Credit Card Terminals is affiliated with [http://www.i-CreditCardProcessing.com]Credit Card Processing Software.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton http://EzineArticles.com/?Merchant-Credit-Card-Terminals&id=353177

Merchant Account

2007-07-26T00:52:00.000-07:00

Internet Merchant Account Provider
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole]Alison Cole

An Internet merchant account is an account with a bank or a financial institution that allows a businessman to accept credit card payments from his clients via the Internet. The payment gateway essentially transmits the required data to the Internet merchant account provider. Most local banks, however, do not offer Internet merchant account capability.

There are reasons why local banks or financial institutions do not want to give online merchant accounts. One is because transactions through the Internet are completely unlike face-to-face transactions, where a signature from the customer is required to approve the purchase. Thus, online truncations are deemed susceptible to credit card fraud. When choosing an Internet merchant account provider, fraud protection should be one of your major considerations.

So, how much will it cost? Comprehending the costs of your merchant provider can be complicated. Characteristically, an Internet merchant account will have certain costs.

Many Internet merchant accounts require a fee for application. This fee, purportedly, is to cover their expenses for processing the application. In the case that you eventually do not open an Internet merchant account, they will still ask for the initial payment. Many providers waive these up front application fees, and it is recommended that one chooses a provider that does not require up front application fees.

Almost all Internet merchant providers need a “statement fee"" (as the monthly fee is commonly named); this is simply a different way to cover costs and make some money. It is difficult to find providers who do not ask for this type of payment.

Then there is the discount rate, which is usually between 2 to 4 percent. The discount rate is actually the sales commission that the provider earns on every sale. For instance, if the discount rate is 3% and you get a sale over your web site for $10, you will owe 30 cents to the Internet merchant provider.

The fixed transaction fee is somewhere between $0.20 and $0.30. It is the fixed fee portion of every sale. The fixed transaction fee, unlike the discount fee, is the same for every transaction. Whether you get a $10 sale or a $50 sale, the transaction fee will not change.

Also, there is the termination fee that can apply if you cancel your account within a particular period of time (generally a year). There are some merchant providers who require a three-year commitment from your side.

If a customer requests for a refund, an Internet merchant provider can charge you a separate fee (somewhere around $20). [http://www.e-MerchantAccountProviders.com]Merchant Account Providers provides detailed information on Merchant Account Providers, Internet Merchant Account Provider, Merchant Account Service Providers, Become a Merchant Account Provider and more. Merchant Account Providers is affiliated with [http://www.e-FreeChat.com]Free Webcam Chat.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole http://EzineArticles.com/?Internet-Merchant-Account-Provider&id=273024

Merchant Account

2007-07-24T04:36:00.000-07:00

Merchant Accounts
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson]Marcus Peterson

An account where merchants can accept credit card payments is known as a merchant account. Merchant accounts can be acquired through credit card companies, banks, or any other payment processor. A merchant wanting to take credit card payments must have a merchant account.

There are three major forms of merchant accounts. One is the retail merchant account. This account generally offers the lowest transaction fees, but often comes with stringent rules. Retail merchant accounts mostly require credit card sales be done with the "card present." In other words, the card has to be swiped through a credit card terminal for the transaction to take place. Retail merchant accounts are usually linked with restaurants, small hotels and grocery stores. Retail merchant accounts are not suited for merchants who want to conduct business through the Internet or the mail.

Mail Order Telephone Order (MOTO) accounts generally charge higher transaction rates; these accounts are used when the credit cards cannot be physically utilized. In this case, merchants process the payments by entering the customer’s credit card data onto a personal computer, or through a standard web browser, where they can process the transaction on the payment service provider's website.

Internet merchant accounts are quite similar to MOTO accounts in that the credit card need not be physically used. However, these transactions can only be done through the Internet. Merchants with Internet accounts employ a payment service gateway or a virtual terminal to process credit card transactions.

It is imperative to choose the appropriate form of merchant account for the business you are conducting. Also, it is wise to carefully go through the terms of service of the providers, as many charge a fortune and have strict rules. [http://www.z-MerchantAccounts.com]Merchant Accounts provides detailed information on Merchant Accounts, Credit Card Merchant Accounts, Internet Merchant Accounts, About High Risk Merchant Accounts and more. Merchant Accounts is affiliated with [http://www.merchantservices-web.com]Internet Merchant Services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson http://EzineArticles.com/?Merchant-Accounts&id=251460

Merchant Account

2007-07-23T02:45:00.000-07:00

Discount Merchant Account Availability
By Shane Penrod

Find out if discount merchant account services are available
for your company by browsing Websites of potential lenders. By
checking application guidelines, you will soon see whether you
quality, and if so, how to apply and enhance your chances of
being approved for this account. Getting a merchant account
makes you eligible to accept credit card payments. Think of how
greatly your sales volume could increase when you allow
customers to pay with credit instead of insisting on cash or
checks. They will love you for providing this option, and your
sales volume could quickly skyrocket when happy customers come
to visit with plastic in hand.

A discount merchant account lets you provide credit payment
options at one low price. For example, after paying a possible
application and setup fee of perhaps $100, you may be charged
just $19.95 per month for the options of accepting credit card
and debit payments as well as e-check processing and related
services. You have to be careful when shopping for a merchant
account, as there may be all kinds of hidden fees that are not
listed on the home page. Instead, these may be buried in fine
print or posted on a distant link from the home page. You need
to find out in advance what the costs will be and how you will
be expected to pay them. For example, ask about an online
application fee, a membership fee, and a setup fee, among
others, if you don’t see these posted. Some services will tell
you that what you see is what you get. In other words, if you
don’t see a certain fee in the price list, it doesn’t exist and
cannot be added later. Even if you accept a merchant account
under certain conditions the first year, during the second year
your fees could change, so ask about the long view as well.

Applying for a discount merchant account must be undertaken
with caution. Something that sounds too good to be true probably
is just that. Look for a lender’s name you can trust along with
a reputation built on values like integrity and respect. Avoid
companies that you are unfamiliar with, as there are many
fly-by-night entities looking to make a fast buck. Get the
contract in writing, and make sure you read it all before
signing up. Ask for clarification of any terms or conditions you
do not understand. All too often, an unwary entrepreneur may end
up in dire straits when a seemingly lucrative merchant account
becomes a sinkhole.

Don’t rush out and buy all types of credit processing equipment
when your merchant account is approved. First, make a business
budget that includes a category for growth and marketing. Then
look for the right kind of equipment that will best serve your
customers’ needs. For example, you don’t have to buy every type
of credit processing system available when a simple plug-in
terminal will do. Keep your expenditures low while you get used
to this new way of collecting payments. If all works out well,
you can add more options later with your discount merchant
account.

About the Author: Shane Penrod is the founder of
http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing
merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from
national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant
account rates and fees, please go to
http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Merchant Account

2007-07-20T04:47:00.000-07:00

Merchant Account

2007-07-16T00:30:00.000-07:00

Merchant Account

2007-07-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

Merchant Account Services
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole]Alison Cole

Check out any store and you will find that people no longer find it viable to make payments in cash. The preferred mode of payment is the debit card or the credit card. No matter what your business, the best way to stay ahead is to give the customers the ease of making the payment in the mode they choose. This means if they don’t want to pay cash, you must have the provisions to accept credit card payments. In fact studies have shown that accepting credit payments can increase your sales manifold. To accept credit card payments, you will need an online merchant account with a bank, financial institution, or acquiring institutions. All these institutions charge a minimal amount of fees for their services, but then the fee is well worth the improvement in your business.

Your financial or acquiring institution should be able to provide a number of services. First and foremost they should be able to provide you personalized services in setting up your account. Your merchant account should have facilities for online trading, as also taking orders on the phone.

Now, suppose your business is an online store. This means, your customers can make orders merely by the click of a mouse. They can make their payments online through credit card. For this, there will be a form in which they will submit their details including that of their credit card. To accept online payment, you can link your account to any of the Internet gateway solution providers, which include Verisign, Orbital, or Fast Transact. You can link your order forms to these gateway companies, who will then process the transactions.

Then there is the phone line processing services. That means the customers can dial a toll free number, and provide the requisite information based on the voice prompts.

Another service is the POS (Credit card service), which enables you to take orders over the phone and fax and process them through a terminal machine.

You also have the option of a computer software program that can store your customer’s details, as these are beneficial for recurring payments. [http://www.MerchantServices-Web.com]Merchant Services provides detailed information about merchant services, e-commerce merchant services, high risk merchant accounts, internet merchant services and more. Merchant Services is the sister site of [http://www.e-TelecomAudits.com]Telecom Audits Info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole http://EzineArticles.com/?Merchant-Account-Services&id=144901

Merchant Account

2007-07-13T05:06:00.000-07:00

Internet Merchant Credit Card Accounts
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Seth_Miller]Seth Miller

Internet merchant credit card accounts are those accounts in which payments made through credit cards can be transferred to a specified account by customers making online purchases. These accounts are operated on behalf of the merchants by a third party.

