Accepting Credit Cards Payments For Offline Businesses

by: Keith Baxter

Any smart business owner knows that accepting credit cards as a payment option will dramatically increase revenues. Not only do credit cards offer customers the convenience and ease of not having to carry around cash or checks, it lends a sense of professionalism to your establishment as well. The process of applying to become a credit card merchant can be a bit confusing and frustrating, so let's take a look at how it all works. The Credit Card Account The credit card account that you will use is called a merchant account. These accounts are different from a regular business checking account in that they are accounts that have been secured through a bank that offers credit card processing. This account enables you to process your credit card transactions through their banking establishment. This is a safe and secure process which provides both you and the buyer security and protection from the beginning of the transaction right through to the end. Since most of the merchant accounts are offered by a third party vendor, you are not obligated to use any specific bank or institution. You are free to choose the one that offers the options that will work best for you and your company. What you do need to pay attention to are the fees. These fees will come in three different forms. First, the initial setup fee (pretty self-explanatory), moving on to the percentage fee (the provider will take a percentage of each transaction based on amount of sale), and then ending with the monthly service fee. Read the fine print of any contract before signing it. Pay attention to all three fee categories, not just one. Also, look for contract obligations. Some providers will offer you great deals but will want you to sign on with them for a long period of time. You need to be aware of what, if any, penalties will be charged for getting out of the contract if things don't work out. How Do I Actually Get Paid Obviously, this is pretty important. If a customer has used a credit card, no money has actually changed hands. Since more and more customers are now using credit cards, how that money gets into your account and how fast has become vitally important. Any of the reputable merchant account providers will provide the business owner with payment into their account within the first 24 to 48 hours of the initial transaction. Whether that customer has a balance on that card is not a concern of yours. The bank will pay you anyway. If the customer disputes the said transaction, the bank is usually under no obligation to pay the business owner, especially if that dispute has been deemed acceptable. If a business owner has a high number of legitimacy claims against them, the provider may just drop them. The majority of the time, though, things go as planned and the money shows up in your account within a day or two. About the author: Keith Baxter made it his mission after college to educate as many people as possible to the advantages and disadvantages of credit through a widespread re-education initiative. You can find out more about Keith and what he's up to at http://www.credit-card-debt-consolidation.net

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1st Steps To A Merchant Account

by: Steve Jones

It's a fact that traders who are in a position to accept credit cards from their customers can expect to make more sales than those who only accept cash transactions. According to "Jumping Through the Merchant Account Hoops" by Khera Communications, the average credit card transaction is $40, compared to just $9 for cash sales. So, by not accepting credit cards you put yourself at a huge business disadvantage compared to your competition. It may also surprise you to learn that credit card transactions can cost your business less in transaction charges. A case study by Coopers & Lybrand found that it costs, on average, 2.7% to process a credit card transaction as compared to 4.8% for cash and 4.0% for checks. The reason for this perhaps surprising statistic is that cash and cheques require more handling by financial institution staff whereas credit cards tend to be processed electronically for the most part these days. To offer a credit card payment facility to your customers you need to set up a merchant account. Typically you will also need to have equipment installed to accept the payments. If you wish to accept credit cards Online you will also need to sign up with a payment gateway such as CyberCash or VirtualNet to allow for instant authorizations over the Internet. The provider of your business bank account should be your first port of call for a merchant account, but if you're looking to provide an Online credit card payment service to your customers, it's important that you make sure that any merchant account provider can demonstrate a track record with accepting Online payments. Applying for and being accepted for a merchant account can take anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks or more. Your chances of being approved relate directly to your already-existing business track record. That's why your own business bank is a good first option, because they know you and your business better than anyone else. How much can you expect to pay? The cost of a merchant account can vary enormously mainly based on the perceived risk associated with the business applying for the facility and the area of business they are involved in. Typically you can expect start up costs to be in the $190 - $300 range with processing fees on individual transactions from around 2% variable depending on sales volume. The more business you're going to be putting through your merchant account, the more you'll be in a position to negotiate with your merchant account provider. About the author: Steve Jones is Website admin for http://www.merchant-account.no1-source.infowhich provides all the latest news and information sources on merchant accounts

