Why You Should Refinance Your Credit Card
By Max Hunter
Getting the Right Rate Can Save YOU Thousands
A credit card debt can be like the worst sort of trap. Like a
wound that won’t heal, a monthly minimum payment – with
ceaseless regularity and endless strain on your budget – leaves
your account. It’s to pay for the Christmas shopping, or the
last July 4th party, or your holiday two years ago. You don’t
know; frankly you care less – you just want to see it gone. But
when your next statement arrives, the hole your minimum payment
should have burned in your debt is no smaller – the sore remains
unclosed.
Is this situation familiar? Is it you?
If it is, you’ve not heard the worst of it yet. The way that
credit card companies exist and thrive is by exploiting your
debt burden. They’ll lend and lend and lend, until you get to
the point that the most you can pay back each month is the
minimum payment – usually around 2.5 per cent of the balance.
The problem with this is that they hit you with a load of
interest, sometimes amounting to 2 per cent of the balance. If
only one half of a per cent is being paid back it doesn’t take
much math to figure out the amount of time it could take you to
pay back your debts.
In fact, if you’re paying repayment insurance, in some
instances you can pay back less than the amount of debt
accumulating.
It’s a horrible, self-perpetuating cycle of hemorrhaging money,
but the good news is twofold.
First off, you’re not alone. Thousands upon thousands of
decent, hard-working Americans are in this position through no
fault of their own but necessity and the demands of modern
living.
Secondly, if you’re stuck in this horrible cycle of bleeding
money, the chances are that it can be at least partially
redressed. Many Americans have – and still do – unwittingly
signed up to credit card deals that are uncompetitive,
over-priced and unnecessarily expensive. What many don’t
realize, is that simply because you have pledged allegiance to a
particular credit card company doesn’t mean to say that you are
stuck with them for life. There’s a way out that can save you
hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year and help you pay
off your debt burden more quickly.
Transferring the balance of your credit card to another one is
a way of paying off your existing debt with a new credit card
that you take on at a cheaper rate. In many cases this can be
set at 0 per cent for a period of a number of months, before
reverting to a higher rate. By switching to such a card – and
then another at the end of the interest free term, and maybe
even another after that, it gives you a clear run at reducing
your debt, without it spiraling ever further upwards. Even if
you’re still only paying 2.5 per cent off the balance a month,
far better to do that than knocking off one half of a per cent,
or less.
By bundling up the old expensive credit card debt, getting rid
of it, then paying back the new credit card at a lower rate, you
can save countless dollars each month. You can save even more
money by paying a bit more each month, thus clearing the debt in
a shorter time. By doing this you’ll free up more dollars
further down the line enabling you to spend them on something
really nice.
Unfortunately, 0% deals are not always available to all
customers. If you’ve got a credit rating that’s in some way
below scratch, it is probably unlikely that a 0% credit card
will be made available to you. It’s a sad fact of finance that
the best deals seem to always be available for those who need
them the least.
That said, there are a number of other excellent credit cards
on the market through which you can save many dollars. Even if a
balance transfer rate is as high as 10 or 12 per cent, if you’re
paying upwards of 20 per cent on your existing deal then you’re
clearly going to save a stack of money – even if it’s not as
much as you might have liked.
If you’re concerned about how much you’re paying each month on
your credit card repayment it certainly pays to check out your
existing interest rates and compare them to some of the balance
transfer rates available at competitors: it’s almost a certainty
that you’ll save yourself more than a few dollars.
Even if you’re not worried about your existing credit card
deal, it’s worth checking out the market to see if you can get a
better deal. Complacency doesn’t pay, but a bit of awareness can
save you a lot.
About the Author: Max Hunter is the author of many credit
related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans or
any other type of credit issue please visit us at
http://www.creditcardunlimited.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
Benefits Of Online Credit Card Processors
By Matt Garrett
We have all heard of PayPal. PayPal is an online credit card
processor that allows online businesses to securely accept
credit cards as a form of payment. In addition to PayPal, there
are additional online credit card processors.
Online shopping has dramatically increased in popularity and
each day more consumers think about purchasing online. Online
shopping is popular because it is generally easy and
convenient. Online credit card processors help to make online
shopping hassle free. Online credit card processors are used by
large or small businesses. In additional to nationally known
companies, online credit card processors make it easy for
work-at-home individuals to successfully make a profit selling
homemade or wholesale merchandise.
For individuals interested in starting their own online
business, finding the perfect online credit card processing
company make take sometime. Credit card number are valuable
information and unfortunately many account numbers are stolen
each day. In addition to protecting the assets of your
business, obtaining a secure online credit card processor will
also protect your customers. Consumers do not want to be
shopping or handing out valuable personal information to an
unsecured website or credit card processing company. The best
way to determine the success of online credit card processors
is by searching for customer feedback on the internet. Many
times clients will post feedback when they have had a positive
or negative experience with a company.
In addition to personal and business security, fully
researching the various different online credit card processors
is a potential way to increase your profits. For allowing you to
use their services, you are charged a fee. The fee and rates
will depend on the online credit card processor in question.