A large number of Internet merchant account providers provide these services. Internet merchant accounts accept all kinds of online payments, including payments made via credit cards, or the electronic transfer of money from one merchant account to another. Internet merchant credit card accounts accept only credit card payments.

The requirements for such accounts emerged after online business started expanding. Over the last few years, online business has come of age. In an online transaction there is no human contact, so there is a need to have a mechanism where cash can change hands even when sellers and buyers sit thousands of miles apart. The nature of online transactions has made Internet merchant accounts a necessity for an online business.

An Internet merchant credit card account is easy to open and operate. The account provider also provides round-the-clock technical service. It also give you a unique user ID and password which ensures that only authorized persons have access to the account, in which online payments made through credit cards are transferred.

Always try to choose an Internet merchant credit card account provider who enjoys credibility in the market and provides speedy credit card sales processing facilities. It should be comfortable handling all the major brands of credit cards. And look at the costs associated with operating this kind of account. The costs could vary depending on which account provider you have hired and which "package" of services you have selected. Choose one which suits your business requirements without making a heavy dent on your profit. [http://www.e-InternetMerchantAccounts.com]Internet Merchant Accounts provides detailed information on Internet Merchant Accounts, Free Internet Merchant Accounts, Ecommerce Internet Merchant Accounts, Internet Merchant Credit Card Accounts and more. Internet Merchant Accounts is affiliated with [http://www.e-CommerceMerchantAccounts.com]International Ecommerce Merchant Accounts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seth_Miller http://EzineArticles.com/?Internet-Merchant-Credit-Card-Accounts&id=254697

Merchant Account

2007-07-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

Internet Merchant Accounts
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton]Kent Pinkerton

An Internet merchant account can help you use and accept all modes of payment, such as credit, debit, and EBT. Today, many people use credit cards and electronic checks to pay for goods. People use them everywhere, especially online. In other words, to conduct a transaction on the World Wide Web, one does need to have a credit card or a bank account.

If you are a business proprietor then you cannot operate on the Internet unless you accept these forms of payment. You need to set up a certain infrastructure to be able to accept these various forms of payments, which is where an Internet merchant account comes into play.

Processing all forms of payment is good for business since it increases a merchant's consumer base. An Internet merchant account not only allows the business owner to accept major credit cards and personal checks, but also allows them to process the payments in a risk-free, secure way. In an electronic environment, the customer can key in his or her personal and financial information via the secure network and the web pages would direct him or her through the entire sales process. The customer knows that that all the information is secure and the merchant knows that the funds will be placed in the business account shortly.

The business owner can purchase various types of “Buy it” buttons from the merchant account gateway. Once the customer clicks on the button to purchase an item, the customer is automatically shifted to the section for payment methods. Such an account can also computes taxes for each item sold as per the requirement for domestic and foreign rates for United States Mail, FedEx, and UPS.

Payment methods, tax calculations, and shipping preferences are few of the steps in the purchasing transaction that are handled automatically and quickly. By assisting the consumer and making the payment environment easy and safe to use, the merchant has provided exceptional customer service. [http://www.e-highriskmerchantaccounts.com]High Risk Merchant Accounts provides detailed information about high risk merchant accounts, high risk offshore merchant accounts and more. High Risk Merchant Accounts is affiliated with [http://www.i-backgroundchecks.com]Background Checks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton http://EzineArticles.com/?Internet-Merchant-Accounts&id=131762

Merchant Account

2007-07-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

Merchant Account

2007-07-04T03:10:00.000-07:00

Credit Card Merchant Account – Do You Need One?
By Shane Penrod

There are many reasons why a creditcard merchant account may be
right for your business. If your customer base is growing
steadily or if you are having problems finding time to collect
delinquent accounts, a credit card merchant account may be the
answer to your difficulties. A merchant account allows you to
partner with an acquiring bank to process credit card payments
made on your company’s Internet Website. You also may wish to
consider adopting wireless services as well as other electronic
equipment that can help you facilitate online transactions.

A credit card merchant account is the first step toward
establishing an international business presence. After the
account has been approved and opened, often within a few days,
you can arrange to install a credit card processing unit that
will allow clients to make Internet payments at your Website.
You can save thousands of dollars in human resource staffing
when you rely on electronic equipment to manage some of these
functions for you, including customer service inquiries,
orders, payments, and other related functions. Your job may
become easier than ever while profits soar to new heights.
Customers will appreciate the ease and convenience of browsing
your company’s products or services online at any time of the
day or night without the pressure of a sales associate looking
over their shoulders.

Failing to open a merchant account will thus deprive your
customers of the benefits of online shopping and avoiding cash
transactions. If you are unwilling to provide e-commerce
options, they are likely to find other customers who already
have posted credit card processors for easy shopping payments
and checkout. Your credit card merchant account can put you
ahead of the competition, as others will see you as an
innovative leader in your field and bring their business to you
instead of other entrepreneurs who do not yet have merchant
accounts.

Opening a credit card merchant account is easy. In many cases,
all you need do is fill out a form online at a suitable
financial institution like a bank or credit union that manages
this type of accounts. In a day or two your account could be
approved, especially if you have a good credit history and a
specific plan for operating your business so as to avoid
overextending your company assets. After being approved, you
could be operating under your new merchant account status
within three days or so. As your company Website begins to
accept credit card payments, the word will get around and you
soon could be seeing unexpected high-income levels due to your
merchant status as well as a growing reputation for
sophisticated business practices.

Browse the many local banking institutions that are waiting to
work with you to provide a merchant account that will enhance
the way you do business. Then request credit card processing
equipment to handle online payments from enthusiastic
customers. Business has never been better for those who take
the initiative to explore this exciting new way of making money
by opening a credit card merchant account.

About the Author: Shane Penrod is the founder of
Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants
the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national
merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account
rates and fees, please go to
http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Merchant Account

2007-07-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Cards Online Without a Merchant Account
By Joe Duchesne

There are two major ways to accept credit cards on your website. The first and most expensive is to have your own merchant account. Not only is this option expensive, it also requires extensive credit checks, lots of paperwork, and usually takes days or weeks before you get approved. Fortunately, there is an alternative.

Third party payment processors who will accept credit card payments on your behalf exist in growing numbers. These third party processors will take a percentage of your sale for their troubles, then pass on the rest to you. Rates vary greatly from one payment provider to another so doing your homework is important in order to get the right fit for you. Some payment providers will accept all kinds of goods and services while others specialize in only digital products, or hard goods, or services.

General Purpose Payment Providers include:

Paypal – Owned by Ebay, Paypal offers one of the lowest rates of any third party payment processor. At the time of this writing, their standard rates were 2.9% plus $0.30 US per transaction. Paypal offers excellent support and great documentation to get you up and running in no time at all. www.paypal.com

2checkout.com – Has a $49 US one time setup fee. Their rates at the time of this writing were $0.45 US plus 5.5% transaction fee. Discount rates are middle of the pack, service is very good and through them, you can accept most major credit cards. www.2checkout.com

Digital Information Payment Providers include:

Clickbank – You pay a one time $49.95 US activation fee. They then pay you the retail price of your product minus $1 and a 7.5% fee. Clickbank also has an easy to use affiliate program so that you can make money when others sell your product. www.clickbank.com

Digibuy – An electronic commerce solution for publishers of software, shareware, electronic art, information, and data. They charge a rate of 13.9% per transaction with a $3 US minimum order. They provide you with many features including brandable order forms, invoicing and test orders. www.digibuy.com

All but Clickbank give you the ability to have brandable shopping carts. This allows you to customize your order forms so that the customer doesn't feel like they are leaving your site thereby building trust. All of the third party payment processors above provide you with help to get started.

Accepting credit cards online doesn't have to cost you a lot of money. Most times it doesn't even have to include a credit check. Most of these services will even make regular deposits directly into your bank account for ultimate convenience.

When you need to accept credit cards quickly and inexpensively, one of the payment providers mentioned above just might fit the bill.

Joe Duchesne is the webmaster for turbomerchant.com which specializes in offering information to people looking to sell online via a merchant account and accept credit cards online. Reprint freely as long as the keyword rich link in this resource box stays live and with this article.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Duchesne
http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Cards-Online-Without-a-Merchant-Account&id=9567

Merchant Account

2007-05-14T05:12:00.000-07:00

Internet Merchant Accounts For Innocents Abroad
By T. O' Donnell

If you want to sell on the internet, your need to accept credit
cards. To accept credit cards, you need a merchant account, or
access to one. There're two ways of getting this: Get your own
merchant account, or 'pimp' off someone else's.

The latter is the option most new merchants choose. You use a
third-party to process your payments, and they take percentage.
Here are a few popular ones:

PayPal.com (http://www.paypal.com)

I don't recommend them as your main processor. See
http://www.paypalsucks.com. PayPal is popular because it was
'firstest with the mostest' on auction sites. For this reason,
eBay bought them out. PayPalSucks.com alleges that if you have
a bad order they freeze your account, and can even dip into
your bank account to make up any shortfalls. Mitigating
circumstances are not taken into account. I've read enough
complaints about PayPal on webmaster forums to heed them.

The usual rejoinder is; "But I've never had any problems with
PayPal". To which is usually retorted "Just wait 'till you get
a chargeback!"

