Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-27T03:32:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Card Online Merchant Accounts
By Shane Penrod

Learn how you can accept credit card online merchant account
payments by applying for this special account soon. Many
first-rate banks, credit unions, or other types of lenders are
eager for your business and will provide great deals on a
merchant account. You can browse the many available services on
the Internet by using a search engine for “merchant services
account” or a related keyword. Then start comparing the various
deals, costs, and terms for those that will best serve your
company’s needs and clients’ interests.

To accept credit card online merchant account payments, first
find the best lender and account terms that you can trust to
represent and safeguard your business interests. Once you have
located a company to work with, you may want to run a check
through the Better Business Bureau if you are not familiar with
the company’s name or history. When you are satisfied as to the
company’s ability to provide a helpful merchant services
account, negotiate the most relevant equipment, costs, and
services to benefit your company. Don’t be sold on additional
features that you cannot afford and do not need. You can always
add these later after profits increase and your client base
grows. At the outset, try a simple merchant account start-up
plan that will address your most pressing needs first.

After applying and getting approved for a merchant services
account that will let you accept credit card online merchant
account purchases, select the credit processing equipment that
fits your customers’ purchasing patterns. For example, if they
shop at a physical location like a shop or restaurant, a simple
credit card processor with a combined terminal and printer that
can be plugged into the wall near the cash register is your
best bet. If you process many e-checks or debit transactions,
consider adding this equipment as well. You may wish to add a
wireless credit card processor for remote destinations or
delivery services so that an employee can accept credit
payments promptly rather than waiting for the billing process.
Compare the cost of buying versus leasing this equipment, along
with transaction and maintenance fees.

The next level of e-commerce that can help expand the way that
you accept credit card online merchant account payments is by
establishing a company Website with a credit payment feature.
Work with a graphic designer to develop a site that will
attract current and new customers and keep them coming back.
Offer product and service descriptions, price lists, industry
tips, and other information that will make your site useful and
interesting. Then people who come to browse will be impressed
with your set-up and perhaps stay to shop and make credit card
purchases online.

Get ready to extend your business practices into the 21st
century by providing credit payment options to customers at
every level of commerce, from on-site at your store to
Web-based purchases. Your customers and employees will
appreciate this sophisticated upgrade in payment options when
you to learn how to accept credit card online merchant account
transactions.

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

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

Betting Online College Basketball
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Anthony_LeMaire]Anthony LeMaire

When betting online college basketball you can do it from the comfort of your own home and place your bets any time you want. If you’re doing your betting with a top rated internet sportsbook you’ll have a totally secure account where you can make your deposits and your privacy will be fully protected. You’ll also have access to the inside information the experts use to make their recommendations on the sportsbook.

This information can make you more confident when betting online college basketball. The information you’ll get includes more than just the latest betting odds and betting lines. You’ll know how key injuries to a player may affect a team’s performance and how individual players match up against each other. You’ll also know how teams have done against the point spread in the past, and this can greatly influence your betting online college basketball. This is particularly important when it is time for the NCAA tournament.

You know that when you’re betting online college basketball you can rely on the recommendations of the experts at a good sportsbook. This is because they have collected all of the important data and analyzed every aspect of the games. You can significantly improve your chances of successful betting and a top sports book will pay your winnings promptly. There is no more convenient and secure way to bet on college basketball, so sign up with a [http://www.hollywoodsportsbook.com/]sportsbook today. You’ll soon be glad you did.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_LeMaire http://EzineArticles.com/?Betting-Online-College-Basketball&id=426426

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Card Merchant Account
By Shane Penrod

If you’re looking to expand your business, you can soon accept
credit card merchant account payments by applying for a
merchant services account. Many lenders and financial
institutions are eager to provide this account to responsible
entrepreneurs who seek to provide credit card payment options
at their business. Whether you sell products from your home,
travel around to provide consulting or training services, or
conduct business solely over the Internet, a merchant services
account can help move your company into the e-commerce arena.

When you are ready to accept credit card merchant account
payments for your goods or services, start by shopping for an
established banker or lender that can offer you a merchant
services account. Look for a company that has been in business
for several years and enjoys a good reputation. You may want to
check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure that the company
is not running a scam and that it can provide as well as
maintain the benefits it offers. When you locate two or three
companies that you might want to work with, compare their
terms, prices, and equipment options. These can vary widely, so
first have an idea of what your company and customers need.
Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew by taking on too
much debt at first for equipment you may never or seldom use.
Instead, stay focused on your primary objective, which may be
as basic as processing credit card payments from customers who
stop by your restaurant for a meal. Only when you identify a
real need for additional services should you consider extending
your credit and your budget to buy these things, which might
include a pager, an e-check and debit processor, or a Website
credit payment processor.

If your business continues to grow and you want to accept
credit card merchant account payments on a wider scale, you can
set up a company Website to promote your company and offer
credit card processing options. A Website will let customers
visit any time it is convenient for them to do so, and you
don’t have to maintain a staff person on call to answer
questions. Just add an email option to the site, and your
clients can send questions, orders, or suggestions to you
directly, in addition to making credit card payments on goods
purchased at the Website. The site may include a product or
service description, price list, FAQs, and other relevant
details that will help answer customers’ questions and clear
the way for them to order online. Many people prefer this
shopping method to paying in cash or in person.

Accepting credit card payments can cost as little as a few
cents per transaction or an overall low percentage rate each
month. There may be additional fees, whoever, so be sure to ask
before signing a contract. Inquire about a domain name
registration, hosting fees, and site maintenance service terms.
Then get ready to watch as profits climb when you learn how to
accept credit card merchant account payments online.

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

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-25T03:11:00.000-07:00

Cash Back Credit Card: Earn While You Spend!
By Ed Vegliante

Cash back credit cards are an excellent way to earn money while
you spend! Instead of making purchases with standard credit
cards, you might want to consider applying for cash back credit
cards because such cards reward you with cash back on every
purchase you make! Further, in addition to cash back on all of
your purchases, cash back credit cards offer you the opportunity
to afford additional savings, in ways you might not have
imagined possible.

Cash Back

The obvious benefit derived from having cash back credit cards
is the money that consumers get back on every purchase.
Frequently, credit card issuing companies will supply credit
card users with approximately 5% cash back on certain purchases
like those made at drug stores, supermarkets, and gas stations.
Additionally, many credit card companies will give 1% cash back
on all other purchases. Needless to say, if you use your credit
card frequently, such benefits can add up quickly. Further, your
accumulated savings can be used for just about anything, but you
can really save if you follow the example provided below.

Savings

Due to the fact that you save 1 to 5 percent on many of your
purchases made with cash back credit cards, you can find
yourself saving quite a bit of money. Let's take a look at the
example provided below to analyze the possibilities.