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Accepting credit cards-Explained

by: chris dorning

"You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the by lines are included and all links remain active. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated." Email notice of intent to publish is greatly appreciated but not Required: chris_dorning@yahoo.com Accepting credit cards-Explained Firstly let me point out that it is very difficult, to compete in a highly competitive market without being able to accept credit cards as payment from your customers. Most people who buy online use their credit cards to pay. To accept credit cards you need to be accredit merchant. There is a big misconception that becoming a “merchant” is a lengthy and expensive process that takes months to complete. This is not the case anymore, there are now many agencies on th enet who are more than happy to give you “merchant” status. What follows is step-by-step guide to finding and setting up your merchant account. Firstly, deciding which company you want to use. You obviously want an agency which is reputable, has been around for a few years at least, and one which offers monthly direct payment straight into your bank account. These, may sound like obvious requirements but believe it or not most credit agencies still pay their customers through cheques. Now I don’t know about you but if I have a really good month, I definitely do not want all my money being sent insecurely through he very questionable postal service. Not to mention the fact that you will wait at least 1 week to receive your money. After I became I credit merchant my business went up 27% in one week and has remained fairly stable since that time.

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Business Plan Basics

by: Dick Pennington

You're excited. You have a great idea for a profitable online business. Maybe it is an original idea that has not been marketed online before. Maybe you have come up with a new spin on the ordinary. Whatever it is that has influenced you to start your online business, be sure that you have a plan before you begin. This is not the time to "pick it up as you go". These are some basic things that should be included in your business plan. The business summary should give a brief description of the entire business and is an integral part of the overall business plan. After you have completed the business summary you should begin to list the objectives or the goals that you want to accomplish through the business. Next and perhaps most importantly, you should develop your marketing plan. The marketing plan will address all the specifics of the business. When developing the marketing strategy you should consider the following: The target market. The target market is the customers that you expect to see visiting your site. For example will your product be more appealing to college students or those who are in retirement? Consider the competition for your product when determining the marketing strategy. Choose a product that will be seen as unique and useful. Visit sites that are offering the same or similar products. Find out the cost, and how they are marketing their product. Finds out the pros and cons of their business and try to improve your product based on their flaws. Research the various methods for advertising online. You should become educated about search engines and how they work since each one is different. Also be sure that you know how to submit your site to search engines. You should be prepared to spend a small amount of money on advertising, but the profits that you will gain from the advertisements will prove to be money well spent. Think about pricing. Again, look at the competition and see what similar products are selling for. Pricing can play a big role in the success of your product since selling a product well below the average price may lead customer to think that there is a problem with the product or that it is not of the best quality. However, pricing items too high could also detour customers. Determine the shipping method. Be sure that you know how products will be shipped so that you can have shipping details clearly posted on your site. If you are shipping things of great value, you should consider providing shipping insurance. Also think about shipping outside the country that you live in. Think about the different methods of payment that you will accept. If your business does not accept credit cards, you should be ready to give up half if not more of your sales. If you decide to accept credit cards will you use a merchant account or will you use a third party credit card processing center? Both will help you get started and the third party processing center will handle all of the business so you don''t have to. You should decide which you will use and also if you will accept checks or money orders. It is essential to have a secure server when taking credit cards. These few things will help your online business to become a great success and also provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have thoroughly thought about and planned for the opening of your online business. About the author: Dick Pennington can help YOU start your own profitable business on the Internet within the next 24 hours... To learn more, visit: http://www.LearnToWinBig.com/pips.html