A chargeback occurs when someone asks their credit-card company
for a refund. They say they didn't get the goods, or they never
made the order, or the goods were not as advertised. This is
passed on to the processor, who in turn debits the merchant. Or
drops him entirely. You don't want too many of these.

I've used them for years for small amounts, with no problem,
but on the basis of others' complaints in webmaster forums, I
wouldn't use them for large ones. Don't leave large amounts 'on
deposit' in any internet-based company; they're not banks, and
even banks go bust occasionally.

The best use for PayPal is to entice customers who already use
it. Find another provider to be your main one. One like ...

2Checkout.com (http://www.2checkout.com)

This is a factoring service like PayPal. Unlike them, they have
a pretty good reputation with webmasters. Like PayPal, they
don't provide you with a merchant account; they process your
orders through their own.

This is why such sites have to be very stringent; they are
answerable to their own merchant account provider. Too many
bogus orders, and they go out of business.

This is why third-party factoring services like 2Checkout are
very useful to a newbie merchant: fraud prevention. They can
screen out suspicious orders.

Most merchants would like to think they can sell worldwide. The
fact is most of the world is poor; MOST countries can't afford
your goods. So some citizens try to get them fraudulently.

A smart merchant would bar most of the world from accessing his
cart, and only accept orders from the USA, Canada, western
Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and his home country. Harsh,
but you'll sleep better at night.

WorldPay (http://www.worldpay.com)

A well-regarded service. I found adding it to the Oscommerce
cart (http://www.oscommerce.com) a bit of a chore, but it
worked. More expensive to join than 2Checkout. You don't hear
many gripes about WorldPay, which is rare in webmaster circles.

ClickBank.com (http://www.clickbank.com)

Handy if you're selling a few items of inexpensive software to
start off your business. They'll let you up the price once
they're sure of you. I managed to get them to go up to $150
(whoo!). I was very jealous of their system. It's well designed
and extremely 'viral'; they're basically a huge affiliate
program. Join ClickBank, and others will try and sell your
product for you.

They allow you to block whole continents from trying to buy
your product, and that is good. The odds are that a $25 order
for an ebook, from a third-world country, is fraudulent.

If an order looks dodgy, it probably is. Contact the customer
by 'phone or email. If you don't get a satisfactory reply,
refund the card.

When you're making $1000+ a month, get your own merchant
account.

MerchantSeek (http://www.merchantseek.com)

A useful collection of affiliate links to merchant account and
processing providers. Scroll down their front page to their
search tool. You can find an account that suits your needs.
This is most helpful to non-U.S. merchants, or those seeking
'international merchant accounts'.

In the UK, look for 'merchant services' at:

Barclays bank (http://www.barclaycardmerchantservices.co.uk)
NatWest (http://www.natwest.com)
Bank Of Scotland (http://www.bankofscotland.co.uk)
Royal Bank Of Scotland (http://www.rbs.co.uk)
Streamline (http://www.streamline.com)

UK processing services are:
Secpay (http://www.secpay.com)
Netbanx (http://www.netinvest.co.uk)
Protx (http://www.protx.com)

Having one's own merchant account means paying less in
processing fees.

IMPORTANT: You should specify up-front that you are looking for
an internet merchant account. Internet transactions are viewed
as higher risk than those by bricks-and-mortar businesses. The
technical term is 'card not present'.

Some things you may need, if applying for an internet merchant
account of your own:

Business bank account;
Photocopy of a voided cheque for said account;
Copy of the articles of incorporation of your company;
Photocopy of your return policy information;
Trade references;
Photocopy of your driver's license or passport.

In short, you need to prove that both you and your company are
what you say they are. Your account provider is taking a chance
on you. You might send them a ton of bogus orders. A bank is a
business too, not a community service. Help them to make the
right decision! The more you can establish that you are
bona-fide, the lower the cost of your account.

Things to avoid, if you can:

a) Expensive credit-card processing software rental or
hire-purchase.
b) Monthly fees.
c) High discounts (the % of your sales they keep).
d) Fat fees up front (anything over $500 is a joke).
e) Salesmen calling you up with a spiel.
f) Getting lumbered with hiring their shopping cart as well.

Things to look out for at sites offering merchant accounts:

If you need to maintain a U.S. presence - full U.S.
incorporation, U.S. server, U.S. offices, U.S. bank account -
or NOT.

Also if they want a deposit, and the size of their application
fee. And the usual monthly minimums, discounts etc.

Avoid getting into any software purchase or equipment rental.
You can sort all that out later, for less money. There are
plenty of good payment gateways, like Authorize.net
(http://www.authorize.net) just itching for your business.

PS: Don't accept a merchant account from an Eastern European
bank. I did, some years ago. The bank went bust. One guy wailed
on Usenet that he'd lost $10,000 dollars. Luckily for me,
business was bad that year!

About the Author: T. O' Donnell (http://www.tigertom.com) is an
ecommerce consultant in London, UK. His latest projects are a
mortgage calculator and ebook, available at
http://www.tigertom.com/mortgages-uk.shtml

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Merchant Account

2007-05-12T02:11:00.000-07:00

Online Merchant Services
By Alison Cole

An online merchant service is one that enables you to make payments on the internet. Typically, online merchant services work through Internet merchant accounts that are provided through an acquiring bank. This acquirer effectively allows you to accept or make payments through credit cards online. As it is the case with almost any business decision, there are a number of both advantages as well as disadvantages to online systems of payment and also to other types of processors of credit card. On a general basis, the advantages tend to be tied to having a direct control of the system for processing the payment. On the flip side the disadvantages tend to revolve around factors like mechanics, logistics, and security. The responsibility for the entire process of payment is a very risky affair and needs to be contemplated to avoid any loopholes.

A major concern that a lot of people face is the costs incurred to obtain online merchant services. There are a multitude of potential fees and costs that are associated with even designing an ecommerce web site that would provide these services. If you are looking to set up such a web service to enhance your business process then you need to consider potential charges for the same. Various credit card merchant account fees will crop up from each provider who is involved in assisting you to establish your ecommerce web site. The merchant service set up will involve application fees, the actual set-up fees, not to mention yearly membership charges. There are also other factors like monthly statement charges and gateway access fees. The list is quite long and so you will need to look into it in a comprehensive manner as it is easy to misinterpret the fee structures. This is because very rarely are all the exact costs related to ecommerce revealed in a single place. However in the end the set up of such an online merchant service could prove to be extremely beneficial to your trade and could leverage your customer base.

Merchant Services provides detailed information on merchant services, e-commerce merchant services, high risk merchant accounts, internet merchant services and more. Merchant Services is affiliated with Internet Merchant Accounts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole
http://EzineArticles.com/?Online-Merchant-Services&id=410024

Merchant Account

2007-05-11T02:32:00.001-07:00

Apply For Merchant Account?
By Shane Penrod

Who Should Apply For Merchant Account Status? Why you, of
course! If you are a business owner of a small company or even
a home-based business, there is no reason why you should not be
eligible for a merchant account if you have maintained a
positive credit history and are willing to make timely payments
on future accounts. A merchant account will open e-commerce
doors to let you accept credit payments at your place of
business, over the telephone, on the run, or at your Website.
What could be easier than installing a credit processor to
start accepting credit card payments from eager customers?

When Should You Apply For Merchant Account Status? There’s no
time like the present! Start browsing the Web by using a search
engine to find sites affiliated with “merchant account.” You
will be amazed by how many there are. You can even find sites
listed as “merchant account lead sites” to point you to a
variety of lenders who will accept your application for a
merchant account and provide a timely response. Your chances of
approval are good if your company has a fairly solid credit
history. The rates are not too bad at present; don’t wait for
them to go higher. Apply now to get a good deal.

Where Should You Apply For Merchant Account Status? While
browsing Internet links, you will come across various kinds of
lenders. It goes without saying you should avoid those with an
unfamiliar name or questionable background. Stick to companies
you know and trust, like American Express or a local banker, to
make sure you don’t become the victim of a scam and lose your
shirt. Check out the terms and fees for each lender so you can
get good terms for your account. Some charge an online
application fee, while others might charge a membership fee.
Avoid paying any charges that you don’t have to.

Why Should You Apply For Merchant Account Status? Because a
merchant account will move your company into the 21st century.
Look around at your competitors; how many already have a
merchant account? What percentage of your customers would be
willing to pay with credit if you could provide credit payment
services with the help of a merchant account? Research suggests
that people who pay with credit cards tend to buy more than
those who pay with cash. Take advantage of this phenomenon to
make it easy for your customers to buy when they like as much
as they like by allowing them to pay with credit cards. As your
revenues increase, your profits will soar. Your customers will
be happy, and so will you.

With a merchant account, you can set up credit processing
options at your store, over the telephone, in your company car,
or at your Internet site. Marketing your goods and facilitating
customer payments will never be easier than with a merchant
services account. Make time to check out this exciting
opportunity to build your business when you Apply for Merchant
Account Status!

