Credit Card Merchant Service

E-Commerce Business Merchant Service

When your business accepts credit cards online, sales can be expected to increase by 50 to 400 percent. In today’s society, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to compete if your online business doesn’t accept credit cards. Another aspect to consider is that online businesses that don't allow electronic payments can lose over 80 percent in impulse sales.

Shop for the Best Merchant Service Deal

With the wide variety of companies offering deals to merchants, it’s best to search for the credit card merchant service that not only meets your business needs but presents other special offers, too. Some of these special features can include:

• No application fee
• Fast approvals
• Discount Rates
• PC and MAC software
• Free shipping
• Free technical support
• Merchant credit processing
• Free checks by web, phone and fax

Free checks by web, phone and fax allow merchants to accept checks from customers via email, through your website, over the phone or by fax. Some credit card merchant services offer this benefit for free. This presents the perfect solution to avoid waiting for customer checks sent by mail, and also helps to add impulse sales to your bottom line.

Application Fees and Discount Rates

Application fees can run as much as $250 or more. As you shop for the right credit card merchant service, be aware that some waive these bank application fees.

Banks charge merchants a discount rate which is the percentage of each transaction that the credit card processing company charges to handle the transaction. Different rates apply for different services.

Real Time Transactions

Real-time transactions allow customers to submit credit card information over the Internet. The charge is approved within seconds. Funds appear in your bank account within 48-72 hours.

Applying For a Credit Card Merchant Service

Retailers need to find a credit card merchant service with great prices and a dedication to quality and service. Many such companies offer a full range of customized credit card processing solutions and allow merchants to apply online.

• Paynet Systems
• AMS Advanced Merchant Services
• Applied Merchant Systems
• GotMerchant.com
• Network Solutions

Credit Card Merchant Service Cautions

When you sign up for a credit card merchant service, do your homework first or you may find yourself stuck with a contract peppered with inflated fees. Be sure to understand what you are signing up for or you may find yourself saddled with timed rate increases or extremely high rates for different types of transactions.

The service commitments a credit card merchant service provides can prove as important as rates and fees. When you need customer service, or have a problem, you’ll want fast, efficient service because if your service is down or experiencing problems it robs you of the ability to process charges for a few days. When looking for a credit card merchant service think about your business and what will benefit it in the long term.

The old axiom if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is holds true when shopping for a credit card merchant service. Watch out for suspiciously low rates, make sure you understand the contract before you sign it, and ask for details on what it takes to cancel the contract and if there is a termination fee or time commitment. Not every credit card merchant service requires a contract, so you may want to consider a more flexible company that doesn’t require a long term commitment.