Best Merchant Account Reviews

Charge.com vs Yahoo

2010-06-29T21:34:00.000-07:00

In order to accept and process payment and affectively manage ecommerce, every online store should have a merchant service provider. When shopping for merchant services, there are many options available. Charge.com and Yahoo are both reputable companies and provide a variety of features and benefits at competitive prices. However, all merchant service providers vary in their charges, the types of payments they allow you to accept, the quality of technical support they provide, and other related features. The following information is an outline of Charge.com and Yahoo merchant services, providing a comparison for both companies.

Charge.com

Accept credit cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover.

Competitive Rates*
Free Application
Free Setup
Free Technical Support
Free Online Payment Processing Software
Free eCommerce Shopping Cart
Free Web Based Terminal for manual Processing
Online Reporting and Management of Transactions
SSL Secure Transactions

Yahoo Merchant Services

Accept: Visa Master Card, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Checks, PO's, COD's, and Money Orders.

Competitive Rates*
Free Application
$50 Setup Fee
Free Technical Support
User Friendly Yahoo Shopping Cart
Advanced Tracking Statistics
Sales and Inventory Reports
SSL Security and Fraud Protection
Search Engine Submission / Discounts on Yahoo Advertising

*Monthly fees and transaction rates are based on sales volume, average ticket amount, and the types of products and services being sold. Charge.com provides rate information upon completion of their free application, while Yahoo offers some information about fees on their website - according to sales volume.

Both Charge.com and Yahoo are highly ranked for fast set up and easy use. In addition, they both have excellent approval rating and a friendly, professional support staff. Visit Charge.com and Yahoo on the web for more details. Choosing a merchant account provider should be based on the needs of your individual business.

Charge.com

Yahoo Merchant Solutions

Protecting Your Merchant Account

2010-06-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

A substantial part of protecting merchant accounts is securing them from online fraud. At present, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. While online shopping allows for the ambiguity of a persons identity, it is highly targeted for the purpose of completing fraudulent activity. In other words, since no one really knows who they are selling to online, it is easy for a person to pose as someone else. However, there are security measure that should take place to minimize your chances of becoming a victim and reduce the risks of credit card chargebacks with your merchant account.

First of all, choose your merchant account provider based on the security features they offer. Many companies have their own screening measures that work to combat identity theft. One of the most important features you will need to implement is the verification of the card validation code. The card validation code, also referred to as the CVC, CVV, and CVV2, is the 3 to 4 digit number located on the back of each physical credit card. By verifying this code, it ensures that the card user has possession of the physical credit card, and has not just acquired the card number by hacking or some other illegal means. Often, when a credit card number is stolen for online use, the thief will not be able to provide this code for verification.

In addition to requiring the card validation code at your point of check out, it is a good idea to verify that the address provided matches the billing address of the credit card. Many internet merchant accounts provide services that run this verification process for you. This process is fast and often efficient at warding off fraudulent card users. In addition, be aware of anyone who requests international shipping or needs a large order overnighted. These are both red flags for fraud that is about to occur.

Sometimes chargebacks are not the result of fraud and can be avoided by effective communication. Be sure that the terms of your return policy are clearly stated on your website. It may also be a good idea to include them on paper with the product you are shipping. This should alleviate any frustrations your customer may experience that could lead to chargebacks.

In addition, know how your company name will appear on your consumer's credit card statement. Sometimes consumers will dispute charges if they cannot identify their purchase on their monthly bill. Make sure they will be able to recognize you.

Finally, present your phone number wherever possible. Consumers who can easily contact your business to settle problems are less likely to dispute them with their credit card company. Therefore, by taking this measure, you will experience fewer chargebacks and protect your merchant account.

Bad Credit Merchant Accounts

2010-05-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

Today, bad credit merchant accounts can be found almost everywhere. Our recent economic recession has placed many business owners in financial hardships. Therefore, there is a growing need for merchant services with lenient requirements for acceptance. However, merchant accounts that cater to those with bad credit often charge higher rates to compensate for the higher risks they take. Plus, current involvement in certain financial proceedings may make it impossible to acquire merchant services from anyone.

When shopping for a merchant account, you should consider all your options. Even though your credit history may seem questionable, it is always a good idea to apply for regular merchant services first. You may be surprised about what they are willing to accept or find that your credit is not as bad as you thought. If you are denied for a regular merchant account, then, you should begin shopping for merchant services that provide for those with bad credit.

There are numerous options for bad credit merchant accounts available online. They often advertise high approval ratings and can provide you with a response that same day. In addition, there are international merchant accounts that approve applicants with leniency. However, research all terms carefully, as some companies will try to take advantage of individuals with fewer options as a result of bad credit. You can expect to pay higher discount fees, but should still shop around for the best deal. Plus, it is not uncommon for bad credit merchant accounts to require a steep up front payment or deposit for their services.

Almost any merchant who needs a merchant account can acquire one, with the possible exceptions of those who have current or recent bankruptcy proceedings, show a history of fraudulent activity, or are on the VISA/MasterCard watch list. Overall, bad credit alone should not disqualify one from being able to operate a new business. Today's market is full of companies that specialize in high risk merchant accounts.