About the Author: Shane Penrod is the founder of
Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants
the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national
merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account
rates and fees, please go to
http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Merchant Account

2007-05-11T01:49:00.000-07:00

Global Ecommerce: New Trends Involved in Ecommerce Business by Michael Braganza

Internet use has grown and spread during the last decade. With the fame and widespread usage of Internet this new trend in ecommerce business is spreading like wild fire and has a pivotal role in global economy. Businesses these days are rising in all realms. Ecommerce has changed the way people do business. These days, ecommerce business is at its boom. From big corporations to cottage industries, businesses are online, opening up their products and services to new groups of people worldwide.

What is ecommerce? Ecommerce is generally associated with purchasing and selling things over the internet. It is a technique of selling your products on the internet. To put your products over the internet, you need an attractive website and an ecommerce storefront for your business products.

These days, the use of other media trade, such as the telephone, television, fax, and electronic payment, has been also grown. These play also an important role in the boom in ecommerce business because ecommerce has been an integral part of the global economy. The WTO has begun to consider how it fits into the multilateral trade framework, and what rules or regulations should apply.

With the emergence of ecommerce business during the last decades, a number of ecommerce business solution providers have been also grown. No one can imagine a successful ecommerce business without the assistance of a reliable ecommerce business solution provider. Ecommerce service provider performs many useful jobs for your business, such as doing market research, getting traffic for your ecommerce storefront and online ordering system.

Today, ecommerce is the latest mantra in increasing your sales. This is because instead of selling your goods and services through a local store, you can sell online and gain a greater customer base. Apart from providing shipping services, you will need an online ecommerce merchant account to accept credit card payments to make your venture a success.

These days, even a restaurant is running under ecommerce system. Ecommerce solution provider performs many jobs for the Restaurant, such as, they put online restaurant menu, online restaurant ordering systems, and bed and breakfast booking system. There are many ways to get your products and services online, from a simple brochure site to a high-end database driven site.

In this way, we see that ecommerce has changed the people to do the business in a different way. Every thing in this world has been being globalize and of course business is no exception. Global ecommerce business has been new trends in ecommerce business and plays a pivotal role in global economy. Also the role of ecommerce business solution providers cannot be ignored because you cannot imagine successful and fruitful ecommerce business without their assistance.
About the Author

Michael Braganza is an eminent analyst and writer in Economics and Technology related topics. He has authored many books on ecommerce business solution and ecommerce storefront. Now he is rendering his services to http://www.communalmarket.com/

Merchant Account

2007-05-10T01:17:00.000-07:00

Merchant Account Basics
16th August 2006
Author: Steve Depraida

A Merchant account is an account at a bank or financial institution that permits you to accept credit card payments. You can acquire a merchant account from a merchant account provider or your bank.

A merchant account helps in boosting your business as when your account can accept credit cards you get instant payments. The whole process of receiving a payment is simplified and speedy, as it takes a lot less time then the conventional method of receiving payments. The whole processing time of credit card payment through the credit card machine or online account is lot shorter than the conventional methods.

If you increase the number of payment options for your customer it helps your business to grow. In case you are an online businessman this option provides the customer ease as well as flexibility of shopping, which in the long run converts into repeat purchases. Today majority of customers prefer credit card payment therefore it makes prudent business sense to opt for merchant account or merchant accounts.

Before establishing a merchant account it is necessary to check the credentials of the merchant account or merchant services Provider Company that is trustworthy and provides secure services. For online businesses real time processing is the best solution as the charge from the client's card is processed swiftly when the client places the order. The client or customer gets an email stating that the order has been processed and the money transfer is approved by the credit card company.

The credit card companies charge different fees for the credit card processing. The companies may charge an application fee, a monthly statement fee, an annual fee, a discount fee etc. The credit card company charges a transaction or the processing fee for each transaction that takes place. As different merchant account services charge different fees it is advisable that a thorough study is made before deciding which credit card processing company you choose. Make a monthly estimate of the current sales figure and project expenses.

Merchant accounts, is one of the largest merchant account processor in USA. It provides one of the best credit card processing solutions and efficient round the clock service. The main distinguishing features are a 90 day price match offer, same day approval for merchant account, instant online applications, no early cancellation fees, good quality credit card machines and terminal solutions.

Visit the site if you want to avail the merchant account services from http://www.merchant-accounts.com, one of the best credit card processing companies in USA.

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_81901_19.html

Merchant Account

2007-05-09T05:16:00.001-07:00

Overview of the Credit Card Machines by steve depradia

Credit card machines can be seen everywhere in a restaurant, retail shop or a shopping mall. These small machines help businesses to process credit cards safely and efficiently. These {a href = http://www.merchant-accounts.com/merchant_account_swipe_terminals_printers.htm} credit card machines don't cost much but the impact of these little wonders on a business is tremendous. Invest in a good credit card machines and if you have a merchant account you are all set to accept credit cards.

Credit Card Processing Machines are Essential

* Most of the merchant account services charge extra money for keyed in transaction as compared to swiped charges. If you have an old machine that is not reading the cards properly you may be unnecessarily paying more money.

* An old credit card machine is not able to read debit card transactions it is therefore necessary to invest in new credit card machines.

* Credit card machines save valuable counter space.

* Credit card machines help in increasing the cash flow by greatly reducing the payment time.

Different Types of Credit Card Machines:

There are different types of credit card machines available, choose one according to your budget and requirements. All these machines have their advantages and disadvantages; consider both while making your choice.

* Basic Credit card machines These machines are the cheapest of the lot and are very affordable but are a somewhat bulky in appearance.

* Credit card machines with printers These machines are combo machines with printer attached. These machines come in sleek designs.

* Wireless Credit card machines or Pin pads These credit card machines are as the name suggests wireless.

Merchant accounts.com is the site that provides information about merchant accountand lists machines that accept credit card transaction. There are many credit card machines on offer and the latest being The Hypercom T7 Plus, a great machine with either an AMS retail merchant account or mail order merchant account. This product is equipped with a sure load thermal printer that eliminates paper jamming. Visit the site www.merchant-accounts.com to get more information about the different services and products being offered and choose the one that suits you. There are many latest credit card machines being offered on the site, choose the one that has the features you were looking for in a {a href= http://www.merchant-accounts.com/credit_card_processing_pos_software.htm} credit card processing. These machines will give boost to your business by providing easy cash flow and safe and speedy payment solution.
About the Author

Mr.steve depradia is a very well know author who writes article for www.merchant-accounts.com

Merchant Account

2007-05-08T03:40:00.000-07:00

The Basics To Setting Up A Merchant Account
By: Jim Saka

If you're business is not offering credit card payments, you could potentially be losing out on a tremendous amount of business. Because of the options you give customers by offering credit card payments, it creates a wider customer base. However, the first step to offering credit card payments through your business is setting up a merchant account.

A merchant account is a bank account that is established by your company to receive the payments from credit card purchases. Simply done, right? It is a little more extensive than it comes off as, especially if you are accepting credit cards online. However, it is well worth it to set up a merchant account because of the potential increase in your business.

Generally, you will also need to lease equipment and software when setting up your merchant account. The reason for this is to ensure you and the customer that the transaction flows to your operating account.

If you are looking to accept credit cards online, you will need to sign up with a payment gateway. The payment gateway will allow you to accept credit card transactions online. When selecting your payment gateway, it is vital that the gateway is compatible with your software so that the transactions go through. Some of the more well-known payment gateways include Paypal, SECPay and authorize.net.

When you are looking for the right financial institution to help you set up your merchant account, make sure to research in-depth. There are a number of financial institutions that can offer you a merchant account, but you are going to want to go through an institution that has experience with small businesses. The reason being is that you are just starting out, so the institution will assist you with setting up your merchant account far better than any other financial institution.

The next phase of setting up your merchant account is the application. Each financial institution varies from one another, so you can receive word of your application from anywhere between 48 hours to 2 weeks. If you are starting an internet business, it is far more difficult to be approved than a retail store because of the higher rates for charge back and fraud.

After all this, how much is it going to cost you to be able to accept credit card payments? You should expect to pay on average around $200 to $300 for start up costs when setting up your merchant account. After that, there are processing fees that will cost you 2-2.75% of your annual sales volume for online transactions. Remember, this is a small fee for having versatility and opening the doors to many more customers.

While it may seem like a lot, it is a rather quick and painless process to set up a merchant account. Once it is set up, you will be ready to accept credit card payments on or offline.

Copyright (c) 2006 Jim Saka

Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com

For more information about Jim Saka or to find out how your business can can benefit from accepting credit cards online or at a place of business visit United Bank Card PS at www.unitedbankcardps.com

Merchant Account

2007-05-04T03:04:00.001-07:00

Prevent Credit Card Processing Fraud by Bob Donegan

If you are a merchant, particularly someone who sells products online, the chances of your business being exposed to credit card fraud is highly likely. For many businesses, credit card fraud is a cost that they apportion into doing business and they may even account for it in how the price products - similar to how a business may account for bad or doubtful debts. In the UK for example, government published statistics reveal that credit card fraud has went up from £83.3m 10 years ago to £504.8m just before the introduction of the chip and pin scheme. Chip and pin is a system where by a number is assigned to each credit card, meaning a thief has to do more than just fake a signature to complete a purchase with someone else's credit card. This has been said to have reduced fraud by 13% since its introduction.