If you spend $1000 at supermarkets, $200 at drug stores and
$300 dollars at gas stations in three months time, you will have
spent $1500. Now consider this:

$1500 x 5% = $75.00

Thus, you save $75.00 for every $1500 you spend with your cash
back credit card! Now project such savings over one year's time.
For instance, if you spend approximately $1500 every three
months at establishments that make you eligible to receive 5%
back on your purchases you will have spent $6000.00 for the
year. Now, consider the savings:

$6000 x 5% = $300.00

Making Your Savings Work for You

So, what can your savings do for you? Plenty! With the $300.00
you save, you can store it away for a rainy day or you can
reward yourself for being so credit savvy and for saving
yourself some money!

Copyright 2005 Ed Vegliante.

About the Author: Ed Vegliante is the owner of
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a well organized credit
card directory enabling the user to compare and apply for a
variety of credit credit card offers. Find links to secure
online credit card applications.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

Credit Card Savings
By Edwin Shackleford

Having a credit card is very convenient since carrying a lot of
cash becomes unneccesary and you might even have a hard time
leaving your credit card at home. But with its advantages comes
also its disadvantages. Since you can always buy things without
carrying cash around, you are always tempted to buy something
that you come across. If you have excellent control on your
finances then good for you. If you have a hard time managing
your credit card, then these pointers can help you.

Get organized

First thing's first, obtain your credit card records to have a
better idea of your spendings. Be sure to double check the
records for errors and ensure its accuracy. A good example would
be to find out if you have outstanding debts that should not be
there as well as the accuracy of the listing of your former and
present address.

Evaluate your credit card

Go over your recent credit card records and look at the
interest rates. Some credit card companies have promos wherein
they offer lower interest rates for a period of time and this
promo may already be over yet you have no idea and are already
paying at a higher interest rate. Also take note of the
membership fee which they charge annually since some have very
high membership fees. Consider cancelling this if you are not
using it frequently.

Pay on time

It is important to pay your bills on time since it can have a
negative effect on your credit record or rating. You will also
be able to avoid getting charged because of not paying on time.
Try asking the credit card company to remove the overdue charge
if you have forgotten to pay it on time for the first time.

Manage your debts

If you see that you have more debt than what is comfortable,
think ahead and plan out how you will repay it or at least
reduce your debt. Devise a way to pay more than what is required
of you so that you will have a reduced payment schedule.
Prioritize the card that has the highest interest rate. Do not
bring your credit card always when you go around since
temptations abound.

Don't bite more than you can chew

As the saying "don't bite more than you can chew" goes, do not
spend more than you can afford. True, a beautiful gold bracelet
may be enjoyable to wear but its price tag may mean paying a lot
for the next months. If you are bent to save money when using
your credit card, unnecessary items like jewelry and the like
should be at the bottom of your considerations.

About the Author: Visit Edwins site for more free tips on
setting up a family budget.
http://www.free-online-course.com/familybudget

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-20T03:56:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-18T00:31:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-09T03:16:00.000-07:00

Accepting Credit Cards: A Need of Every Business
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_MacIver]Paul MacIver

Credit cards are fast replacing the cash payment mechanisms. With online shopping a way of life now, it is imperative that businesses are able to accept credit cards. Today, an average citizen has at least four credit cards, and they are ready to shop using cards for anything, be it online or in shops.

With such good penetration of credit cards, any business owner, even if the scale of business is not too big, should not miss out on implementing credit card payment gateways at their business establishments or websites.

Implementing the Credit Card Payment System:

There are three important parts of a credit card processing system. The first part is a secure form; one that is S.S.L. enabled and will be used to take the credit card details of the customers. This form will capture the details of the customer's credit card and the total payment will be made.

S.S.L. is short for Secure Socket Layer, a way to encrypt the sensitive credit card information, and is supported by all major browsers and ISPs.

The second thing is getting a merchant account with the bank where all the money will be deposited. For that, you will have to get in touch with a bank that will set up the account etc.

Thirdly, you need payment-processing software, which will connect you with the bank and help you accept payments.

If you want, you can bypass all this and implement a third party account as well, which will take care of all these hassles while you get all your money. However, they charge on a per transaction basis, so on every transaction that they process, you will need to pay a fee. Some may also charge a one time account setup fee as well.

Benefits of Accepting Credit Card Payments:

Accepting credit cards is quite beneficial for all merchants, be it small business owners or large sellers. If a small business owner does not accept credit cards, he/she may lose on the huge crowd of customers in the market, as people prefer more and more to shop with cards.

Next, all the international customers like business travelers, or tourists, prefer to use credit cards when shopping. Tourism and travel are on an all time high, and any merchant who does not offer the facility to accept credit card payments will lose out to them.

There are many facilities which small business owners can derive from such a payment system. Visa has come up with a new cash and credit management product for small business owners. Most credit cards in the world are Visa cards.

Since online purchases can be safely and quickly made using credit cards, most people prefer card payments only. If a small business owner has not implemented the credit card facility for online customers, he/she may lose out to a large number of online shoppers.

Many customers are impulsive buyers. Such customers will buy whenever they see something interesting, wherever they see it. They may not have cash on them at the time, but if they like something, they will buy it with their credit card. So to harness such customers, small business owners need to put a credit card payments system in place.

Some customers may not have enough cash reserves to shop, but may choose to buy now and pay the credit card company later.

Checks cannot be used as a reliable method of accepting payments, as they may bounce due to insufficient funds. Credit cards relieve the merchant of the concerns whether he will get his money or not.

Small business owners can make money as well as save money, as credit card payments are faster modes of payment especially if the business is run online.

Paul MacIver is a contributing author for [http://www.mega-info-spot.info]Mega Info Spot - Visit [http://www.your-creditcard-guide.info]Accept Credit Cards for further info on [http://www.your-creditcard-guide.info/sitemap.php]Credit Card Processing and setting up a merchant account.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_MacIver http://EzineArticles.com/?Accepting-Credit-Cards:-A-Need-of-Every-Business&id=269919

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-04T03:01:00.001-07:00

Accept Credit Cards Today - For An Absolute Maximum Of 30
Dollars A Month
By Pearl Deloria

You can accept credit card payments at your website within
days, and pay no monthly charges and no equipment rental
charges.

Research has shown that customers are nine times more likely to
buy from a website if the site accepts credit cards. Everyone
knows this but many website owners do not know how to go about
accepting credit cards. It is much easier than you think, and
does not have to cost a fortune either.

If your site is selling downloadable goods, like software, or
pdf files you can sell them through Clickbank, with income
being credited to your StormPay or PayPal account
automatically. This is the lowest cost option. The card
processor takes a percentage of the sale, but you have very
small account running costs.

You have to sign up as a Seller at Clickbank. This means that
you have to have a customer support system in place. The
support system does not need to be very complex, just a web
page with an email address where customers can be given
non-automated replies and live answers to email queries within
a certain time, but you would have that anyway.

If you are selling goods that need to be delivered, then your
costs will be higher, but still less than you probably think.
Check out http://Charge.com for an excellent low cost package
(it works out at about 30 dollars month).

