Sales are the backbone to any business and utilizing eCommerce isn’t that hard to implement!

There are two different methods to implement ecommerce on your site:

1. A bank Internet merchant facility
2. Third party option

Which you choose will mainly depend on your standing with your bank and how much time you have for all the paper work.

An online merchant facility with a bank is usually a separate deal to a standard offline traditional one.

Lets have a look at both options.

What is an Internet merchant account? Do I need one?

A merchant account is a relationship between a retailer and a merchant bank that enables retailers to accept credit card payments from their customers.

To qualify for a merchant account, retailers must meet the bank’s often-stringent bank requirements.

Internet merchant accounts, used to enable web-based credit card payments, have even more stringent requirements. Most small companies find it too expensive and cumbersome to acquire their own merchant accounts, yet credit cards are the most efficient way of doing business on the Internet.

Many banks do not do their own online payment gateways but refer you to an approved thir party to actually set it up for you so you have a double cost. One for the fee to the bank and a second to the provider.

The bank will usually ask for a comprehensive business plan, trading figures etc and many businesses can provide this easily however if you are a smaller business then you should let us help you set up a third party merchant facility.

10 Benefits of Having A 3rd Party Merchant Account

1. The most inexpensive way to accept credit cards with hassle free, quick application process and set up.

2. New start-up businesses, sole traders and home-based businesses individuals are very welcome.

3. Incredibly low fee structure considering there are no application fees, leases, no monthly fees, no statement fees and no extra charges for software.

4. No charges are needed for payment gateway fees to a third party company as this is already provided at no extra cost.

5. No exclusivity restrictions meaning you are free to have other 3rd party merchant accounts with other credit card providers.

6. Freedom to pick and choose your credit card processing company to suit any variety of different business needs.

7. Able to set up a complete online storefront with little or no HTML programming experience. Simple online step-by-step tutorials and free assistance provided for set up.

8. Free customer services to handle orders, security, fraud prevention, automated payments and other essentials duties on your behalf.

9. No special requirements to open up a business bank account.

10. Offers the flexibility to use your own regular checking account for payment of earnings.

I’m sure by now that you can see the benefits and advantages of having access to your own 3rd party merchant account to automate your online payments for the convenience of your customers and to increase your business profits.

You would probably find that there are so many more great benefits of accepting credit cards without taking unnecessary financial risks.