With so many different types of credit card fraud, it is important to have a strategy to address each one. This article offers an insight into prevention methods for well known techniques of committing credit card fraud.

Card Not Present Fraud

CNP fraud is among the fastest rising category of fraud. The main reason for this is that it is becoming much harder to commit fraud in person, especially with the introduction of Chip and Pin. As credit card fraud continues to move towards telephone and internet merchants, there are measures that all merchants can take to ensure their associated costs of being exposed to fraud can be reduced.

* Telephone back customers to confirm orders. Although this is also a cost center, it could be used as a technique when the transaction appears somewhat out with the ordinary

* Pay attention to transactions where the delivery address and cardholder address are different

* AVS or CSC checking does not fully remove all risks associated with transactions, but it removes the ability for fraud to be done base solely on acquiring a/c details with out having the credit card in person.

Card Present Fraud

Card Present Fraud has become increasingly hard to commit, and as a result it is no longer associated with being a white collar crime as is often the case with CNP fraud. Despite this, card present fraud is still an issue which merchants still have to deal with. Following certain protocols can help to limit the chances of you being affected, and ensure that your business is refunded by following the correct procedures.

* Ask your employees to look for people who may appear uncomfortable. They should not confront then based on that alone, but they should certainly be discreetly vigilant when they do.

* Check that the card number that is embossed matches the card number on the receipt. Pay particular attention to the last 4 digits if this has to be done discreetly and promptly. If they are different then it is important to act. In situations like this it is likely that skimming has taken place.
About the Author

Bob Donegan, a proficient Writer, writes for Payment Gateway sites. The author writes articles about Payment Gateway. Supplementary editorials that were written by Bob Donegan about Internet Merchant Account and Online Merchant Accounts are accessible on the internet.

Merchant Account

2007-05-03T04:06:00.000-07:00

Become a Merchant Account Provider
By Alison Cole

Merchant account providers help provide accounts to merchants. Banks are the most well known providers of merchant accounts. Also, there are third party merchant account providers that are extremely popular with international and Internet merchants. To become a successful merchant account provider, there are a few basics one needs to understand.

The merchant account provider requires the help of at least two other entities to grant a merchant account to a client. One is an ISO (Independent Service Organization) and the other is the underwriter. An ISO normally comes from the local debt collection. Their job is to verify the risks that come with granting the merchant account. They look at the operation of the applicant, as well his history and assets. Often, ISOs are also merchant account administrators, with the power to liquidate the merchant account in the event of something going wrong. The underwriter is typically a bank. Their responsibility lies with the cardholders. They reassess the website, the merchant's operations, and the report provided by the ISO. It is the underwriter that actually grants the merchant account to the applicant. Underwriters often request superficial and even structural changes to the merchant's website to protect the latter's interests.

The merchant account provider should be adept in dealing with high-risk accounts. These businesses include pharmacy accounts; adult accounts; travel accounts; telemarketing accounts, etc. They are high risk in nature because of their potential for unnecessary charge backs, legal violations, or they can simple give the merchant account provider bad publicity for accepting their kind of business.

Today, it is essential for someone wanting to become a merchant account provider to have some experience and knowledge with e-commerce doctrine, terminology and workings. Proficiency with computers is imperative.

Merchant Account Providers provides detailed information on Merchant Account Providers, Internet Merchant Account Provider, Merchant Account Service Providers, Become a Merchant Account Provider and more. Merchant Account Providers is affiliated with Free Webcam Chat.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole
http://EzineArticles.com/?Become-a-Merchant-Account-Provider&id=277238

Merchant Account

2007-05-02T04:54:00.001-07:00

Evaluating Merchant Services for Small Business
By Natalie Aranda

The selection of a Merchant Service provider is of utmost importance to the owner of a small business. There is no doubt that it is necessary to have one. The use of credit cards is on the increase. The introduction of debit cards and the wide dispersal of ATM machines has made carrying large sums of cash a less and less attractive option. It is important to understand the complete fee structure of a Merchant Service provider before agreeing to a preset contract arrangement. Although the discount rate is the most important of the fees, hidden and unexpected fees can seriously cut into profits. This could be fatal to the small business owner.

A good Credit Card Merchant Service should act as an extension of your business. The small business owner is used to dealing personally with all aspects of his operation. If the Merchant Service seems distant, complicated, and uninterested in your business, it might be a good idea to keep looking a bit longer. There is a curious mix in the nature of United States Merchant Services in the past years. On the one hand, competition has driven them to lower their rates and increase the quality of their services. This has certainly benefited the small business owner. At the same time, increased scrutiny of individual accounts has created some problems. Some business owners report that their accounts have been suddenly shut down or closed due to extremely good sales increases! This unusual situation has come about due to worries about illegal transactions, homeland security, and even money laundering.

Offshore Merchant Accounts are a viable option even for the small business owner. Although they have not felt quite the competitive pinch of the local institutions yet, they are starting to lower their rates as well. They are nowhere near as concerned with how you conduct your business, and they have important tax implications as well. Even the smallest business owner needs only a PC and an internet connection to enter the global marketplace. Many small businesses are entering the virtual marketplace, and a Credit Card Merchant Service that understands this can often be just the ticket. Your internet connection can let you investigate a worldwide assortment of financial institutions interested in your business. It is common sense that the more options available generally leads to finding the better deal.

It does not matter how small you are right now. You plan to grow and expand. This is why you are in business in the first place. Carefully evaluate all your options and do not rush into an arrangement that you will regret.

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. Some business owners report that their accounts have been suddenly shut down or closed due to extremely good sales increases! This unusual situation has come about due to worries about illegal transactions, homeland security, and even money laundering. An Offshore Merchant Account is a viable option even for the small business owner. Although they have not felt quite the competitive pinch of the local institutions yet, they are starting to lower their rates as well. If you consider going online, online merchant accounts are a valuable investment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Aranda
http://EzineArticles.com/?Evaluating-Merchant-Services-for-Small-Business&id=490654

Merchant Account

2007-04-30T02:05:00.001-07:00

Merchant Account

2007-04-28T05:19:00.001-07:00

Ecommerce Hosting - How To Choose A Merchant Account
By Stanley Spencer

For a number of e-Businesses, discovering the best way to
accept payments is a frustrating task. As the Internet is an
instant medium, it is highly recommended that a ecommerce
website must accept credit/debit cards and online checks as
modes of payment. In order to accept credit card transactions,
you require setting up a merchant account with a merchant bank.
As soon as you set up a merchant account, an online processor
can provide you with the software or gateway you need to
transact.

Selecting a suitable merchant account is considered to be one
of the most tough business decisions you make as their
existence has almost doubled and are now into more than
hundreds. At the time of choosing a merchant account, you
should be aware of the cost involved in setting up the account.
Refer to the list below and don’t forget to ask about each of
these items before agreeing to an account.

Application Fee
The application fee is compulsory so an agent or bank can
"research" you as a potential customer. Few firms are more
likely to repay this fee if your application is not accepted
while others won't. It is always advisable not to pay an
application fee that will not be refunded in case you are
rejected.

Minimum Account Billing
This fee requires you to do a least amount of business with a
merchant bank. A majority of banks require a monthly minimum of
at least 25 dollars in transaction fees. Anything less than 35
dollars minimum is satisfactory.

Statement Fee
In case there is a considerable minimum-billing need, then
there should be no statement fee. Still, a number of banks
charge this to cover administrative costs. If you are assessed
a statement fee, it shouldn't exceed 10 dollars per month.

Charge back Fee
In case a customer is not satisfied with their purchase, can't
get a refund, or is just looking for something free, you may be
faced with a charge back attempt. Under this, the bank will
return customer’s fund and debit your account for the full
amount. Always make sure to ask about your bank's charge back
policy. Most banks tend to be more loyal to cardholders than
merchants so protect yourself by preventing charge back fees.

Transaction Fee
This fee, which is usually about 2-3 percent of the purchase,
is assessed on every transaction. If a product costs US$100,
the bank would receive US$2-3 for their services. While rates
are relative to the nature of your business, anticipated volume
and your credit history, you should never pay more than 3
percent.

Setup Fee
This covers administrative work necessary to establish your
account. In case you're charged an installation or programming
fee, there shouldn't be a setup fee. There is a considerable
amount of work completed to create merchant accounts, so fees
of US$50-500 should be expected.

At the time of approaching banks or an intermediary about a
merchant account, always keep in mind the following tips:

1. Read the terms, conditions and anticipated charges
carefully. Don't sign anything until your questions are
answered to your satisfaction. Take time to understand exactly
what you are getting and how much you are paying to get it.

2. Do you require a reserve account? It shouldn't be, but if
you are a start-up Internet business, have poor to marginal
credit, anticipate low volumes or run a "risk" business, it may
be required.

3. How long before funds are available to you? Ideally it
should not take more than 72 hours from the time an order or
transaction is processed.

Given below are some of the options available with whom you can
setup your merchant account.

Paypal: With a free PayPal account one can accept credit cards
on your website immediately
Click bank: It offers distribution of digital products and has
an instant affiliate network promoting your business.