For this reason, it is important to shop around and find the
best value for your money. Although cheaper rates are nice, it
is not always better. Go with your gut instinct, if something
seems too good to be true it may be. Research is an important
tool in keeping your profits intact.
It is not uncommon to come across online credit card processors
that offer certain guidelines or restrictions on their services.
For example, there may be a select few of online credit card
processors that limit the amount of sales it processes. This
limit may be monthly, weekly, or even daily. If your business
becomes a success, this restriction could only hurt it and
could cause you to lose potential profits.
Another restriction may include the type of business that you
are operating. Although each online credit card processor is
different and they tend to operate under different standards,
some online businesses may be a violation of their standards. A
few examples of the businesses that online credit card
processors may refuse to service are gambling sites, adult
sties, or pharmacies. Before entering into a contract with an
online credit card processing company, it is important to read
through their contract rules and guidelines.
Credit cards are used by consumers because they are a
convenient and easy way to participate in online shopping. If
you are operating an online business, whether it be large or
small, consider accepting online credit cards. There a wide
number of online credit card processors available to serve your
needs and help your businesses grow.
About the Author: Matt Garrett, SEO Services
http://www.Accept-Credit-Cards-Online.co.uk
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Matt Garrett
We have all heard of PayPal. PayPal is an online credit card
processor that allows online businesses to securely accept
credit cards as a form of payment. In addition to PayPal, there
are additional online credit card processors.
Online shopping has dramatically increased in popularity and
each day more consumers think about purchasing online. Online
shopping is popular because it is generally easy and
convenient. Online credit card processors help to make online
shopping hassle free. Online credit card processors are used by
large or small businesses. In additional to nationally known
companies, online credit card processors make it easy for
work-at-home individuals to successfully make a profit selling
homemade or wholesale merchandise.
For individuals interested in starting their own online
business, finding the perfect online credit card processing
company make take sometime. Credit card number are valuable
information and unfortunately many account numbers are stolen
each day. In addition to protecting the assets of your
business, obtaining a secure online credit card processor will
also protect your customers. Consumers do not want to be
shopping or handing out valuable personal information to an
unsecured website or credit card processing company. The best
way to determine the success of online credit card processors
is by searching for customer feedback on the internet. Many
times clients will post feedback when they have had a positive
or negative experience with a company.
In addition to personal and business security, fully
researching the various different online credit card processors
is a potential way to increase your profits. For allowing you to
use their services, you are charged a fee. The fee and rates
will depend on the online credit card processor in question.
For this reason, it is important to shop around and find the
best value for your money. Although cheaper rates are nice, it
is not always better. Go with your gut instinct, if something
seems too good to be true it may be. Research is an important
tool in keeping your profits intact.
It is not uncommon to come across online credit card processors
that offer certain guidelines or restrictions on their services.
For example, there may be a select few of online credit card
processors that limit the amount of sales it processes. This
limit may be monthly, weekly, or even daily. If your business
becomes a success, this restriction could only hurt it and
could cause you to lose potential profits.
Another restriction may include the type of business that you
are operating. Although each online credit card processor is
different and they tend to operate under different standards,
some online businesses may be a violation of their standards. A
few examples of the businesses that online credit card
processors may refuse to service are gambling sites, adult
sties, or pharmacies. Before entering into a contract with an
online credit card processing company, it is important to read
through their contract rules and guidelines.
Credit cards are used by consumers because they are a
convenient and easy way to participate in online shopping. If
you are operating an online business, whether it be large or
small, consider accepting online credit cards. There a wide
number of online credit card processors available to serve your
needs and help your businesses grow.
About the Author: Matt Garrett, SEO Services
http://www.Accept-Credit-Cards-Online.co.uk
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
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
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
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
Best Credit Card After Bankruptcy... How To Find One
By R. Lawrence Anderson
Finding the best credit card after bankruptcy is not that
difficult, if you know where to look and what to look for.
Let’s start by talking about secured and unsecured credit
cards. When it comes to applying for a credit card after
bankruptcy one question that a lot of people seem to have is:
Should I apply for a secured credit card or unsecured credit
card?
In case you don’t know the difference, a secured credit card is
“secured” by a special savings account you establish with the
credit card issuer which acts as collateral for your credit
limit.
For example, you deposit $500 in a special savings account and
then have a $500 credit limit. If you default, the credit card
issuer simply takes the money in your special savings account.
Unsecured credit cards are just that – unsecured. Meaning the
person fills out a credit application and, based on their credit
report, income, etc. are approved for a certain credit limit. Of
course, they could also be declined depending
on the credit card issuer’s guidelines.
So which is best? It depends on your credit history. However,
if you apply for a secured credit card you have a higher chance
of getting approved versus an unsecured credit card.
But be careful. Not all secured cards are created equal. And to
make matters worse, there are tons of banks out there pushing
secured credit cards!
So how do you find the best credit card after bankruptcy? Come
up with a list of criteria that the secured card needs to meet
in order for you to consider it. When I’m researching secured
cards, I apply eight criteria. Not many meet these criteria so
I’m able to narrow down the choices quickly.
What are the some of the eight criteria? For example, a low
interest rate is important. While researching some secured
credit cards I ran across one with an interest rate of 23.99%
and another with an interest rate of only 9.25%.