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How to register a company

by: Jakob Jelling

Make sure you’ve chosen the best name for your company first! If you're wondering how to register a company, you're not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people try to start their own businesses each year, and often they end up having more trouble than they should just because it is difficult to register a company if you are unfamiliar with the process. It would be nice if there was a simple, universal guide to registering a company - unfortunately, that is more or less impossible. Company registration is different in every country in every part of the world. Not only that, but it is subject to legal changes at any time. The first thing you need to do, no matter where you are, is to make sure that there are no registered companies with your chosen name. If there are, you'll have to choose a new name. If there aren't then you're ready to move onto the next step. When you choose your company's name, make sure that it is short, and preferably something memorable - the more your name is memorable, the more likely it is that you'll get word of mouth business from people. If your company is going to operate on the internet, then you should also check to see if the domain names that you would want to use are already taken. Essentially, if they are already taken and you think that it would be too hard to purchase the domain, then you should probably think about changing your company name. The best domain names, after all, would just be the name of your company, since these are the easiest to remember. Once you decide on a company name, you need to make sure that you get all the proper forms. By registering as a company, you can get a lot of benefits that you wouldn’t have if you were just selling things on your own. For instance, you’d be able to get a business credit card, and you could benefit from the help that some small businesses are eligible for. Finally, even if you are going to register your company in the United States, you should also pay attention to the different rules for each state. You may want to choose which state to register in based on what the rules and restrictions for that state are. About the author: Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.comVisit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

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Free Credit Card Merchant Account

by: Shane Penrod

If you have been doing business for a few years, you probably have heard about the benefits of opening a free credit card merchant account to expand the availability of your products and services. However, there are so many banks and other financial institutions competing for your business that you may be unsure which one to partner with in this exciting venture. One attractive option is to look for a free credit card merchant account offer. Applying for a merchant account is easy and often can be handled online in a few moments’ time. However, it may be difficult to know which bank to choose. One may offer a lower transaction fee for credit card processing. Another may vie for your business by offering a no-fee installation of credit card processing equipment. But you could benefit more from a free credit card merchant account if the card does not come with hidden fees or limits. Start by shopping for a merchant account with banks that offer low-interest rate credit cards or a no-rate credit card merchant account. If your favorite bank does not currently offer this type of deal, ask about one. Perhaps they will consider offering you a special deal if you are a valued customer. Otherwise, when considering a merchant account credit card from a relatively unknown institution, compare the terms of the card to those from other banks to make sure you get the best deal. Sometimes a “free” credit card deal may actually hide or incur unexpected costs. For example, while you may not have to pay any up front costs when opening the account, like an application fee, you may be billed later for an annual membership fee that entitles you to use the credit card. Failing to pay this fee may result in the cancellation of your credit privileges. A free credit card merchant account should be free in every sense of its use, so ask about contingency fees or possible changes in terms later on as the economy shifts. You don’t want to get comfortable using the card only to find in a few months that you are being billed for services you did not expect to pay for. A free credit card merchant account can be just the thing to launch you into e-commerce use, however. You can use your credit account to purchase credit card processing equipment or other innovations that will upgrade your company’s image to impress customers and draw in new clients. Or you can use your free credit card merchant account to experiment with other marketing techniques, attend conventions, or try a new line of merchandise or services. If you have demonstrated skill in using business credit responsibly and in keeping with your business income and expenses, this type of credit card account may be just what you need to move your business forward and expand company interests or operations for your customers’ benefit. Check out all the terms and conditions when you apply to get the best free credit card merchant account. About the author: Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-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 tohttp://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

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Wireless Merchant Account?