North American Bancard: It is a full service payment solution
provider of Credit, Debit, EBT, Check Conversion and Guarantee,
Checks by Phone & Net.

About the Author: Copyright © Active-Venture.com's
(http://www.active-venture.com) ecommerce hosting service. This
article may be reprinted freely online or in print, provided an
active link is made to http://www.active-venture.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Merchant Account

2007-04-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

Ecommerce: Landing the Merchant Account
By Scott Lindsay

Accepting credit card orders online is a convenient way to do business, especially for the consumer. There are online businesses that do not use credit card payments, but rather invoice and accept either cashiers check or money orders. However, in most cases this billing process results in a loss of more than half of a site’s potential customers.

The reasons many businesses do not like to accept credit cards are many and include financial issues such as transaction fees, discount rates, setup, statement and application fees as well as a minimum monthly fee. Combined this can take a significant bite out of your potential profit.

If you are developing an ecommerce website you may discover some sites for ecommerce development that offer a Merchant Account at no cost. Others may charge as much as $500 for this type of account. What a Merchant Account does is allow those credit card orders to be processed.

The Merchant Account is also necessary to the implementation of many online shopping carts. The two often work together.

One of the most compelling reasons to pursue a Merchant Account is to expand the potential growth of your ecommerce website. With a credit card sale the consumer has a level of assurance that they will either receive their product or they are not held liable for the purchase by the credit card company (in many instances). However, with an invoice/pre-payment plan the consumer may be wary of providing cash for something they haven’t received. This is especially true when the customer is new.

In essence, an invoicing system might work for existing customers, but in order to grow you may need to consider obtaining a Merchant Account for ecommerce and then expanding your marketing plan to increase the demand for your product. In turn, growing demand may more than offset the fees associated with credit card transactions.

Some small businesses might make use of a PayPal account in lieu of a Merchant Account in order to send and receive online payments. Fees are required in this arrangement as well and some consumers may not like establishing their own PayPal account just to make a payment, but this option may be more palatable for some online business startups or small businesses that operate a niche corporation.

The knowledge of available tools provides a certain empowerment. Online searches can lead you to a variety of Merchant Account providers, but knowing the options may help you manage your company goals and objectives. Ecommerce is a big step and the more you know about available options the easier it becomes to define the solution.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites.com at: http://www.highpowersites.com Start your own ebook business with BooksWealth at: http://www.bookswealth.com

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Ecommerce:-Landing-the-Merchant-Account&id=440168

Merchant Account

2007-04-25T02:21:00.001-07:00

Merchant Account - Credit Card Processing for Your Business
By Jimmy Wilson

Merchant Accounts allow you to conduct business online or offline with confidence to both you and your customers. Your merchant account is designed to make your business transactions a smooth exchange of goods and/or services for a payment method of credit cards, debit cards, online payment centers, faxes, or over the phone transactions.

Credit Card Processing can be much easier to set up for your online business, unless you choose to go through conventional means as you would for a brick and mortar business. If you need actual credit card processing terminals for the card swipe method, you can apply for that card processing separately.

A Merchant Account allows you the freedom of accepting credit card purchases and you don't have to wonder if the customer's account is in good standing, before you make the transaction. This is a must have in today's economy. More and more online customers are choosing to bank and purchase online, so in order to be conduct your business successfully, a merchant account is essential.

A merchant account provider gives you everything you need to get started accepting credit cards... with a payment gateway, usually with set-up fees and percentage rates per transaction charges. You need to check around for the best merchant account providers and see what they charge for set-up and processing your credit card transactions.

As you expand your merchant account, you may see a need for a credit card terminal, phone order processing, and/or a wireless credit card processor. This should also be a consideration for anticipated expansion to your business when shopping initially for a merchant account provider.
A Discount Merchant Account Provider is where you will find your best deals. With any business just starting out, the merchant account provider should grow with your business and when the time is right for your business to expand, you can rest assured your initial merchant account provider can make the necessary changes with you.

A good way to know a merchant account provider is reputable, check with the Better Business Bureau Online for feedback about the merchant account provider's scoring and if they have a high or low record of complaints. Obviously, all merchant account holders have had some bad dealings with dissatisfied customers, but the percentage rate will reflect whether they have too many to consider normal or average. Other questions you should ask:

_______________________________________________________

- What kind of merchant businesses do you accept?

- What if I have less than perfect credit?

- What credit cards will my merchant account be able to accept?

- Do I need a business license?

- What is the merchant discount rate?

- What is the Address Verification System?

- Will I receive a merchant account statement?

- How will I receive my money?

- How do I apply for a merchant account?

- How long does the approval process take?

- Is there a service phone number that I can call if I need help?

_______________________________________________________

For more information about opening a merchant account http://wealthsmith.com/merchant-account-credit-card-processing.htm

Jim has found a total package merchant account set-up ideal for entrepreneurs wanting to get started with a great opportunity. http://wealthsmith.com/merchant-account-credit-card-processing.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Wilson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Merchant-Account---Credit-Card-Processing-for-Your-Business&id=388597

Merchant Account

2007-04-17T04:06:00.000-07:00

Merchant Account

2007-04-16T04:16:00.001-07:00

Getting a Real Merchant Account or Using 3rd Party Processors Like PayPal(R) - Which is Better?
By Chris Rempel

A lot of folks see PayPal, ClickBank and other third-party agents as the optimal method of doing business excluding a Merchant Account. This view is substantiated because there is usually no application process, and a few companies, PayPal for example, do not have any fees up-front. This feature boosts their appeal to "shoestring" start-ups and companies that deal in online (digital) products. A bargain is not always the 'cheapest' product.

Why don't we discuss the real differences between going with a third-party company (such as PayPal) and setting up a merchant account of your own...

1. A regular merchant account will charge between $100 - $250 initially to set up, a minimum monthly fee (minimum charges incurred) of $25 and $5+ to send out statements. These companies will bill you somewhere around 1% to 4% or even more per transaction (discount rate) - this varies with your business type - and a majority also use some kind of flat-fee for transactions. These fees range from $0.05 to $0.25

In contrast, PayPal does not charge a set up fee. They do have a 2.9% discount rate and charge 30 cents for each transaction. CC Now lacks fees except a 9% per transaction charge. ClickBank's set-up fee is $49.95. They charge no monthly fee, but a transaction fee of $1 in addition to 7%. DigiBuy has a set-up fee of $29.95 and no monthly fee. They do charge 13.9% or $3 per transaction (you pay the larger fee).

To better explain the fees involved, essentially, as soon as you build up a noteworthy sales volume ($1000/month or more), the costs involved with utilizing companies such as ClickBank, CCNow and DigiBuy far exceed what you would pay for a true merchant account that really works with your business. The advertised discount rate is normally where most of the money is used anyway, and this is how third-parties usually take in all their money.

PayPal, however, has a quite affordable discount rate, and the sole extra charge incurred for a regular account is the 30 cents transaction fee. In fact, if the average charges of a traditional merchant account are compared with PayPal's strictly from a "numbers" standpoint, the only time it is less expensive to use a merchant account is if your transactions are upwards of $50,000 monthly.

This perspective is only taking considering the actual numbers involved - and not any other variables that crop up when conducting business online, or offline...

2. Initially, it seems like PayPal is by far the better choice. Their low discount rate and transaction fees are without equal, and there is almost no entry impediment. You can start a PayPal account at no cost in a few minutes, and you are able to begin taking payments the moment your details are verified. For some small-time sellers and internet entrepreneurs, PayPal is just the ticket.

However, there are huge shortcomings that are not disclosed in the black and white contrast table that deals with cash - the value of the service could be different after you understand the following:

a. Many times these alternatives don't deal with support requests quickly; there have been times that delays persisted for several weeks.

b. Paypal does not give you access to your customer's credit card number, neither do any of the other third party service bureaus

c. A great majority of the alternatives cannot calculate shipping charges and taxes in their shopping carts

d. Some other companies are only serviceable for large profit-margin sales because of the expensive charges per sale (eg. DigiBuy charges 14% per sale which is huge)

e. Many alternatives to the merchant account lack a shopping cart altogether (eg. ClickBank), while like Paypal's is crude to say the least

f. PayPal has been known to shut down accounts and freeze funds - without warning - based solely on the hunches of employees that feel that vendors have violated their terms of service.

g. If you're especially accomplished at marketing, and if you render an ample amount of sales during a launch - you should not be startled if your account ends up being "red-flagged", frozen and audited. And this will take place, once again, without warning.

In comparison, this is what you can anticipate from a merchant account:

1. If you are processing sales online, you will have the ability to enter your merchant details into an easy to use, uncomplicated menu-driven (shopping-cart) interface/gateway - and there are several that are readily obtainable, even free ones such as OSCommerce. These are is simple to use by potential clients, and all-inclusive in terms of assembling crucial data

2. You can allow you to modify the shopping cart to fit your precise purpose including the shipping costs and taxes

3. It will show you your clients' credit card numbers to make tracking, refunds, etc. easier.

4. It will assist you in fully automating your business's payment processing

In other words, when you are starting out and your sales volume is low, a more cost-effective approach could be to use services like PayPal. However, when your sales increase - or if you desire more control over your ordering process, at the same time saving cash on higher sales volumes, a merchant account is a better choice.