This is just one of the criteria I use to find the best credit
card after bankruptcy – and look at the potential savings! Over
several years you could save hundreds or even thousands of
dollars in interest depending on the balance you maintain.
Okay, here’s another criteria: application fees. Again, I found
some secured credit cards that have no application fees and one
that had a… are you ready for this… $120 application fee! Sadly,
people have paid it!
Let me give you one more criteria you can use to find the best
credit card after bankruptcy: You want to make sure the secured
card issuer reports to all three credit bureaus. But you also
want to make sure they report it a certain way.
I don’t have room here for all eight criteria, but hopefully
this gives you an idea of some of the things you need to look at
when it comes to finding the best credit card after bankruptcy.
By the way, don’t apply for too many credit cards at once. If
you do, it can hurt your credit score. That’s why if you’re
uncertain as to whether or not you’d be approved for an
unsecured credit card it may be better to apply for a secured
credit card.
Now you know some steps you can take toward finding the best
credit card after bankruptcy!
About the Author: R. Lawrence Anderson is author of After
Bankruptcy Credit Solutions, which shows individuals how to
qualify for credit and loans after bankruptcy. For details
visit: http://www.bankruptcy-credit-solutions.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By R. Lawrence Anderson
Finding the best credit card after bankruptcy is not that
difficult, if you know where to look and what to look for.
Let’s start by talking about secured and unsecured credit
cards. When it comes to applying for a credit card after
bankruptcy one question that a lot of people seem to have is:
Should I apply for a secured credit card or unsecured credit
card?
In case you don’t know the difference, a secured credit card is
“secured” by a special savings account you establish with the
credit card issuer which acts as collateral for your credit
limit.
For example, you deposit $500 in a special savings account and
then have a $500 credit limit. If you default, the credit card
issuer simply takes the money in your special savings account.
Unsecured credit cards are just that – unsecured. Meaning the
person fills out a credit application and, based on their credit
report, income, etc. are approved for a certain credit limit. Of
course, they could also be declined depending
on the credit card issuer’s guidelines.
So which is best? It depends on your credit history. However,
if you apply for a secured credit card you have a higher chance
of getting approved versus an unsecured credit card.
But be careful. Not all secured cards are created equal. And to
make matters worse, there are tons of banks out there pushing
secured credit cards!
So how do you find the best credit card after bankruptcy? Come
up with a list of criteria that the secured card needs to meet
in order for you to consider it. When I’m researching secured
cards, I apply eight criteria. Not many meet these criteria so
I’m able to narrow down the choices quickly.
What are the some of the eight criteria? For example, a low
interest rate is important. While researching some secured
credit cards I ran across one with an interest rate of 23.99%
and another with an interest rate of only 9.25%.
This is just one of the criteria I use to find the best credit
card after bankruptcy – and look at the potential savings! Over
several years you could save hundreds or even thousands of
dollars in interest depending on the balance you maintain.
Okay, here’s another criteria: application fees. Again, I found
some secured credit cards that have no application fees and one
that had a… are you ready for this… $120 application fee! Sadly,
people have paid it!
Let me give you one more criteria you can use to find the best
credit card after bankruptcy: You want to make sure the secured
card issuer reports to all three credit bureaus. But you also
want to make sure they report it a certain way.
I don’t have room here for all eight criteria, but hopefully
this gives you an idea of some of the things you need to look at
when it comes to finding the best credit card after bankruptcy.
By the way, don’t apply for too many credit cards at once. If
you do, it can hurt your credit score. That’s why if you’re
uncertain as to whether or not you’d be approved for an
unsecured credit card it may be better to apply for a secured
credit card.
Now you know some steps you can take toward finding the best
credit card after bankruptcy!
About the Author: R. Lawrence Anderson is author of After
Bankruptcy Credit Solutions, which shows individuals how to
qualify for credit and loans after bankruptcy. For details
visit: http://www.bankruptcy-credit-solutions.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
Accept Credit Card at Trade Show
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod]Shane Penrod
Are you wondering whether to accept credit card at trade show options? You know how it goes. You register for a show, set up your booth, and over the course of the event you find that lots of customers want to buy your products. If you are stuck making change for cash payments or trying to decide whether to accept a personal check, you could spend a lot of time and lose many customers in the process. Those who prefer to pay by plastic will head to your competitors’ booths where they can swipe a card and be on their way in a few moments’ time. With a credit payment processor, you can be the one swiping the plastic and ringing up the sale. So how can you get set up to receive credit card payments at a trade show? It all starts with a merchant services account.
If you are exploring whether to accept credit card at trade show possibilities, you should consider opening a merchant services account. Many banks or other financial institutions offer this commercial-grade company account. They will often let you submit an application over the Internet at their Websites and get back to you with an answer in a day or two. When your application is approved, you can take advantage of the great financing options that the bank will provide in underwriting a credit processing account so that you can accept credit card payments from your customers either on-site or at a remote location, such as a trade show. Simply buy, lease, or rent a wireless credit processor and take it with you to the show. Your customers will love the convenience of using plastic over cash, and you will love adding up profits at the end of the day.