You can go for the whole package of course, with Credit Card
Merchant Account, but that will cost you much more, with
charges for setting up the account, monthly charges and
equipment rental charges, too. The percentage of each sale
taken by the processor is lower if you have a Merchant Account,
but the fixed charges are much higher.

Merchant accounts make sense if your sales are thousands of
dollars a day, otherwise you should consider the lower cost
options outlined above.

About the Author: Pearl Deloria has a background in management
and engineering, including SMEs. For more small business
related information visit
http://www.accept-creditcards-today.info/and
http://www.home-business-today.info/

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Accept Credit Cards

2007-07-03T23:23:00.000-07:00

Increase Your Sales - Accept Credit Cards
By Sue And Chuck DeFiore

Many people today simply prefer the convenience of paying by credit card. If you want their business, you must be able to accept their credit-card payments.

In part one of this series we will discuss why you should accept credit cards, and the basics of getting merchant status. Part two will deal with objections you might get, which credit cards to accept, and the check paying option.

Obtaining merchant status, which allows you to accept credit-card payments, might seem like an unnecessary hassle, especially for those in business where the majority of their customers pay by cash or check. But by not accepting credit-card payments, you lose sales. This is especially true if yours is a mail order business, or consulting business. Just look at the majority of business today, all of them accept credit cards, and becoming more and more popular all the time are debit cards.

As many businesses have found, up to 70 percent of people never mail the check, so accepting credit cards is crucial. When the customer places an order, he’s excited and eager to buy. Faced with the prospect of sending a check, waiting for it to clear and then awaiting shipment, his interest is likely to wane. In the meantime, you lose sales.

The Basics of Merchant Status

In order to accept credit cards, you need to work with a bank that will transfer the money into your account within a day or two of the sale, and then collect the money from the customer. In return, you pay the bank a commission of 1.5 percent to 5 percent for each credit-card transaction; a set, per-transaction fee; and a setup fee. You will also have to pay monthly support or equipment-rental fees for a point-of-sale terminal—the machine used to swipe the card—depending on the contract.

The fee is based on two things, the average amount per transaction and the total volume for the year.

When you apply for merchant status, the banks evaluate your business based on its sales track record, the type of business it is, your credit record, the business’s credit record and your overall financial picture.

Apply for merchant status when you get your start-up financing. This accomplishes several things. First, it shows that you’ve thought ahead. And you will probably have customers that you wouldn’t have otherwise. In fact, some people don’t pay with anything but credit cards.

Second, you show you’re taking steps to minimize the time and expense involved in recovering bad debts. If someone writes a bad check, for instance, it will cost you time and money to recover the loss. If you swipe a customer’s credit card through a point-of-sale terminal, you can be sure you’ll get paid. The machine contacts the issuing bank to authorize the transaction and runs the account numbers through a variety of fraud-protection procedures.

In part two of this series we will deal with objections you might get, which credit cards to accept, and the check paying option.

Copyright 2004 DeFiore Enterprises

Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: mailto:subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sue_And_Chuck_DeFiore
http://EzineArticles.com/?Increase-Your-Sales---Accept-Credit-Cards&id=3249

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-14T04:58:00.001-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-12T02:17:00.001-07:00

Accept Credit Cards Online
By Dominic Ferrara

If you have a business online, you are going to have to have a way to accept credit cards online. There is no way around it. You can’t run an online business by taking checks or money orders if you want to make money. If people have to take the time to send either of those in, they are going to get frustrated with the wait. You have to have a way to get a payment instantly so that you can get your product or service up and out the door as soon as they order it.

You will find that every successful website on the Internet knows how to accept credit cards online. They know that everyone is looking for fast service when they are shopping via the Internet, and that is what they give them. If you don’t accept credit cards online you should see about having that option available as soon as you can. If you don’t, you shouldn’t expect to make a go of it, and you are going to find that it is more hassle than it’s worth.

There are a few different ways to accept credit cards online, but it doesn’t matter which you choose as long as you choose one of them. You can have a system that takes the card numbers much like they do in retail stores, or you can use Paypal to accept credit cards online. Paypal is not as common as the first method, but it is gaining in popularity. Though some are leery of Paypal, I honestly think if you are going to use a credit card this is the way to go. A person can use their credit card in their own account with Paypal and it makes check out faster and easier, and some feel, more secure.

Make sure you provide your visitors with a secure setting if you want to accept credit cards online. This means that the transaction is encrypted so that their information is not broadcast around the Internet for those who may take those numbers for their own use. You can see an https:// beginning to any web address that has a secure setting. If you want to accept credit cards online you have to have this or your customers will most definitely think twice before they put their information in for an order. They want to be safe, so you have to make sure you do everything you can to keep them feeling secure and at ease about ordering through your site.

For more information on how to find the Best Business Online try visiting Small Business Start located at http://Small-Business-Start.com where you will find valuable information on internet marketing, making money and other information..

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dominic_Ferrara
http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Cards-Online&id=420872

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-11T03:05:00.001-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-08T03:34:00.000-07:00

What Is The Best Method To Accepting Credit Cards For Your Business?
By: Jim Saka

With all things considered, there is really not much choice but to accept credit cards online. This makes it much more convenient for not only the customer, but yourself as well. Because of the necessity of accepting credit cards online, it is important that you know the options available to you to accept credit cards. On top of that, you need to know which the better fit for your business is.

There are two methods of accepting credit cards online, using your own merchant account or going through a third party merchant. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, making it all the more important that you know what they have to offer.

In order to set up your own merchant account, you need a bank to approve the opening of the account. When you go through a third party account, it is simply a company that is accepting your credit card payment in exchange for various fees and percentages.

So which is the better method? The initial cost of opening up your own merchant account is going to be higher than going through a third party account. You will often find that many third party accounts have no initial fees whatsoever. The part that evens the two methods out is the transaction fee. The transaction fee that you pay is going to be much higher with a third party than with your own merchant account.

Generally, third party merchant accounts are great for people that are testing out a new business. It allows you to get started accepting credit cards through your business with little to no start up costs, and the merchant takes care of everything for you. This way if your business does not go as planned, at least you will have not blown even more money on your own merchant account.

If you are confident that your business will be successful or that you will be in business for some time, it is recommended that you purchase your own merchant account. The best feature about having your own merchant account is the low transaction costs. This will allow you to make a large income while paying very little back. It also makes your business look more professional and confident that you are here to stay if you have your own merchant account.

Accepting credit cards is essential in the internet industry today, making it vital that you are familiar with these two methods. There are a number of different companies that you can go through to set up your own merchant account, as well as if you want to go through a third party. As long as you take the time to learn between the two, you should have no problem deciphering the better method for your business to accept credit cards online.

Copyright (c) 2007 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's merchant account services websites.

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-04T05:03:00.001-07:00

Low Interest Rate Used Car Loan - Getting Approved For Auto Loan
Regardless Of Credit History
By Carrie Reeder

Regardless of your credit history, you can get approved for a
low interest auto loan. By shopping online for a used car loan,
you can find financing based on your qualifications. Comparing
lenders will help you find the best rates. But you can also
select terms that give you the most favorable loan financing.