In conclusion, if you're sincere about making your small business succeed, you will sooner or later need to obtain a merchant account. It's more cost effective, and you have much greater control over the money being processed.

Chris Rempel highly recommends http://www.AcceptByPhone.com, which enables anyone to accept credit cards using any touch-tone phone (or cellular) for a FRACTION of the regular cost - and it's completely mobile.

Find out why Chris and others think this service is the ultimate mobile merchant account service.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Rempel
http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-a-Real-Merchant-Account-or-Using-3rd-Party-Processors-Like-PayPal(R)---Which-is-Better?&id=428271

Merchant Account

2007-04-14T00:36:00.001-07:00

Merchant Account Fees to Business Owners
By Debbie Dragon

As a business owner, when you set up a merchant account to enable your customers the ability to pay for your products or services using credit cards (or debit cards with a Visa or Mastercard Logo), you will have some fees associated with the credit card transactions.

The specific fee amounts that you pay will depend on the merchant account provider you select to provide your credit card processing service; however, there is a list of typical fees that the majority of providers charge business owners in exchange for the ability to accept credit as payment.

Discount Rates

Visa and MasterCard have what is called “interchange” rates. They range in price- so in order to make it easier, the merchant providers created three categories.

Qualified Discount Rate – a percentage is paid from each dollar charged.

Mid-Qualified Rate – does not apply to merchants that manually enter transactions.

Non-Qualified Rate – added to the qualified rate n certain transactions. Also get billed this higher rate if you don’t use address verification service (AVS) when you manually enter transactions.

Other fees many merchant account providers charge their business customers include, but are not limited to the following:

Reward Cards- most merchant providers charge higher rates if the consumer pays using a reward card.

Transaction Fees- a specific, flat rate that is paid on every sale processed through the credit card processor. (Sometimes the transaction fee is called the interchange fee, authorization fee, or per inquiry fee).

Address Verification Service (AVS)- merchant account providers charge a small fee for the validation service to ensure that the billing address provided in the online checkout process matches the issuing bank’s records. Not using this service will result in hefty charges on the processing of the card for that sale.

Batch Fees- most merchant account providers require that customers close out their transactions a minimum of one time each day. The batch fee pays for expenses for the gateway or software that accesses the credit card processing network. If you don’t have transactions to process, there is no batch fee to pay.

Monthly Statement or Customer Service Fee – most merchant account providers charge a monthly fee in order to cover their monthly costs of operation (paying their customer service team for example).

Monthly Minimum Fee- some merchant account providers require you process a minimum amounts of sales per month, or you pay a monthly minimum. Monthly minimums tend to range between $15 and $40 per month.

Gateway Fees- for some merchant accounts, there are fees for internet and mail order merchants to use an internet gateway service such as Authorize.net, although some merchant providers will cover this fee on their customer’s behalf as part of the package deal. If you are solely an internet business, you’ll want to look for an internet merchant account that includes the gateway service as part of the package.

Annual Fees- often charged by merchant account providers- particularly the merchant account providers that offer free terminal equipment. There are numerous merchant account providers that do not charge an annual fee, so you may want to shop around if the first few you look at require an annual fee. Sometimes it would be cheaper to purchase the equipment than to pay an ongoing annual fee.

Cancellation/Termination Fees- Most merchant accounts require a contract agreement of one or two years and if you cancel early, you are likely to be charged a termination fee.

Chargeback/Retrieval Fees- When a customer requests a refund (or the customer’s credit card issuer requests a refund), merchant account providers typically charge a “chargeback” fee.

This article has been provided by Creditor Web. Creditor Web has the articles and other credit card processing resources to help you choose the right provider.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Dragon
http://EzineArticles.com/?Merchant-Account-Fees-to-Business-Owners&id=498057

Merchant Account

2007-04-13T00:35:00.001-07:00

How To Accept Credit Cards Without a Merchant Account
By J. Stephen Pope

To increase sales on your website, you must accept credit
cards. To process credit cards, you could apply for a
merchant account through your bank or other financial
institution.

Sometimes, though, you would be further ahead to use the
services of a credit card processor. This is especially
true when you are first starting out and have more
limited resources. In this way, you may process credit
card transactions without the high front-end costs and
requirements of a merchant account.

Here, then, are just a few ways of accepting credit cards
without a merchant account. I personally use all of these
vendors and can recommend them wholeheartedly.

1. Clickbank

If your product is downloadable (such as electronic books
or software), you might consider ClickBank.com . For a
$49.95 initial fee, you can process credit cards and
on-line cheques for $1.00 per transaction plus 7.5% of
sales.

You receive additional exposure through free listing on
their website and through the search facilities of other
websites, such as CBMall.com .

As an added bonus, you have your own built-in affiliate
program. You decide what commission (from 1% to 75%) you
would like to pay your affiliates.

2. PayPal

PayPal.com has no initial fees. For just 2.9% of sales
and $ .30 per transaction (and sometimes less), you can
receive money from anyone.

Also, you can pay others by credit card or chequing account
without supplying your personal credit information to the
payee. PayPal can be used to collect money from your
auctions, website sales, or even from friends or clients.

3. PaySystems

PaySystems.com can handle either intangible (downloadable)
or tangible (shippable) products. For an initial fee of
$49.00, you can accept all major credit cards as well as
online checks. Fees are just 3.95% of sales and $1.00 per
transaction. Alternatively, you may pay 5.5% of sales and
$ .35 per transaction.

For this, you receive shopping cart, integration with
third-party affiliate programs (such as ClixGalore.com ),
fraud screening, multi-currency transactions, toll-free
support, marketing tools, and more.

For more information on how to accept credit cards without
a merchant account, visit:
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/creditcards.html

RESOURCE BOX:

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc.,
http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients
to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.

For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Stephen_Pope
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Accept-Credit-Cards-Without-a-Merchant-Account&id=160

Merchant Account

2007-04-12T02:03:00.001-07:00

Benefits of a Merchant Account for Your Business
By Michael Russell

If you own a business, then you can truly benefit from signing up for one or more merchant accounts for your business. Merchant accounts are established by millions of business all over the world and such accounts help business owners bring in serious money. Plus, there are myriad benefits derived from having one or more merchant accounts for your business. Let's explore the benefits below.

You will be surprised by the advantages afforded to you when you apply for merchant accounts for your business. First, with one or more merchant accounts, you can accept a variety of credit cards from your customers. In fact, once you apply for one or more merchant accounts, you can start accepting Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express from your customers. Thus, with a variety of ways to accept payments, you will find that merchant accounts for your business help you gain significant income and will ultimately increase your bottom line.

Secondly, with the advent of the Internet, many business owners are now conducting their business online. With merchant accounts, you can dramatically increase your sales. Customers will enjoy the ease in which they can make purchases and they will, in turn, recommend your web-based business to others. Finally, word-of-mouth advertising is not only free, but it is also the best form of advertising there is.

Thirdly, with merchant accounts, you can make any and all of your customers feel totally secure in making their purchases. Customers will be able to make secure purchases from your website and such security goes a long way. When a customer feels secure while making purchases, it promises their return to your web-based business for future merchandise and/or services.

Fourthly, with merchant accounts, you will be able to keep better track of your financial transactions. When you sign up for merchant accounts for your business, you will receive a monthly statement of all of your transactions and the money you have received. Such statements are invaluable come tax time. With your statements you can easily determine taxes and make your job or your accountant's job that much easier.

Applying for merchant accounts is a simple process, one that takes merely a matter of moments to complete. In fact, you can apply for merchant accounts online. Further, once you have applied for a number of merchant accounts, it can take one to ten days to find out if you are approved. Once you have been approved you will receive notification and instructions on how to successfully implement your new merchant account and how to integrate it with your current business workings.

Finally, with the simplicity of applying for merchant accounts for your business and with all of the benefits derived from having merchant accounts, it is no wonder that businesses rely on the use of such accounts daily. Further, with the Internet increasingly becoming a forum for business transactions, merchant accounts are becoming a necessity for web-based businesses. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for your merchant account today!

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Merchant Accounts

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Benefits-of-a-Merchant-Account-for-Your-Business&id=117783

Merchant Account

2007-04-11T02:09:00.001-07:00

Merchant Account

2007-04-10T04:07:00.001-07:00

The Easy Way to Acquire a Merchant Account for an Adult Business
By Jessica Gables

There are two surefire ways to make money off the Internet. First, find something (product, service, etc) that could arouse the interest of your target audience. If this is a niche product -- something that you and a handful of other adult merchants specialize in -- much better. It would only mean you have less competition and a bigger probability to succeed. As this article deals with something more towards the adult industry, let's take a look at that in particular. Focusing on general adult entertainment can be too broad and tiring to maintain. Try to shift your focus onto more specific fields (ie adult toys, dating service, live webcam feeds, blogs and real life stories and so much more).