When you decide to accept credit card at trade show options, your journey into e-commerce should be smooth and clear. If a problem should arise, you can report it to the service technician who is responsible for maintaining your equipment. If you buy the unit outright, however, you may want to consider purchasing an accompanying service agreement in case a glitch should develop. Take your wireless unit to the trade show with you, set it up in a safe place where it won’t fall or get damaged, and put up a sign, if you have one, alerting customers to this credit paying option. If you also have a company Website, you may want to hand out fliers with your Web address on it so they can visit online to make additional purchases, using their credit card paying ability at that location as well, assuming you have set up your site to receive secure credit payments.
Going to the trade shows is a great way to see and be seen by customers and competitors. Imagine taking your credit processing equipment to facilitate sales while there. Give some serious thought to reasons that will benefit both company and clients as to why you should accept credit card at trade show options.
Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Card-at-Trade-Show&id=103872
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod]Shane Penrod
Are you wondering whether to accept credit card at trade show options? You know how it goes. You register for a show, set up your booth, and over the course of the event you find that lots of customers want to buy your products. If you are stuck making change for cash payments or trying to decide whether to accept a personal check, you could spend a lot of time and lose many customers in the process. Those who prefer to pay by plastic will head to your competitors’ booths where they can swipe a card and be on their way in a few moments’ time. With a credit payment processor, you can be the one swiping the plastic and ringing up the sale. So how can you get set up to receive credit card payments at a trade show? It all starts with a merchant services account.
If you are exploring whether to accept credit card at trade show possibilities, you should consider opening a merchant services account. Many banks or other financial institutions offer this commercial-grade company account. They will often let you submit an application over the Internet at their Websites and get back to you with an answer in a day or two. When your application is approved, you can take advantage of the great financing options that the bank will provide in underwriting a credit processing account so that you can accept credit card payments from your customers either on-site or at a remote location, such as a trade show. Simply buy, lease, or rent a wireless credit processor and take it with you to the show. Your customers will love the convenience of using plastic over cash, and you will love adding up profits at the end of the day.
When you decide to accept credit card at trade show options, your journey into e-commerce should be smooth and clear. If a problem should arise, you can report it to the service technician who is responsible for maintaining your equipment. If you buy the unit outright, however, you may want to consider purchasing an accompanying service agreement in case a glitch should develop. Take your wireless unit to the trade show with you, set it up in a safe place where it won’t fall or get damaged, and put up a sign, if you have one, alerting customers to this credit paying option. If you also have a company Website, you may want to hand out fliers with your Web address on it so they can visit online to make additional purchases, using their credit card paying ability at that location as well, assuming you have set up your site to receive secure credit payments.
Going to the trade shows is a great way to see and be seen by customers and competitors. Imagine taking your credit processing equipment to facilitate sales while there. Give some serious thought to reasons that will benefit both company and clients as to why you should accept credit card at trade show options.
Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Card-at-Trade-Show&id=103872
Monday, July 23, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
Accepting Credit Cards - Positives vs. Negatives
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Scott_Burke]Scott Burke
Today there are hundreds of thousands of small & medium size businesses in this country that take orders via credit cards. In addition, every day in this country, there are hundreds of companies entering the world of e-commerce. They come from many industries including retail, internet, mail order, home based businesses, B2B, professional services, wholesale and mobile businesses. In many cases they are "taking the plunge" to accept credit and debit cards for the first time. Some are successful and some are not. As with any other business venture, the companies that do their homework typically have a better chance at being successful.
To help you start your homework, let's look at the advantages of accepting credit cards for your business.
6 Benefits of Accepting Credit Cards
1. Convenience - You probably already know that accepting alternative forms of payment like credit and debit cards helps make it more convenient for people to pay you. This will increase your sales and profits. Some studies say by 30 -100% or more (Visa International).
2. Increases Your Credibility - Did you also know that advertising your acceptance of credit and debit cards increases your credibility? It's true. The public knows that a Merchant Account status is not always easy to get and will look at you as more of a solid company -here to stay. "Hmmm... doesn't accept credit cards? Is there some kind of credit problem I should know about this company?"
3. Increases Your Average Sales Order - Were you aware that you're AVERAGE SALE AMOUNT GOES UP when you accept credit cards? Studies prove (and I am sure it's true of most of us) that when we are ready to make a purchase and we are paying with a credit card we are more inclined to purchase the "upgrade" product or service. Human nature seems to cause most of us to be inclined to purchase the "better model or service upgrade" when we can finance the purchase with a credit card.
4. Impulse Purchases Go Up - Did you also know that your willingness to accept credit cards also causes impulse purchases to go up? Customers are more likely to purchase when they can use a credit card versus paying with cash or a check. For some reason human nature - especially in the US - causes us to think paying on credit is easier.
5. Increases Cash Sales - I bet you didn't know that the mere presence of credit card logos at your business location increases CASH sales. A fascinating study was explained in the book Influence by Robert Cialdini. This scientific experiment documented that the mere presence of Master Card/ Visa logos will increase cash sales by as much as 29% in controlled studies - even though credit cards were not used! If your business accepts cash, this is an extra bonus of accepting credit cards and advertising that you do.