Get Pre-approved For A Car Loan

To get the best deal on a used car loan, get your financing
before you buy a car. Pre-approved loans give you the most
options. You decide how much you want to borrow and what rates
you will accept. It also gives you an edge when buying a car.

Looking for financing first also gives you time to check out
lenders. Instead of asking where you can get a car loan, you
can be asking who’s got the best financing deal for you. Online
broker sites help you make side by side comparisons of multiple
offers. So even if you have a poor credit history, you still
have several financing options.

Explore Your Options

Auto loans come in all shapes and sizes. Those differences in
terms means changes in the rates you will be charged. For
example, the shorter your loan term, the lower your rate. A
large down payment will also reduce your rates. So will buying
a used car from a dealership.

While you are looking to get pre-approved, you can also
negotiate with the lender about fees and rates. For instance,
making automatic payments will reduce your rates with some
lenders. You may also want to eliminate any early payment fees
in case you choose to sell the car or refinance the loan.

Consider A Co-Signer For Better Rates

A co-signer with a better credit score will help you get lower
rates on your auto loan. Lenders base their credit decision on
the co-signer’s score, even though you pay for the loan. This
is one way to reestablish your credit history while paying near
market loan rates.

No matter the car loan terms you choose, don’t rush into any
contract. Read the details of loan estimates and compare it to
others. With hundreds of lenders competing for your business,
make sure you are getting the best deal.

About the Author: View our recommended used car loan online
http://www.abcloanguide.com/autoloans.shtml online. Also get
help with mortgage refinance lenders
http://www.abcloanguide.com/refinance.shtml online.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Accept Credit Cards

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

Discover Card's Business Credit Cards by Richard Gilliland

Discover Card now offers its own version of business credit cards. Discover Card has been known for their customer service, and this dedication for service continues in their business credit cards product. Whenever you need to contact them, Discover Card assures you that business credit card specialists will always be on hand, that they will take your telephone calls quickly and that your queries will be attended to promptly. Discover does not treat this availability as a benefit, but rather view it as a service commitment to their Discover Card business customers. There is a wide range of benefits to be had on your Discover business credit cards though. Here follows a few of these:

Cash Back Bonus Business Credit Cards Using your Discover Rewards business credit card, will entitle you to 5% discounts on office supply purchases, 2% on gas, and 1% on other miscellaneous purchases. This could translate into significant savings for your business, especially because this business credit card also enables you to earn valuable Rewards points

If you opt to redeem your business credit cards cash back bonus in the form of gift cards or e-certificates from their participating 70 brand-name partners, you will have the opportunity of doubling your points. This means that you can get gift cards or certificates to use for a variety of different items - and should that be your choice, even a Cruise.

If, on the other hand, you elect to redeem in cash, you can nominate how the payment should be issued and into which account it should go. This could be in the form of a check, an electronic deposit to the bank account of your choice, or as a credit on your business credit card account.

Travel Miles Business Credit Cards If your business requires frequent travel, the Discover Miles Business Credit Cards will come in useful. Your business credit card account earns up to one mile for every dollar in usual purchases, double miles on your gas (at the pump or in the station) and double miles for travel purchases (plane tickets, car rentals, hotels). There is a limit of $5,000 imposed in terms of the amount you can accumulate on the business credit cards' double miles feature, but when all is said and done, that is still a substantial amount.

You won't have to wait long before you can start redeeming the miles on your business credit cards. You can redeem the miles as gift cards from 50 brand-name participating partners in a graduated manner: $5 for 1,000 miles, $25 for 3,500 miles and $50 for 6,000 miles. Once you reach 5,000 miles, you can start redeeming these miles as cash back rewards.

Other Benefits There are also other, standard benefits for business credit cards. You will get quarterly and annual statements that summarize all expenses charged against your business credit cards; the summaries are already categorized to make your bookkeeping simpler, and you can receive statements online ready for download into popular accounting software applications.

You can customize your employees' spending limits on their business credit cards online, and when you use your business credit card to pay for travel, you're automatically covered for accident insurance and car rental insurance. A new benefit is that you can purchase checkbooks with your Discover business credit card, thereby enabling payments to those companies that don't accept business credit cards yet.

About the Author

Richard Gilliland Provides Expert opinions and reviews to help you Compare and Apply for a Credit Card - Compare Credit Card Offers with Credit-Wisdom.com - Unraveling the best in Personal and Business Credit Cards.

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-03T04:46:00.001-07:00

Effective Small Business Credit Card Management
By Richard Gilliland

The use of credit cards in small businesses is gaining popularity. An industry study conducted by a research group reports that more than two-thirds of small businesses are making use of credit cards to cover expenses. However, only two-fifths of these credit card using businesses employ business credit cards.

Since these small business owners are already using credit cards to provide financing for their businesses, they should consider converting to business credit cards instead. With prudent usage and wise management, the small business credit card could be an effective business tool to help small business owners “grow” their businesses.

Among other things, a business credit card allows you to separate business transactions from personal charges, thus avoiding potential problems in managing your funds and preparing your tax reports. A business credit card also conveys the message to third parties who take an interest in your financial transactions, such as the IRS and creditors, that you are managing your business and its financial accounts in a professional manner.

A significant benefit of having a business credit card is the year-end statement summary that business credit card issuers provide to their cardholders. This detailed listing helps you to itemize and classify your business expenses.

The small business credit card is a good way of building your business credit. By being judicious in the management of your business credit card accounts, you will strengthen your credit standing. This will be an important factor when you need additional financing for growth or expansion purposes.

The responsible management and sensible use of your business credit card cannot be overemphasized. Some ways of achieving this include:

·Make use of your local bank. There is much to be said in favor of engaging with your existing bank when you need to apply for a small business credit card - especially if the difference is not overly significant between your banker and the other card issuers’ offerings. Your existing relationship will make the card approval process easier. It will also help with your other financing transactions.

·Avoid missed or late payments. You should be judicious about making your monthly payments on your business credit card in a timely manner. Failure to make payment by due date, leaves you vulnerable to higher interest, costly fees and a blemish on your credit record.

·Capitalize on grace periods. Business credit cards give you a 21-day grace period before you need to pay your purchases. You can maximize this to improve your cash flow.

·Pay your bill online. Most of the business credit card companies accept payments online. Their websites are secure, which means that that your online transactions will not be compromised. This will save time and avoid the extra costs normally incurred when making use of other modes of payment. It also ensures that your payments will not be subject to delays.

·Limit having multiple cards. There is some advantage to having a couple of business credit cards. If you sign up for too many cards though, your credit scores will suffer. It may also make management of your accounts more difficult.

Given the salient benefits of using a business credit card as opposed to using a personal credit card, converting to a business card will be an astute move. Your business credit card is a worthwhile business enabler for as long as this credit line is dealt with responsibly and in a circumspect manner.