Second and more important of the two, get a merchant account service provider that would enable you to accept payments online. Unless you're running an adult entertainment business purely as a hobby, you would want to collect money off your patrons. All your hard work would be a great waste if your website is not equipped as an e-commerce site. Being able to accept major credit cards whether for recurring subscriptions or one-time purchases is the key to running a successful online adult business.

For the first problem, there's an easy solution. After all, you wouldn't be in this business if you didn't already have materials in the first place, right? So you can either ride on your creativity (for blogs, stories and photography), buy available content online (videos and photos), hire talents (live webcam feeds) or have good sourcing (for toys and other adult paraphernalia). That shouldn't be a big problem then.

The second one, as previously mentioned, is more important, and even more difficult to acquire. Any financial institution, whether banks or other alternative channels, will go through its clients with utmost care and consideration. Lending money or processing it for other people is a big responsibility; as such you might have to go through the strictest standards to get a merchant account.

One very important thing you have to understand though, adult businesses are considered high-risk businesses. This means that while merchant account providers might be tough on regular online merchants, expect them to deal with you with an iron fist. This may mean a lot of things, including more paperwork to present, longer approval time, even outright denial. Also part of the problems that adult merchants might encounter would be the higher fees. If you bear all these in mind when looking for an account, you should be able to get through the process much easier.

Now, off to the more important questions. As you go thorough your list of possible merchant account service providers, you should also begin to prepare a second list. This one should detail what each payment processor asks from you. If you find that some of the requirements are common across all payment processing service providers, then by all mean, jot them down. Then, proactively prepare a package with all the things they require. This would lessen your work of compiling each and every document every time you send out an application form. Here are samples of the kind of information that you should anticipate the merchant account provider would ask for:

1.Pertinent details about the company (ie, name of corporation, full address of where you conduct business, contact details of the company representative and much more)

2.Website information (including URL, years online, current traffic, etc.)

3.A general description of the types of products and services sold on your website

4.Information about your existing payment processor (name of the current merchant account provider, how long you were with them, the kind of relationship you had, the service they were able to provide, etc.)

5.Sales volume

6.Average number of sale transactions (per month)

7.Chargeback volume ratio

8.Refund ratio by volume

In terms of paperwork, different merchant account providers require different things. In any case, you should be prepared to provide:

Completed application form (issued by the merchant account provider)

Statements from your current processor (if you have one)

Articles of Incorporation (or Certificate of Incorporation)

Annual / Quarterly financial report from the company's public accountant

Letters of reference (in most cases, from other financial institutions)

Information about the corporation's board of directors

Proper identification for members of the board

PCI (AIS/SDP) compliance certification

To protect its assets, the merchant account provider may also ask you questions about the company's practices. This may include questions about your customer support ability, shipping fees and estimated delivery time, return policy, cancellation policy, existing fraud scrubbing methods and other such matters. Bear with them as they try to assess your business. Keep in mind that not all merchant account service providers cater to the adult business, so they really need to find out about all these. There are some businesses out there that already understand the adult industry. You can also try a number or other service providers out there. Use a reliable search engine to come up with a list. Try keywords like “adult merchant account” or “adult payment processor” to generate a fairly long list.

Knowing all these will not guarantee an approval but the information can prepare you for the challenge of looking for a merchant account for your adult business. Requirements differ between payment processors, but there is one thing they have in common: they want to help you. This may mean knowing everything about you and your adult business and if you can also help them fulfill a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

Jess Gables is a traveling journalist and author of numerous articles published in travel and hotel service sites, television programs and print materials. She is also a large contributor of articles to various online resource sites, garnering the reputation of being a trusted author on various topics. Gables is a content producer for various resource websites, such as AdultMerchantPay (http://www.adultmerchantpay.com). She has a background in photography, videography, pre and post production and online affiliate marketing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Gables
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Easy-Way-to-Acquire-a-Merchant-Account-for-an-Adult-Business&id=494025

Merchant Account

2007-04-09T00:36:00.000-07:00

Will Your Merchant Account Let You Accept A Credit Card By Phone
By Jim Saka

With so many concerns today with identity theft and stolen credit cards, the safety of transacting business with a merchant who is willing to accept a credit card by phone remains on the minds of many people. We know that with secure websites, firewalls, and other safety precautions, the Internet is usually a safe place for transacting business using a credit card, but what about using the phone for credit card processing? How safe is it to give your credit card information to someone on the other end of a telephone? This is especially of concern with so many people today using only wireless or cordless telephones.

Unfortunately, many people still think of the telephone as a mechanism that is safer than that of the Internet, but the problem with that line of thinking is that there are no safeguards built into the telephone. It's easy for anyone with even a minor knowledge of electronics to learn how to tap into someone's phone line and record their conversations, including those that obtain personal information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account information, and much more. This is simpler still with cordless phones that actually access radio towers rather than telephone lines. Remember the influx of irregularities of the 900 numbers that were billed to people's phone lines as direct dial access, and there was no one home at the time? Many fought with the phone companies over that, and some were stuck paying bills for charges they never made. Consider if things are really much different than before? It appears that with all the advances in technology, it is likely that the problem has worsened.

For those who think it's safer to transact business with a merchant who is willing to accept a credit card by phone, think of this-the person at the other end of that line may take your credit card numbers and use them for his or her own benefit. With a computer-generated purchase on a secure network, no one at the company sees your credit card information. It is securely stored within the confines of the credit card processing system, which is why many online retailers ask for the secure three-digit code that is on the back of your credit card. The code identifies that card with an individual person as it is making its way from the SSL network to the computer of the credit card processing company, and finally, the credit card issuer. None of the personal information reaches the hands or eyes of a person unless you fail to secure your information, and it finds its way into the hands of a hacker. For the shopper who wants to protect his or her identity, the chances of that happening are far less than the risks you take when placing an order over the hone to a person.

Of course, there are those who don't have access to a computer that rely on the integrity of merchants who will accept a credit card by phone, and this will likely never change. However, for those customers, it's important that you follow all precautions, not the least of which is to never give your credit card number to anyone who calls you. If you are not the one making the original phone call, then protect your personal information. Instead, ask for a number to return the call.

Want more information about lowering your fees on your merchant account or credit card processing fees? Contact Jim Saka and learn how his merchant services company can benefit your company by enabling you to accept credit cards online or at a place of business. Visit United Bank Card's e-commerce merchant services website at http://www.unitedbankcardps.com for more details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Saka
http://EzineArticles.com/?Will-Your-Merchant-Account-Let-You-Accept-A-Credit-Card-By-Phone&id=508300

Merchant Account

2007-03-19T03:41:00.000-07:00

Gambling Merchant Accounts – 10 Points to Ponder
By Jessica Gables

Choosing a gambling merchant account, much like choosing any other merchant account or online payment gateway, requires a good deal of thought and consideration, as the main purpose of an Internet payment gateway is to ensure the safe and secure transaction of funds between an online service provider and a client.

There are a multitude of merchant accounts to be found on the Internet today, with some of them choosing to handle transactions for specific online businesses, while others choose to handle all forms of online businesses that require a payment gateway. Certain forms of businesses have been classified as “high risk”, primarily because of some aspect of the business.

A high risk merchant account is usually defined by factors such as type of industry, credit history, processing history, average ticket, monthly processing volume, and location of business.

Businesses that are considered high risk include adult content, pharmaceuticals, gambling, magazine subscriptions, streaming or downloadable content, dating services, travel and travel related services.

Here are some pointers to consider when looking for a viable gambling merchant account provider:

1. Make sure to do a market research. Talk to someone who has spent years in the business, you can learn a lot of important things from them.

2. Be sure to check the big numbers, cancellation fees, and most importantly, the hidden fees up front. A merchant account provider who really wants to do business with you will at least try to work with you to adapt to your capabilities.

3. Be sure to compare the different discount rates offered by the various payment processors. There will always be a merchant account provider offering good services online with a much better rate than others.

4. Be careful about advertisements that can be misleading or appear suspicious. If they lie on their ads then most likely they will do the same to you.

5. Verify the integrity of the company. Do a background check and see if the company is known for good business practices and if they have transacted with companies like yours.

6. Do not make a habit of signing a contract too hastily. Read the application carefully because some contracts carry a non-cancellation clause or penalty. If a company will not leave an application with you overnight, they are probably trying to use "high pressure" tactics so that you don't have time to really know what you are signing.

7. Find out what people are saying about the merchant account provider and see which provider has the best reputation. Oftentimes the best form of marketing is by word of mouth, as these connote first hand experience and not just hearsay.

8. In choosing a credit card payment processor, check out the fees and services. Compare which one will work best for your business.

9. Check out how and when will you get the payment. Some merchant account providers have a minimum amount before they send you the payment. Others may charge you with wire transfer fees.

10. Avoid companies with high monthly fees. These providers will drain you of your resources. Many of these companies rely on those monthly fees to compensate their marketing and sales efforts.

Jess Gables is a traveling journalist and author of numerous articles published in travel and hotel service sites, television programs and print materials. She is also a large contributor of articles to various online resource cites, garnering the reputation of being a trusted author on various topics. Gables is a content producer for various resource websites, and she has a background in photography, videography, pre and post production and online affiliate marketing.

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