6. Cuts Back on Bad Checks and Collection Costs. -By accepting credit and debit cards through a reputable Merchant Account Provider, credit cards orders will be screened for fraudulent transactions. Some providers, like Cardservice International, will take extra steps on address verification, verifying the extra four digits on the credit card, and blocking selected credit card numbers, Internet protocols, names or addresses. These are extra safety measures you can take to find peace of mind that the orders you are receiving - particularly on the Internet - are legitimate. When a customer is a "slow pay", a common collection technique is to call the customer and suggest they give you their credit card information over the phone right then to clear up the default. Without this option you would typically have to wait to see if the customer sends you a check like they said they would.
Disadvantages of Accepting Credit and Debit Cards
Like anything else, the benefits of increasing sales and profits by accepting credit and debit cards do not come without some risks. Sure, one disadvantage is that you have to pay a percentage of the sales that are paid to you with a credit or debit card in rates and fees. You also have to wait from one to three days for your money to post to your checking account. You should be aware of other issues also.
1.) Chargeback Risk - The customer who paid you with a credit card has up to six months to dispute the charge. Should they not be happy with the product or service, they would typically call you and negotiate a resolution. Should you decide to give the customer a credit than you will typically pay your Merchant Account Provider the same rates and fees that you paid when you accepted the charge - even though the money is flowing OUT of your account.
Worse yet, the customer may still be dissatisfied after calling you because you felt a credit was not justified. The customer may not call you at all.
In any event, the customer has the right to dispute the charge and write a letter to the bank that issued them the credit card they paid you with. The bank will contact the Merchant Account Provider who will then contact you to "retrieve" the signed receipt or possibly other evidence of the sale. This is called a "retrieval request" and usually costs $10 or more. The Merchant Account Provider may "charge back" the amount, which also has a fee of $10 or more. Consumer Protection Law will usually side with the consumer and not you.
Should the order be a Mail Order / Telephone Order (MOTO) or an Internet order then your defense is very weak because you may not have a signed receipt. Make sure your "Descriptor" includes your phone number. This is the name of your business which the customer sees on the credit card statement they get showing the charge. If your phone number is included the customer will have a greater likelihood of calling you first to resolve the dispute. This could save you both a Retrieval Request fee and a potential Charge Back fee.
2.) Your Money Can Be Held Back By the Merchant Account Provider. An ounce of prevention may be worth a ton of headaches. When you filled out your Merchant Account Application you were asked the type of business you have, the monthly volume of sales you anticipate, and the average order size you anticipate. The reason Merchant Account Providers run a credit report on you and are concerned about your business type and sales volume is because ultimately the Merchant Account Provider has to make good your charge backs if you are not able to.
Should you declare bankruptcy, not ship your product, provide your service inadequately, or even be running fraudulent credit card orders, the Merchant Account Provider could really be hurt. Because of this, a "Loss Prevention" department will watch your processing activities and has a good idea of the types of businesses that have greater risk to the Merchant Account Provider. A Merchant (or the sales rep) may describe the business differently than it really is in order to get the Merchant Account Application approved more quickly. Once the Merchant Account Provider finds this out, they may hold your funds until everything is straightened out.
Spikes in your processing above your average daily approved sales volume estimate and much larger average order sizes than you were approved for will also concern the Merchant Account Provider. Trouble sometimes arises when a Merchant is stacking up credit card orders waiting for their Merchant Account to both be approved and setup properly. The Merchant finally goes live and keys in a bunch of orders the very first day. Alarm bells go off.
The lesson learned is to make sure your business description, monthly volume estimate, and average order size (or average ticket) are all correct. If you have more than one business make sure you set up each business properly and separately. The expense to do this is not great compared to the risk. The right kind of credit card terminal, as example, permits multiple Merchant Accounts.
The Bottom Line
Make sure you keep your Merchant Account Provider informed. Are your sales seasonal - which could cause a spike? Did you make a large sale that you keyed into your terminal or software that is well above your estimate of average order size? Are you getting into another business all together? Save yourself some headaches and call first for advice from your Merchant Account Provider.
You also may want to look at the cost of NOT accepting credit and debit cards. Never mind all the hype about "My sales increased 500% because I started accepting credit cards." - Although in some cases I have seen this to be true. DO think about the likelihood of getting even just a few "extra" orders for your product or service because you accept credit and debit cards. Based on your average order size, how much profit will you make on each of these "extra" orders. Add to that the savings on labor by possibly not having to send out invoices. What about the labor savings by converting to an electronic check service so you just enter the check information on the Internet. Add to that using credit and debit cards as a collection technique for your slow pays. I know it sounds self serving because I am in the business but it is hard for me to imagine ANY business not choosing to offer as many payment methods as possible to their clients and customers. The question becomes one of choosing the best method of accepting credit and debit cards - not whether to accept debit and credit cards for your business or not.
What this guide is all about is giving you the education to make a decision on a Merchant Account Provider, a bank, or even a third party processor based on a cost benefit analysis and your service needs.
About The Author
Scott Burke; President of iMAX Business Solutions in charge of sales, strategy, and execution and thus is responsible for managing all aspects of the company's marketing, communications, new accounts, and support.