by: Shane Penrod

A wireless merchant account can bring your business into the 21st century by enabling you to accept credit payments while on the go. All you have to do is get approved for a merchant account and then purchase or lease a wireless credit card processor that can be transported from one location to another by employees who collect credit payments from customers. Here’s how it works. 1. Apply for a wireless merchant account by finding a reputable merchant services provider to partner with. You can browse many kinds of merchant account Websites on the Internet to find those that will approve your company for a commercial account that will let you accept credit card payments using a wireless processor. Shop for banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions that offer merchant services. Apply online, by mail, or in person with local providers. In many cases you can get a response within a matter of hours, or at most, a day or two. Most underwriters look at an application to determine whether a company has a good credit history, is able to make monthly payments on a merchant account, and is not involved in a questionable or unsavory business. 2. Once you have been approved for a wireless merchant account, you can immediately select the equipment you would like to use. Check out several units to find one that is the right size and weight for your company’s needs, especially if it will be transported for off-site credit processing. You also should be eligible to get a regular credit card processor to plug into any outlet in your store or another location, if preferred. Many units combine printer and terminal for greater convenience. Purchase prices vary greatly, but you can expect to spend several hundred dollars to purchase a quality wireless unit. Your merchant account extras can add to the cost, with the potential for application, maintenance, service, gateway, and discount fees, among others. Find out in advance what you will have to pay for a particular deal up front, monthly, and annually, and make sure the expenses fit with your company operating budget. 3. After implementing wireless merchant account equipment, see how it works for your customers and the degree to which the company benefits. Processing credit payments can help to increase profits, since more customers may be eager to make purchases when they have the flexibility to pay in credit as opposed to paying in cash or by check. If the initial set-up works well, you may decide to move on to other electronic items, like a pager, a check and debit processor, and other types of equipment that can help your company operate smoothly and efficiently. Don’t go overboard with buying fancy features that you really don’t need. Simply purchase or lease the technology that addresses a specific need that you have already identified. If it works, you can always add more later. If it doesn’t, you’re only out the investment on the one item. About the author: Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-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 tohttp://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

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High Volume Merchant Accounts

by: Shane Penrod

As your business continues to grow and customers buy more goods and services, you may want to consider joining those who are applying for high volume merchant accounts. When you are approved for a high volume account, you can get good prices on mid- and non-qualified sales, along with debit processing, monthly statement fees, and additional expenses. The greater your volume of business, the better deals you may be eligible for when working with financial institutions or companies who can provide this valuable service. The way it works is that you apply for a merchant account at a bank that offers great pricing and low-cost fees. These can be packaged in a variety of ways. For example, you may want to pay a few cents for each transaction, but if you experience high-volume sales, this could become a costly option. The other route to go is to pay a low monthly overall percentage, often between 1% and 2%, for the entire sales volume you experience via your credit card and debit-processing program. High volume merchant accounts can save you money over time because you will be able to pay smaller fees for each transaction or get a better rate for the amount of profit that you bring in. If you currently have a sizable volume of sales and perhaps expect to do more in the near future, keep in mind that high volume merchant accounts have helped others in your position. Your customers will appreciate the ease of using up-to-the-minute technology for processing their orders with your company. And your employees likewise will be happy to turn their attention to other tasks within the organization. Your company may even see profit increases within the first few months as the word spreads about your merchant account status and credit card processing capabilities. You can apply for high volume merchant accounts through your local bank or a preferred financial institution that can process Visa and MasterCard credit accounts. Your application should demonstrate that your company is not involved in illegal or shady dealings that the underwriters are unlikely to approve, including gambling, pornography, pharmaceutical offerings, and telemarketing. Then you will want to be able to show that your company is fiscally solvent and maintains a solid credit history. You might include documentation to support the notion that your company will be able to pay merchant account fees in a timely manner. In upgrading your business to accommodate e-commerce solutions like credit card processors through a merchant account, be sure to calculate in advance the type of fees or expenses that will be affiliated with this move. You don’t want to start something you can’t finish, so project related expenditures for the coming year to see how they fit with your company budget. If it appears a credit card processor or wireless unit will tax your operating budget, you may be able to take out a low-interest loan to fund the initial start-up expenses. Discuss this option and any other questions you might have with the bank representative who manages applications for high volume merchant accounts. About the author: Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-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 tohttp://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