Richard Gilliland Provides Expert opinions and reviews to help you Compare and

Apply for a Credit Card - Compare

Credit Card Offers with Credit-Wisdom.com - Unraveling the best in Personal and

Business Credit Cards.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Gilliland
http://EzineArticles.com/?Effective-Small-Business-Credit-Card-Management&id=542518

Accept Credit Cards

2007-05-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

Why Small Businesses Must Need To Accept Credit Cards Payments
By Joshua Poyoh

For small businesses, one of the factors why they succeed or fail is whether or not they accept credit cards payments, online or offline.

In order for a business to succeed, businesses need to accommodate to the wants of their customers. Most customers want a method of payment that is convenient for them. If you accept credit cards you'll give your customers another option for payments.

Many people carry credit cards because they are one of the most convenient and accessible methods of payments. Almost every major type of retailer will accept credit cards. The customer doesn't have to worry about having enough cash nor do they need to use a debit card. Most banks allow you only a limited number of transactions on your debit card each month. If you surpass this, you'll be faced with use charges.

Credit cards don't have these same limitations and therefore many people use them as their primary method of payment. If they come across a business that doesn't accept credit cards they might decide to take their money elsewhere.

If you are indeed a small business and it seems that having the ability to accept credit cards is out of your reach you might be wrong. It's possible for many businesses, regardless of size, to obtain a merchant account which then affords them the privilege of being able to accept credit cards.

The first step is to visit your local bank. There you'll be able to discuss with a financial advisor how your business can take the leap into the credit card world. He or she will explain the process and costs involved to you so that you can begin to accept credit cards.

There is a bit more paperwork involved when you do offer credit card payments to your customers. However, any extra work is more than made up for in the increase in business.

It's especially vital that an online business has the ability to accept credit cards. When someone visits your website and spots a product they want to purchase, it's important to them that they can buy the product quickly and effortlessly. They do not want to write you a check or go get a money order. They want to be able to go through the order process online which includes using their credit card to make the purchase.

Although the fundamentals of a business cannot be ignored, setting up the infrastructure to accept credit cards payments will open up your small business to more customers and your future customers will appreciate the convenience, and you'll enjoy the benefits as well.

Joshua Poyoh is the creator of http://www.business.resources-to.com where you can find out more independent information on Power Of Web E Commerce Today

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Poyoh
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Small-Businesses-Must-Need-To-Accept-Credit-Cards-Payments&id=268867

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-30T02:17:00.001-07:00

Learn How To Accept Credit Cards By Phone
By Shane Penrod

If your business is poised for growth, don’t be held back by a
fear of technology if you don’t know how to accept credit cards
by phone. E-commerce is the way to go if you want to stay ahead
of the competition and grow your customer base. Even if your
company does not own a piece of technical equipment, now is the
time to jump on the bandwagon to take advantage of easy ways to
increase your profits.

To accept credit cards by phone, you will first need to get a
merchant account. This is a special account offered by various
financial lenders and institutions to reliable merchants that
are looking to grow their business. A merchant account provides
linkages between your business and customers’ credit payments
via a bank processing system that ensures timely receipts and
secure transmissions. These can be handled in many different
ways, such as through a credit card processor sitting on a
cashier’s counter, a Website credit processor, a wireless unit,
or as discussed here, a telephone credit processing program.
When you get approved for a merchant account, you will be able
to choose the most appropriate service for your business, and
many companies are opting telephone ordering services that
provide a secure means of paying by credit card during a
toll-free phone call that is often automated.

You will need to get the best deal on a merchant account before
you can accept credit cards by phone. Shop for fees, terms, and
products, since these accounts can be very competitive and some
are laced with seemingly hidden costs, such as an application
fee, gateway fee, and annual membership fee, among others. Once
you find out what you will have to pay for a set-up and how much
it will cost to put in a phone ordering and payment system, you
will be able to negotiate a deal that will optimize your assets
without jeopardizing your investment. You may want to use a
toll-free number or even more than one number. It may be
automated or you might choose to staff the phone line with a
friendly customer service representative. It is important to
make sure the line is secure so customers can feel safe about
ordering and paying by credit card while on the phone with your
company.

To accept credit cards by phone, ask your merchant account
representative about the various options that you can choose
from. Find out how much each one costs both in terms of direct
and indirect expenses. Some may be billed at a certain rate per
transaction, while others are charged an overall low percentage
fee. It might even be a good idea to find out if your customers
will want to order and pay be phone, because if not, your
investment could dry up quickly. Be sure not to purchase more
equipment or support than you need to get started. You can
always add more features later as the business grows.

When you install a digital credit processing system, get ready
to accept credit cards by phone.

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

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-28T05:14:00.001-07:00

How To Accept Credit Cards At Your Business
By Shane Penrod

Those who are still learning the ropes of running a small or
home-based business may be unsure about how to accept credit
cards for their goods and services. Perhaps you have sold
handmade items by mail order up to this point, receiving a
check in the mail as payment. Or you might run a small shop
where customers come in to shop and pay by check or cash. If
you are wondering how to accept credit cards, here are a few
basic guidelines.

1. Apply for a merchant account to find out how to accept
credit cards at your business. You can get one through many
banks and other financial institutions in your area. Visit
websites such of as many credit card merchants as possible.
Also visit websites of several banks to see if they offer
merchant accounts. Click on the link to find out what the
requirements are and whether you are eligible. If you don’t see
specific information for this type of account, email the contact
person and ask for information about how to obtain a merchant
account so you may start accepting credit card payments.

2. Demonstrate your fiscal responsibility. Submit copies of
documents that prove you are a good credit risk and ready to
manage the next step of upgrading your business by learning how
to accept credit cards. You may want to get a copy of your
company’s credit history, the last three or four company bank
statements, and the usual business documents that show your
company to be in good standing. Keep in mind that many
underwriters do not want to work with companies that are
involved with pornography, drug sales, spam, or other types of
questionable enterprises.

3. Companies involved with charge backs may experience a fee
adjustment. Give some thought to the types of expenses you will
incur when you learn how to accept credit cards. For example,
there may be set-up fees, monthly statement fees, gateway fees,
and others. You also may want to ask about wireless credit card
processing if you have employees that work at various
destinations or whose jobs are somewhat mobile as they collect
payments.

4. In learning how to accept credit cards, realize that you may
be bombarded with offers from companies who want your business.
They may offer terrific-sounding deals that will collapse when
it comes time to sign the contract. Or you may agree on terms
and then realize that the terms later change to your
disadvantage. Make sure you understand the contract’s fine
print before signing. Avoid purchasing unnecessary features
that will add to your cost but not necessarily to your profit.

5. When you learn how to accept credit cards, you will want to
be sure that your company’s Website stays up to date and
remains functional so that customers can use it at any time.
You may have to hire a service technician to oversee Website
content and to address any glitches from the company side or
the client’s side when problems are reported.

Moving your business into the e-commerce era is challenging and
exciting. Take time to become familiar with the various ways in
which customers can make electronic payments so that both you
and they can avoid errors and experience the convenience of
learning how to accept credit cards.