For more information on how your business may benefit from accepting credit cards now. Click over to [http://www.cmscreditcards.com ]http://www.cmscreditcards.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Burke http://EzineArticles.com/?Accepting-Credit-Cards---Positives-vs.-Negatives&id=225600
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Scott_Burke]Scott Burke
Today there are hundreds of thousands of small & medium size businesses in this country that take orders via credit cards. In addition, every day in this country, there are hundreds of companies entering the world of e-commerce. They come from many industries including retail, internet, mail order, home based businesses, B2B, professional services, wholesale and mobile businesses. In many cases they are "taking the plunge" to accept credit and debit cards for the first time. Some are successful and some are not. As with any other business venture, the companies that do their homework typically have a better chance at being successful.
To help you start your homework, let's look at the advantages of accepting credit cards for your business.
6 Benefits of Accepting Credit Cards
1. Convenience - You probably already know that accepting alternative forms of payment like credit and debit cards helps make it more convenient for people to pay you. This will increase your sales and profits. Some studies say by 30 -100% or more (Visa International).
2. Increases Your Credibility - Did you also know that advertising your acceptance of credit and debit cards increases your credibility? It's true. The public knows that a Merchant Account status is not always easy to get and will look at you as more of a solid company -here to stay. "Hmmm... doesn't accept credit cards? Is there some kind of credit problem I should know about this company?"
3. Increases Your Average Sales Order - Were you aware that you're AVERAGE SALE AMOUNT GOES UP when you accept credit cards? Studies prove (and I am sure it's true of most of us) that when we are ready to make a purchase and we are paying with a credit card we are more inclined to purchase the "upgrade" product or service. Human nature seems to cause most of us to be inclined to purchase the "better model or service upgrade" when we can finance the purchase with a credit card.
4. Impulse Purchases Go Up - Did you also know that your willingness to accept credit cards also causes impulse purchases to go up? Customers are more likely to purchase when they can use a credit card versus paying with cash or a check. For some reason human nature - especially in the US - causes us to think paying on credit is easier.
5. Increases Cash Sales - I bet you didn't know that the mere presence of credit card logos at your business location increases CASH sales. A fascinating study was explained in the book Influence by Robert Cialdini. This scientific experiment documented that the mere presence of Master Card/ Visa logos will increase cash sales by as much as 29% in controlled studies - even though credit cards were not used! If your business accepts cash, this is an extra bonus of accepting credit cards and advertising that you do.
6. Cuts Back on Bad Checks and Collection Costs. -By accepting credit and debit cards through a reputable Merchant Account Provider, credit cards orders will be screened for fraudulent transactions. Some providers, like Cardservice International, will take extra steps on address verification, verifying the extra four digits on the credit card, and blocking selected credit card numbers, Internet protocols, names or addresses. These are extra safety measures you can take to find peace of mind that the orders you are receiving - particularly on the Internet - are legitimate. When a customer is a "slow pay", a common collection technique is to call the customer and suggest they give you their credit card information over the phone right then to clear up the default. Without this option you would typically have to wait to see if the customer sends you a check like they said they would.
Disadvantages of Accepting Credit and Debit Cards
Like anything else, the benefits of increasing sales and profits by accepting credit and debit cards do not come without some risks. Sure, one disadvantage is that you have to pay a percentage of the sales that are paid to you with a credit or debit card in rates and fees. You also have to wait from one to three days for your money to post to your checking account. You should be aware of other issues also.
1.) Chargeback Risk - The customer who paid you with a credit card has up to six months to dispute the charge. Should they not be happy with the product or service, they would typically call you and negotiate a resolution. Should you decide to give the customer a credit than you will typically pay your Merchant Account Provider the same rates and fees that you paid when you accepted the charge - even though the money is flowing OUT of your account.
Worse yet, the customer may still be dissatisfied after calling you because you felt a credit was not justified. The customer may not call you at all.
In any event, the customer has the right to dispute the charge and write a letter to the bank that issued them the credit card they paid you with. The bank will contact the Merchant Account Provider who will then contact you to "retrieve" the signed receipt or possibly other evidence of the sale. This is called a "retrieval request" and usually costs $10 or more. The Merchant Account Provider may "charge back" the amount, which also has a fee of $10 or more. Consumer Protection Law will usually side with the consumer and not you.
Should the order be a Mail Order / Telephone Order (MOTO) or an Internet order then your defense is very weak because you may not have a signed receipt. Make sure your "Descriptor" includes your phone number. This is the name of your business which the customer sees on the credit card statement they get showing the charge. If your phone number is included the customer will have a greater likelihood of calling you first to resolve the dispute. This could save you both a Retrieval Request fee and a potential Charge Back fee.
2.) Your Money Can Be Held Back By the Merchant Account Provider. An ounce of prevention may be worth a ton of headaches. When you filled out your Merchant Account Application you were asked the type of business you have, the monthly volume of sales you anticipate, and the average order size you anticipate. The reason Merchant Account Providers run a credit report on you and are concerned about your business type and sales volume is because ultimately the Merchant Account Provider has to make good your charge backs if you are not able to.
