Actually there are two ways in which you can accept credit cards on your web site: Using your own Merchant Bank Account: with an Internet Gateway. To do this, you’ll need a bank that will allow you to open a merchant account and provide you with the internet gateway. Requirements for this will vary from country to country and bank to bank. Through a Third Party Merchant:: There are many companies around that are willing to accept credit cards payments on your behalf in exchange for various fees and percentages.
The initial costs of opening your own merchant account is generally higher than when you use a third party merchant provider although third party merchant providers typically charge higher discount rates and hold you money for longer periods of time. Some of the more modern and competitive merchant bank account offerings offer completely free set-up and a free virtual or retail credit card processing terminal. These offers are few and far between so you will have to know where to look but if you are a smart merchant, you will not have to look too far.
The transaction fees (which is what you pay the bank or third party merchant for each sale) is much higher when you utilize a third party as compared to when using your own merchant account. A third party merchant is usually convenient to use when you do not know if you can actually make much out of your product or service. If you just want to test the water to see how things are or if you are not that serious or committed to your business long term. You just get a cheque at the end of each payment period (if you have earned enough) and concentrate on your services, products, and customers. Third party merchant providers may also service internationally while merchant banks may only operate within certain countries of choice.
Having your own merchant bank account accords your business with a substantial amount of professionalism. And as mentioned earlier, your transaction costs are generally much lower. However you have to be careful to minimize your credit card risks since you will be processing the credit card payments yourself. This isn’t to say that there is no risks attendant in using a third party merchant. Charge backs are always a risk to any merchant and must be managed professionally as they will occur if a merchant does business to any meaningful extent.
Here is an example of the difference between having your own merchant account through an approved bank versus a third party provider such as Paypal.
Option 1. Merchant account payment processing from a reputable merchant bank entity. In a merchant account, funds from your customers are directly deposited to your personal or business bank account. You therefore have control over your account because it is regulated by the Federal Banking Regulations. You may also easily set up your account to accept credit cards, gift cards, tele-check and other non-cash Internet transactions.
Option 2. PayPal payment processing which in this option your funds are deposited to your PayPal account. However, PayPal is not a bank so the Federal Banking System does not regulate them. At worse, they may freeze your account without you knowing how to unfreeze it. You are also limited to accepting payments based on PayPal regulations and invariably it takes much longer top receive your money from PayPal.
Make sure you provide your visitors with a secure environment 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:// starting to any web address that has a secure setting. If you want to accept credit cards online you’ve 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’ve to make sure you do everything you can to keep them feeling secure and at ease about ordering through your site.
Founded in 1988, FDIS is an established leader in the transaction processing industry.
FDIShas one of the highest merchant approval rates in the industry. Whether opening a new business or expanding an established one, we provide flexible and reliable products and services that enable merchants across the United States to accept nearly all types of electronic payments.