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

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-27T04:50:00.001-07:00

Accept Credit Card Transactions
By Shane Penrod

If you are a small business owner or someone who works out of your home, wouldn’t it be great if you could accept credit card transactions? Well, now you can! All you need is a merchant services account and a little bit of ingenuity.

Anyone who wants to become eligible for credit card payments must be approved for a merchant account. Fortunately, many banks and lenders are willing to work with you to provide this service when you are able to convince them that your company is stable and that you can pay your bills on time. Finding a merchant account lender is a lot like opening a credit card account. You want the highest credit limit with the lowest interest rate. In the business world, however, it is usually a good idea to go slow and build your investment as profits begin to increase to justify the cost.

You can accept credit card transactions in a variety of ways through your business. The easiest way is to install a basic credit card processor so customers can swipe their favorite plastic card and push “yes” to approve the transaction. You print the receipt (which can be done through the processor terminal’s printing function) and the deal is done. Now you can join the big league merchants whose sales are going through the roof with the help of credit card processing equipment. If you are in the delivery business with products like pizza, dry cleaning, or even pet sitting, you can take along a wireless credit processor and have your customers sign at the point of sale. You won’t have to wait for the monthly payments or chase bounced checks anymore when you implement credit card processing options. Many customers prefer to pay with plastic at the time of purchase and be done with it instead of waiting for the bill to come in the mail, which then might get lost or misplaced—or never paid!

Another way to accept credit card transactions is by telephone. You can get a system hook-up that will let customers call your company at a toll-free number, order their merchandise by keying product codes or speaking to a company representative, and then keying a credit card number or giving it to the company rep. Even if you opt for an automated system that doesn’t require a live human staff member to interact with the client, you may want an employee on stand-by in case of problems or questions.

Perhaps the best way to accept credit card transactions is through a company Website. You can either design your own or pay a Web consultant to create one for you. Then register a domain name, pay a host site, and you’re in business. Customers can find you by using search engines with which you register. There are a number of marketing ploys you can use to bring the search engines to your company. When customers find you, make them want to come back by offering helpful advice, free tips, or product details. Any way you do it, customers will love you when you accept credit card transactions.

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. Accept Credit Card Transactions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod
http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Card-Transactions&id=127347

Auto Loan Factory

2007-04-25T02:26:00.001-07:00

How To Start Accepting Credit Cards
By Michael Baker

How to start accepting credit cards in your business is almost a requirement in today's world. The amount of commerce transactions is increasing each day, year over year, especially in the category of e-commerce, that is, transactions on-line. Customers want the gratification of the instant purchase, or impule buy, and want it paid for right away. Don't take that away from them. If you accept credit cards, you can have the money in a matter of seconds, and the customer is just awaiting their package.

How to start accepting credit cards? It really is a simple process. It depends if you are a corporation, or an individual owner. If you are a corporation, you can apply for a merchant account, which is just an account to allow you to accept credit cards. They usually have the best rate that you are charges, typically 2.3%-2.6% per transaction, along with a .15-.25 cents fee per transaction. But, the downside, is they, being the merchant account holders, will have you sign an agreement for 1, 2, or 3 years, and charge you a monthly fee for their service. If you are doing monthly transactions of above $1000 and plan on growing, this is the right service for you. You can easily make your money back, and depending on the fee percentage, you will start to save money after $700 - $1000.

Another method to accept credit cards, are what we call 3rd party vendors. These are companies, which allow anyone to accept credit cards, but charge you, being the business, a higher fee. This is because they are the ones with the merchant account. So you may be charged 5.5% from a company, but they are only being charged 2.5% for their merchant account. So, they make 3% off of each transaction. There are many companies out there, but I will give you 2, which are above the rest:

PayPal is one of the largest 3rd party processors on the market. They have over 78 million accounts, and actually account for 25% of eBay's revenue. In other words, they are big. But, they are good. Their fee is 1.9%-2.9%, plus a .30 cent per transaction fee. Pretty comparable to merchants, without the monthly costs. I use paypal all the time, whether on ebay transactions, or if I need to email an invoice to someone, PayPal covers it all. And it is free to signup for PayPal

There are other companies out there, but this the one I use. I can use paypal to accept credit cards through websites, and through ebay auctions. This is how to start accepting credit cards.

Michael Baker is a provider of quality information on Financial Services for your Business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Baker
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Start-Accepting-Credit-Cards&id=535946

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-17T04:03:00.000-07:00

How To Accept Credit Cards
By Matthew Coers

If you plan to do business online, then your website will need
to accept credit cards. For many, the idea of applying for a
merchant account sounds like a daunting task, but the truth is
that building an online store is incredibly easy these days.
The major credit card processing companies have improved and
streamlined the process of setting up accounts, and software
companies have had several years to improve their software to
the point that it is easy for non-technical business owners to
create and operate an online store effectively.

3rd Party Processors – The inexpensive way to start
For the beginning web entrepreneur, the most important issue in
credit card processing is how much product you think you can
realistically sell in a month. If you are selling less than
$1000 per month, then you will want to go with a “third-party
processor”. PayPal is the most widely known and reputable third
party processor, and you can easily set up an account with them.

Unlike traditional merchant accounts, PayPal accounts are free
to set up and cost nothing on a monthly basis. You will pay
more per transaction with PayPal than you would with a
traditional merchant account, but for low-volume start-up
businesses making less than $1000 per month, you will gladly
choose higher transaction costs over account set-up fees,
monthly account fees, minimum charges, interchange fees,
gateway fees, and perhaps worst of all, account cancellation
fees (just to name a few).

Steps You Need To Take To Set Up A PayPal Account

Bank Account – you will need a bank account for PayPal to
deposit your funds into.
Apply for a PayPal Account

Traditional Merchant Accounts
If your processing volume will be higher than $1000 per month,
then you will probably want to go with a traditional merchant
account. Credit card processing companies generally charge a
minimum monthly fee that is approximately equal to the amount
of money you would pay to process $1000 per month. Generally
speaking you can expect to pay around $50 per month in minimum
charges for a merchant account. As you process more, your costs
will go up, but the percentage of your gross sales that you pay
for processing should go down.

Steps You Need To Take To Set Up A Traditional Merchant Account

It is not difficult to set up a traditional merchant account,
but you will need to follow several steps in order to pull it
off.

Get a business license
Get a business bank account at your bank
Make sure your web host supports your shopping cart system (you
might even be able to get your shopping cart system bundled in
with your credit card processing services for free).
Try to determine the amount of business you will generate. Your
credit card processing company will want to know how large each
transaction will be, and how many transactions you expect to
have per month.
Negotiate with merchant account providers and establish your
merchant credit card account (see list of merchant account
providers).