Should you declare bankruptcy, not ship your product, provide your service inadequately, or even be running fraudulent credit card orders, the Merchant Account Provider could really be hurt. Because of this, a "Loss Prevention" department will watch your processing activities and has a good idea of the types of businesses that have greater risk to the Merchant Account Provider. A Merchant (or the sales rep) may describe the business differently than it really is in order to get the Merchant Account Application approved more quickly. Once the Merchant Account Provider finds this out, they may hold your funds until everything is straightened out.
Spikes in your processing above your average daily approved sales volume estimate and much larger average order sizes than you were approved for will also concern the Merchant Account Provider. Trouble sometimes arises when a Merchant is stacking up credit card orders waiting for their Merchant Account to both be approved and setup properly. The Merchant finally goes live and keys in a bunch of orders the very first day. Alarm bells go off.
The lesson learned is to make sure your business description, monthly volume estimate, and average order size (or average ticket) are all correct. If you have more than one business make sure you set up each business properly and separately. The expense to do this is not great compared to the risk. The right kind of credit card terminal, as example, permits multiple Merchant Accounts.
The Bottom Line
Make sure you keep your Merchant Account Provider informed. Are your sales seasonal - which could cause a spike? Did you make a large sale that you keyed into your terminal or software that is well above your estimate of average order size? Are you getting into another business all together? Save yourself some headaches and call first for advice from your Merchant Account Provider.
You also may want to look at the cost of NOT accepting credit and debit cards. Never mind all the hype about "My sales increased 500% because I started accepting credit cards." - Although in some cases I have seen this to be true. DO think about the likelihood of getting even just a few "extra" orders for your product or service because you accept credit and debit cards. Based on your average order size, how much profit will you make on each of these "extra" orders. Add to that the savings on labor by possibly not having to send out invoices. What about the labor savings by converting to an electronic check service so you just enter the check information on the Internet. Add to that using credit and debit cards as a collection technique for your slow pays. I know it sounds self serving because I am in the business but it is hard for me to imagine ANY business not choosing to offer as many payment methods as possible to their clients and customers. The question becomes one of choosing the best method of accepting credit and debit cards - not whether to accept debit and credit cards for your business or not.
What this guide is all about is giving you the education to make a decision on a Merchant Account Provider, a bank, or even a third party processor based on a cost benefit analysis and your service needs.
About The Author
Scott Burke; President of iMAX Business Solutions in charge of sales, strategy, and execution and thus is responsible for managing all aspects of the company's marketing, communications, new accounts, and support.
For more information on how your business may benefit from accepting credit cards now. Click over to [http://www.cmscreditcards.com ]http://www.cmscreditcards.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Burke http://EzineArticles.com/?Accepting-Credit-Cards---Positives-vs.-Negatives&id=225600
Friday, July 20, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
Accept Credit Card at Trade Show
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod]Shane Penrod
Are you wondering whether to accept credit card at trade show options? You know how it goes. You register for a show, set up your booth, and over the course of the event you find that lots of customers want to buy your products. If you are stuck making change for cash payments or trying to decide whether to accept a personal check, you could spend a lot of time and lose many customers in the process. Those who prefer to pay by plastic will head to your competitors’ booths where they can swipe a card and be on their way in a few moments’ time. With a credit payment processor, you can be the one swiping the plastic and ringing up the sale. So how can you get set up to receive credit card payments at a trade show? It all starts with a merchant services account.
If you are exploring whether to accept credit card at trade show possibilities, you should consider opening a merchant services account. Many banks or other financial institutions offer this commercial-grade company account. They will often let you submit an application over the Internet at their Websites and get back to you with an answer in a day or two. When your application is approved, you can take advantage of the great financing options that the bank will provide in underwriting a credit processing account so that you can accept credit card payments from your customers either on-site or at a remote location, such as a trade show. Simply buy, lease, or rent a wireless credit processor and take it with you to the show. Your customers will love the convenience of using plastic over cash, and you will love adding up profits at the end of the day.
When you decide to accept credit card at trade show options, your journey into e-commerce should be smooth and clear. If a problem should arise, you can report it to the service technician who is responsible for maintaining your equipment. If you buy the unit outright, however, you may want to consider purchasing an accompanying service agreement in case a glitch should develop. Take your wireless unit to the trade show with you, set it up in a safe place where it won’t fall or get damaged, and put up a sign, if you have one, alerting customers to this credit paying option. If you also have a company Website, you may want to hand out fliers with your Web address on it so they can visit online to make additional purchases, using their credit card paying ability at that location as well, assuming you have set up your site to receive secure credit payments.
Going to the trade shows is a great way to see and be seen by customers and competitors. Imagine taking your credit processing equipment to facilitate sales while there. Give some serious thought to reasons that will benefit both company and clients as to why you should accept credit card at trade show options.
Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Card-at-Trade-Show&id=103872
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod]Shane Penrod
Are you wondering whether to accept credit card at trade show options? You know how it goes. You register for a show, set up your booth, and over the course of the event you find that lots of customers want to buy your products. If you are stuck making change for cash payments or trying to decide whether to accept a personal check, you could spend a lot of time and lose many customers in the process. Those who prefer to pay by plastic will head to your competitors’ booths where they can swipe a card and be on their way in a few moments’ time. With a credit payment processor, you can be the one swiping the plastic and ringing up the sale. So how can you get set up to receive credit card payments at a trade show? It all starts with a merchant services account.