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Credit Card Processing

by: Shane Penrod

Does your company need credit card processing? It does if you can benefit from the following: Credit Card Processing Enhances Your Professional Status. When customers know that you accept credit payments, they often are more likely to pay more, return often, and tell their friends if the service is good. This is because a company that makes credit payment options available to clients is telling the world that they care about customers and they are professional enough to invest in systems that will enhance the shopping experience for guests. No one likes that disappointed feeling when, after browsing, you find something you want to buy but then fail to find enough cash in your wallet to purchase it. Writing a check may put you over the balance, and you don’t want to take time to run to the ATM machine to withdraw the money from savings. When customers can pay with a plastic card, they may show their appreciation by returning again and again to shop your store. Credit Card Processing is Inexpensive. It depends on your current business budget, of course, but you don’t have to sink a lot of money into credit card processing equipment. All you need do is get a merchant account services account, buy or lease a credit card processing unit, and you are good to go. Plug it in or take a wireless unit with you on the road to make credit payments easy, fast, and secure. Plan on paying a per-transaction fee of perhaps 25 cents or a low interest monthly rate that may include minimums. Associated expenses may include discount fees, gateway fees, print statement fees, and membership costs. There may be others as well. Overall, however, the benefits of a merchant account outweigh its costs. Credit Card Processing is Flexible. You don’t have to be stuck behind the cash register all day to appreciate the advantages of a merchant account’s ability to provide credit card processing. You can take a wireless unit from one destination to another to let clients pay at the point of purchase rather than wait for billing. You may want to invest in a pager that will let you provide instant deliveries or prompt responses to customer inquiries, some of which could lead to direct or indirect sales with the option of credit card payments. You can also set up an online Website to accept credit card payments from potentially billions of customers around the world. It’s all up to you, of course, as to what you’re ready to do in terms of growing your company’s sales. You won’t need extra staff to manage credit card processing, either. In fact, you may be able to operate some credit card processing systems automatically when you opt for the telephone payment system or the Website option. But you will need to have a staff member available at certain times for questions or troubleshooting issues. Don’t get left behind by competitors who already have merchant account services and customers who expect them. Start browsing now to learn more about Credit Card Processing. About the author: Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.comSpecializing 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 tohttp://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

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Credit Card Merchant Account Services

by: Shane Penrod

Did you know that could possibly multiply your sales receipts within a matter of weeks or months? Of course, other factors will play a role in the overall success of this strategy, but many company owners claim that the simple step of accepting credit card payments increased their income dramatically in a relatively short amount of time. That is why you need to know more about the benefits of credit card merchant services. Basically, the premise of using credit card merchant account services works like this. You find a trusted lender with experience in merchant accounts. You might even want to check with customers at some of the lending institutions to see if they are satisfied with their merchant account services. You also can find online testimonials, although these may be biased when situated at the Websites of various lenders. You could visit chat rooms devoted to topics like this one that are sure to be discussed among entrepreneurs or start-up business owners. After getting objective feedback on several possible lenders, you can choose the one that seems like the best bet for your company. It is a simple process to apply for credit card merchant account services. After reducing your possible underwriters to three or four after searching the Internet or checking with colleagues, it then becomes a matter of comparing and contrasting benefits with fees. Some companies are so well known that they can afford to charge more for their merchant account services. Others have recently added this option, so they might reduce, avoid, or omit certain fees in order to get your business. However, you may have to pay these fees after the first year or another type of trial period. Read all the terms carefully so that you understand how the account works, how much it costs, and what the potential glitches might be. Contact the lender with any questions or uncertainties before applying for an account. Then, when approved, you should feel confident that you have made a good investment. <span class="fullpost">  Obtaining credit card merchant account services will let you accept credit card payments from your customers in a variety of ways. If you own or operate a store, for example, they can pay onsite with a credit card processor that you can plug into a wall outlet. But if you deliver goods or services to homes or businesses, you may want to take along a wireless credit card processor. Depending on how your customers like to pay and the level of involvement you want to pursue, you can add a pager and an e-check or debit processor right away or later on, depending on equipment cost and your need. Being approved for a merchant services account will help you expand the way you do business. Many consumers prefer to pay by credit card, so accepting payments via this method will attract that segment of buyers and increase your volume of sales. Soon your profit margins should increase as well. Start thinking now about adding credit card merchant account services to your business. About the author: Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.comSpecializing 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 tohttp://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

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