Following are several merchant account providers you may be
interested in contacting:

www.paypal.com
PayPal allows you to accept payments instantly without the need
to set up special accounts or sign long-term contracts. You will
want to strongly consider using this one if you are processing
less than $1000 per month.
www.totalmerchantservices.com
Total Merchant Services is one of the largest resellers of
merchant accounts both on and offline, and are trusted by
literally tens of thousands of businesses of all sizes. They
use First Data as their back-end processor.
www.merchantexpress.com
This is a well-respected processor that services both on and
offline businesses.
www.expandyourbusiness.com
CardService International provides a very helpful eBook that
you can download for free

Some Issues You Want To Consider

Generally speaking you will be more concerned with up-front and
recurring fees rather than the discount rate that processing
companies will quote most prominently. The hidden fees
generally eclipse the discount rates – especially for low
volume start-up businesses.

Try to accurately estimate your business volume when you fill
out your applications. The risk department at your processing
company can put a freeze on your account if your volumes move
significantly outside the estimates you have provided them.

If you do experience a sudden spike in orders, you should
contact the risk department of your processing company to make
them aware of the spike BEFORE it hits their system. They may
want to have you send them details about the orders and provide
proof that the orders are legitimate. As inconvenient as this
is, it is far better than getting your account frozen.

Make sure you understand what fees you will be responsible for
if you need to cancel your account before the end of your
contract. You may find that you need to shut down your account
for a variety of reasons, and you don’t want to find out about
exit fees after you get the bill!

In conclusion, you should start off your search for credit card
processing by making a realistic estimate of your processing
needs. If you believe you will be processing less than $1000
per month, then you will probably want to work with a
third-party processor like PayPal. If you will be processing
more than $1000 per month then you will want to work with a
traditional credit card processing company (see list of
processors above). You should be more concerned with upfront
and recurring fees than with the discount rate. Once you have
selected a processing company, you will want to make sure you
have your business license and business bank account. Finally,
you will need to make sure that your shopping cart system
supports your processing company.

About the Author: Mr. Coers specializes in helping
entrepreneurs build effective web businesses. His website,
http://www.profitchoice.com contains useful articles and
"how-to" guides to help organizations build their brands and
sell more effectively.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-16T04:22:00.001-07:00

Advantages Of Having Credit Cards
By Rudy Hadisentosa

Credit cards have many advantages if used judiciously. It fulfills all your needs. You can buy anything with the cards. Because of various benefits the card provides to the users, everyone from teenagers to retirees in the United States has credit cards.

Convenient to shop: Credit card is very much convenient to buy anything anywhere. If you are on a shopping spree and want to buy so many things at different shops in a market, credit card will be convenient enough for shopping. If it is on-line shopping then, credit is the best. Some online stores only accept credit cards for payments. If you are in foreign countries, you can make purchases with the credit card without having to worry about local currency.

Meet emergent needs: In case of emergency, credit cards can be an extremely helpful. If you are short of funds and need money, the credit card will provide you the required amount. If you are away from your place or on a trip to some city and you have inadvertently emptied your pocket, there the credit card will act like a friend.

Keep record of your expenditure: Your spending on the credit card will give a statement at the end of a month, stating the detail on your expenditures. You need not keep record daily to know about the spending. Credit cards can also keep you under limit in expenses as you cannot spend or borrow beyond the credit limit. It will remind you on spending.

It is secured to carry credit card: It is not secured to carry a large amount of cash. If you lose your cash, you cannot retrieve that. If you lose a credit card, you can immediately inform the card company to cancel the card. You can have another card in few days. If you are traveling, whether in the town or country or outside the US, it will be convenient to carry the card instead of cash.

Benefits: Credit card providers offer various lucrative offers like cash back on purchases, rebates on products you buy on the card, additional warranty coverage for the items you purchase, travel concessions, various insurance covers, etc. Some credit card offers free air tickets, free hotel accommodations to the card users.

Balance transfer: With the credit card, you can transfer your balance from a card with high interest rate to a card where the APR is 0%. There are many card companies who offer 0% APR for the starting six to 12 months. You can take the benefits of the promotional periods. You can save hundreds of dollars by balance transfer.

Can build good credit history: You can build a good credit rating if use credit card judiciously. If you have good credit rating that will help you later in your life. You can take loan easily. Financiers will believe you if your credit rating is good.

Improve the standard of life: Credit card can improve your daily life. Your life will be easy enough if you are using the card judiciously. What you have to give is the payment at the end of the month and not every day for every purchase.

However, if you misuse your credit card you may fall under the debt trap. Credit cards should be used properly and seriously.

There are hundreds of financial organizations in the United States providing credit cards. Some of the most famous among them are American Express Co., Chase Bank, Discover Financial Services, HSBC, and Citibank of America. They offer different types of credit cards for different categories of people. If you are a business person and want credit cards which can facilitate your various business transactions, go for a business credit card. Likewise, there are student credit card, entertainment card, store card, gas card, airlines card, etc.

CreditMe.com is a free online credit cards review and application website. We offer credit cards selection from visa, master cards, bank of America, orchard bank, discover, American express, citicards, visa credit cards, and many others. We have quite some categories and hundreds of credit cards selection to fit your need. Compare credit cards at CreditMe.com now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rudy_Hadisentosa
http://EzineArticles.com/?Advantages-Of-Having-Credit-Cards&id=513224

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-14T00:32:00.001-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-12T01:50:00.001-07:00

How to Receive Payments for Your Online Sales
By Nowshade Kabir

Once you decide which products you are planning to sell on the
Internet, and what type of web store you are going to use in
order to display your products, next vital decision that you have
to take is to figure out how your customers are going to pay you.
Whatever you plan to sell online, accepting credit card
transaction is a must! A full 90 percent of all online sales
occur through credit card payments.

There are two ways you can add e-commerce capabilities to your
website:

1. Having your own merchant account

2. Using third party processors

What is a merchant account?

A merchant account is a special kind of bank account where funds
received from credit card transactions are first routed to the
special account and held there before being remitted to your
business account. You as an online merchant will need an account
called “Card Not Present Merchant Account”.

Having the merchant account is, actually, the first step in
processing credit cards online. You will also need a payment
gateway. A payment gateway is a service provided by billing
processor which allows real time authorization of online
transactions. The payment gateway you choose to work with has to
be compatible with your shopping cart. Three top payment Gateway
providers are AuthorizeNet (http://www.authorizenet.com/),
Verisign (http://www.verisign.com/) and USAePay
(http://www.usaepay.com/). All payment gateway providers have
their own merchant solutions. Most banks, today, work with
partner payment gateway providers and are fully capable of
furnishing with a merchant solution.

If you are just starting an online business and you don’t think
that your sales will generate more than a thousand dollars a
month, you will be better of with a third party processor.
However, once your sales become a few thousand you will save a
bundle by switching to a merchant account.

PayPal

With 72 million accounts worldwide and payment volume which is
growing at a rate of 44 percent each year, PayPal by far is the
most popular third party processor on the Internet.

PayPal is a simple and affordable payment solution for those
online merchants who are unable to or don’t want to go through
the complex process of setting up a bank merchant account.

At present, PayPal has four unique solutions for merchants.