If you are exploring whether to accept credit card at trade show possibilities, you should consider opening a merchant services account. Many banks or other financial institutions offer this commercial-grade company account. They will often let you submit an application over the Internet at their Websites and get back to you with an answer in a day or two. When your application is approved, you can take advantage of the great financing options that the bank will provide in underwriting a credit processing account so that you can accept credit card payments from your customers either on-site or at a remote location, such as a trade show. Simply buy, lease, or rent a wireless credit processor and take it with you to the show. Your customers will love the convenience of using plastic over cash, and you will love adding up profits at the end of the day.
When you decide to accept credit card at trade show options, your journey into e-commerce should be smooth and clear. If a problem should arise, you can report it to the service technician who is responsible for maintaining your equipment. If you buy the unit outright, however, you may want to consider purchasing an accompanying service agreement in case a glitch should develop. Take your wireless unit to the trade show with you, set it up in a safe place where it won’t fall or get damaged, and put up a sign, if you have one, alerting customers to this credit paying option. If you also have a company Website, you may want to hand out fliers with your Web address on it so they can visit online to make additional purchases, using their credit card paying ability at that location as well, assuming you have set up your site to receive secure credit payments.
Going to the trade shows is a great way to see and be seen by customers and competitors. Imagine taking your credit processing equipment to facilitate sales while there. Give some serious thought to reasons that will benefit both company and clients as to why you should accept credit card at trade show options.
Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Penrod http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Card-at-Trade-Show&id=103872
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
Credit Card Offers
By Beth Pardue
The vast majority of credit card offers you receive are fair
and ethical. But there are two things to look out for that some
credit card companies have been known to pull on unwary
customers. These tactics are perfectly legal, so your only
recourse to preventing them is to be alert.
The old bait and switch. You apply for a great credit card that
gives you tons of frequent-flier miles, hoping to put all of
your shopping on it, and then head to the Bahamas in February.
When and if you get that card, study the terms carefully. If
you don't qualify for the great card, the credit card company
can send you a completely different card with different
terms--without telling you. Visit www.amex-visa-mastercard.com
for a list of reputable credit card offers.
Cash advance fees and rates. Read the fine print on your
statement and you'll see it's a very bad idea to take cash out
on your credit card. Your card might have a really low rate for
purchases, but the rate for cash advances is much higher. And
there is no grace period--you start paying interest right away.
Aside from paying a high rate on the cash you take out, you're
going to pay a fee, usually 2 percent to 4 percent of the
amount advanced. And your payments will be applied to the
lower-interest balance before they are applied to your cash
advance. Don't get yourself into trouble with either of these
two mistakes ... read the terms of your credit card offers
carefully before you activate them.
About the Author: This article was written by Beth Pardue who
has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry
assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more
about credit cards or to apply for a credit card online please
visit: Visit http://www.amex-visa-mastercard.com today!
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Beth Pardue
The vast majority of credit card offers you receive are fair
and ethical. But there are two things to look out for that some
credit card companies have been known to pull on unwary
customers. These tactics are perfectly legal, so your only
recourse to preventing them is to be alert.
The old bait and switch. You apply for a great credit card that
gives you tons of frequent-flier miles, hoping to put all of
your shopping on it, and then head to the Bahamas in February.
When and if you get that card, study the terms carefully. If
you don't qualify for the great card, the credit card company
can send you a completely different card with different
terms--without telling you. Visit www.amex-visa-mastercard.com
for a list of reputable credit card offers.
Cash advance fees and rates. Read the fine print on your
statement and you'll see it's a very bad idea to take cash out
on your credit card. Your card might have a really low rate for
purchases, but the rate for cash advances is much higher. And
there is no grace period--you start paying interest right away.
Aside from paying a high rate on the cash you take out, you're
going to pay a fee, usually 2 percent to 4 percent of the
amount advanced. And your payments will be applied to the
lower-interest balance before they are applied to your cash
advance. Don't get yourself into trouble with either of these
two mistakes ... read the terms of your credit card offers
carefully before you activate them.
About the Author: This article was written by Beth Pardue who
has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry
assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more
about credit cards or to apply for a credit card online please
visit: Visit http://www.amex-visa-mastercard.com today!
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Friday, July 13, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
Accept Credit Cards Online Without a Merchant Account
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joe_Duchesne]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 [http://www.turbomerchant.com ]merchant account and accept credit cards online. Reprint freely as long as the keyword rich link in this resource box stays live and with this article.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Duchesne http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Cards-Online-Without-a-Merchant-Account&id=9567
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joe_Duchesne]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 [http://www.turbomerchant.com ]merchant account and accept credit cards online. Reprint freely as long as the keyword rich link in this resource box stays live and with this article.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Duchesne http://EzineArticles.com/?Accept-Credit-Cards-Online-Without-a-Merchant-Account&id=9567
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Accept Credit Cards
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
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
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