PayPal Website Payments Standard: This solution allows you to
accept credit cards on your website. However, the transaction is
processed on the PayPal secure server. The customer can choose to
pay either by credit card or PayPal. If you don’t have shopping
cart as yet, you may get one from PayPal; or you can integrate
PayPal solution to your existing shopping cart.

Cost: No monthly fee. No setup fees. No cancellation fees.
Transaction Fees are 1.9% to 2.9% + $0.30 US$.

PayPal Website Payments Pro: This solution is virtually same as
having your own merchant account. If a customer pays by a credit
card, PayPal works as a payment gateway for you. The customer
does not leave your website at anytime if she pays you by a
credit card.

Cost: $20.00 US$ monthly fee. No setup fees. No cancellation
fees. Transaction Fees are 2.2% to 2.9% + $0.30 US$.

PayPal Email Payments: This is the payment system PayPal started
with. You send invoice to your customers by email and get paid on
PayPal.

Cost: No monthly fee. No setup fees. No cancellation fees.
Transaction Fees are 1.9% to 2.9% + $0.30 US$.

PayPal as an Additional Payment Option: If you already have a
merchant account and you would like to add PayPal to your
existing payment solutions, you can use this option.

If you are planning to sell products through eBay, you definitely
should have PayPal option. According to eBay, three out of four
eBay customers choose to pay by PayPal.

When you use PayPal as your primary processor, make sure that you
have at least one more alternative payment solution handy. The
reason is many disgruntled former users of PayPal claim that
PayPal might freeze your account anytime without any apparent
reason. Read http://www.PayPalsucks.com for more information.

However, According to a new report, Merchant losses from fraud on
PayPal are now only 0.17% of revenues, vs. 1.8% for online
merchants that accept credit cards through merchant accounts.
This gives one more reason to use PayPal.

WorldPay

If you are facing problems to get a merchant account due to the
factor that you are not located in the US, WorldPay could be the
solution for you. WorldPay is a one-stop solution for your
merchant account, payment gateway and store front. The payment
option comes with fraud protection and risk management
applications to safeguard your business. Based in England,
WorldPay is a division of Royal Bank of Scotland.

Cost: If you compare with PayPal, WorldPay’s fees are pretty
stiff. 50 US$ monthly fee. 400 US$ setup fee. Transaction Fees
are 3.25% + $0.40 US$. The charge for multicurrency processing is
5.25% per transaction.

2Checkout

2checkout.com works as an online distribution center. When
customer buys a product from your website through 2checkout, you
actually make your sale to 2checkout for immediate resale to your
customer. Customers are billed by 2checkout not you. 2checkout
accepts vendors from virtually all over the world. You can also
set up recurring billing through 2checkout.

Cost: No monthly fee. 49 US$ setup fee. Transaction Fee:
5.5% + $0.30 US$.

ClickBank

For selling e-books, reports and other similar digital products,
ClickBank.com is probably your best option. The great thing about
ClickBank is it has over 100 thousand affiliates promoting
products available on the ClickBank marketplace. By listing your
product with ClickBank, you automatically tap into a huge
potential market. ClickBank accepts all major credit cards and
PayPal.

Cost: 50 US$ set up fee. Depending on the percentage of the
commission you pay to your affiliates, transaction fee varies
from 2.5% plus 0.33 US$ to 7.5% plus 1 US$.

There are many other third party processing companies available
on the Internet. Two of them worth mentioning are
http://moneybookers.com and http://www.ikobo.com.

Since fees fluctuate considerably from one solution to another
depending on your location, products and other needs, make sure
to do a thorough research before signing up with any of the
mentioned providers.

Nowshade Kabir, is the founder, primary developer and present
CEO of Rusbiz.com – a Global B2B Exchange with solutions to
create e-catalog, Web store, business process management and
other features to run a business online. You can read various
articles written by Nowshade Kabir at http://ezine.rusbiz.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nowshade_Kabir
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Receive-Payments-for-Your-Online-Sales&id=47687

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-11T01:50:00.001-07:00

How To Protect Yourself From Pre-Approved Credit Card Offer?
By Cornie Herring

Have you received before a pre-approved credit card offer that sent to you through your email address? If you are not, then you are the lucky one. Most of people who have access to email are receiving dozens of "good offer" from credit card companies. Low-internet rate and higher credit limit are among the good deals in the offers and the best part is: it has been pre-approved to you. Sound good? Well, before you go ahead and accept one. Ask yourself whether you really need it or not. According to the credit card site CardWeb.com, average American household are holding a $10,000 credit card debt. Don't let you be one of the statistics.

The best way to keep credit card debt down is not to use a credit card. But if you do receive a pre-approved card that intrigues you, at least know what you are getting into before signing on the bottom line:

What interest are you paying? Make sure you understand the interest rate you will be paying for. There are two types of interest rates, fixed-rate annual percentage rate (APR) and variable rates that swing according to the market rate. A better option would be APR because credit card companies have to notify you before raising rates.

The low interest rate being offered is usually only an "introductory rate" which means the rate can - and probably will - increase significantly at the end of the introductory period. This means that balances transferred from higher interest rate credit cards to the new, low introductory rate card could, over the long run, actually cost you more in interest payments. So, be aware of the terms and conditions before you sign to accept the card.

Know that a credit card may carry more than one rate. You may not aware that most of credit cards carry more than one rate. The balance transfer and cash advance normally have higher interest rate. Interest rate shows in the offer normally is the interest rate of your purchases with credit card. Hence, at the end you probably pay higher interest rate if you have balance transfer or withdraw any cash advance with your credit card.

Credit card companies may raise the interest rate if you have late payment. Some credit card companies will immediately raise your interest rate from introductory teaser rate to the regular rate if you are late just one time.

Don't accept the new credit card offer if fee involved. If there is fee involved with your new credit card, don't accept the offer. Why pay a fee for a credit card when, with good credit, you don't have to? If you have good credit, there are many other better offers which you can choose from.

Many of these cards are just preliminarily approved. This means that when you actually apply, the credit card company will reviewing your credit report in full as well as verifying information provided on your application. Terms and conditions may change according to your qualification, such as higher interest rate or smaller credit line. And if your application is rejected, it could cause at least minimal damage to your credit report.

So, in order to protect yourself, you need to carefully read all of the fine print in the offer and, if you don't fully understand and like everything you read, throw the credit card offer away. Even if you fully agree with the stated terms and conditions, do some calculations to be sure that the lower introductory rate, especially in the case of balance transfers, will actually save you money over the long run.

Cornie Herring is the Author from http://www.studykiosk.com This site is an informational website on credit basics, debt consolidation and bankruptcy. Visit her "Money Matters" blog for more credit related information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cornie_Herring
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Protect-Yourself-From-Pre-Approved-Credit-Card-Offer?&id=515973

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-10T04:58:00.001-07:00

Accept Credit Cards

2007-04-09T00:56:00.001-07:00

accept credit cards

2007-01-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

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