Free Merchant Accounts

2010-04-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

When you see the word “free” used to describe merchant account services, it usually refers to one of two things. The merchant account provider may be waiving all set up fees, credit card equipment fees, and other miscellaneous fees, to provide you with service in which they only charge the discount fee, or a percentage of each sale as it occurs. Or, free merchant account services can describe 3rd party processing, where another company pays the associated expenses and processes your credit cards for you.

Nothing about free merchant services is actually free, because either the merchant account provider or 3rd party processor will always charge a percentage of each sale. However, traditional merchant accounts often charge fees for applications, equipment, start up expenses, monthly statements, batch summaries, and more. Using a free merchant account can save a company from paying a lot of up front expenses.

Merchant account providers who waive the fees associated with opening and maintaining an account do so to be competitive in their industry. They wish to appeal to new vendors and grow their profit from numerous discount rates being paid. So, they cover all the other expenses and fees under the assumption that they will earn the money back and begin to gain a profit after a short time. As with most merchant account services, a contract generally applies that specifies the length of service.

With 3rd party free merchant accounts, another company accepts credit cards on behalf of your business, but charges you a few extra percentage points on each transaction. Again, this saves money up front that would ordinarily go to pay for expensive processing software, equipment, customer service fees, payment gateway fees, or minimum transaction fees. Plus, 3rd party services rarely do credit checks and can start processing cards immediately. If your business performs a limited number of card transactions, this may be the best route to take. However, for high volume sales, paying those few extra points can end up costing a lot more in the long run. Some people choose to use a 3rd party free merchant account a a stepping stone until their business takes off.

Google CheckOut vs PayPal

2010-04-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Ecommerce providers are often in search of merchant accounts that are cost efficient and easy to use. Google CheckOut and Paypal are strong competitors as third party payment processors offering free merchant accounts. They provide added security for both the merchant and the consumer, allowing credit cards to be processed safely. PayPal is presently more established with merchants and consumers, managing more than 100 million accounts. However, Google CheckOut is rapidly growing in popularity by offering discounted rates and incentive programs.

Google CheckOut is a branch of the Google search engine. One of the main advantages of this company is that it is integrated with Google AdWords. With Google CheckOut, merchants receive additional recognition in the Google Search Engine. Plus, they get a number of discounts on certain services. On the other hand, Paypal derived from the eBay corporation. They are more widely accepted and offer a full range of merchant services. Not only do they accept credit cards, they deduct from bank accounts as well.

Security features for Google CheckOut and PayPal are similar. They both use an encrypting system that codes sensitive data before it crosses the internet. They also both offer similar pricing, rebate programs, and fast payment processing. However, Google CheckOut has recently run some special promotions in their efforts to compete with PayPal.

Fraud protection is offered by both Google CheckOut and PayPal at 100%. However, PayPal requires that the transaction amount is over $50 before they will ensure coverage. Both companies have a support staff that works to quickly resolve issues. However, customer support through PayPal is available live through a toll free number, while Google CheckOut responds to questions by email. There are advantages and disadvantages to both payment processors. Some merchants choose to use both Google CheckOut and PayPal as opposed to choosing between them.

Virtual Merchant Accounts

2010-04-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

In today’s world of modern technology virtual merchant accounts process credit cards without credit card machines. Ideal for ecommerce, they can be used by anyone who has a computer with internet access. Just as a regular credit card terminal functions, virtual accounts work to verify, authorize, and facilitate financial transactions.

Offering online credit card processing with a virtual terminal, virtual merchant accounts can be set up easily. The process usually takes less than a day and provides up to date online security features. Generally, a merchant account specialist will walk you through the system, explaining what the components are called and how they operate. Business owners with a basic knowledge of their virtual terminal system will be able to cash in on increased revenue.

Virtual terminal accounts are able to service more than just online vendors. They can be used by solo professionals, who like the option of remote billing, on-site vendors who work at trade shows, restaurants, and anywhere else that can benefit from a wireless payment option. With the creation of numerous hand held devices that access the internet, virtual terminal accounts are able to exist almost everywhere.

In addition, there are several different types of virtual terminal accounts. Wireless equipment that submits data over telecommunications networks, mobile credit card processing software, software applications that turn laptops into credit card processors, and web portals that allow the consumer to process full transactions, all operate as different forms of virtual terminals.

Overall, virtual terminal accounts offer solutions and smart, safe processing to a number of different business types that can utilize them for gain. They assist any merchant in upgrading to a cashless payment system and simplify the ability to process credit cards in a fast and efficient manner.

Credit Card Merchant Fees

2010-04-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

In order to accept credit card payments for your online business, you will need both a merchant account and a payment gateway. A merchant account is a bank account that allows transactions to be deposited as they occur. A payment gateway, provides electronic communication with the customer's card issuing bank, to authorize funds almost instantaneously. However, these services constitute a number of fees that must be paid by the merchant. Therefore, it is important to shop around and know what costs to anticipate.

Overtime, one of the most expensive aspects of accepting credit cards is likely the discount rate. Discount rates are a percentage that is charged by your merchant account provider for each transaction that occurs. They vary depending on your annual sales volume and average transaction amount. However, you can expect them to fall in the range of 1.5%-5%, depending on the merchant account provider you select and your individual circumstances.

In addition, a transaction fee is generally charged for each sale. A transaction fee can be charged by either the merchant account or payment gateway provider. It is a flat fee that usually amounts to somewhere between 15 to 30 cents per transaction. This is why many companies will not accept credit cards for small purchases of a few dollars or less.

Set up fees, application fees, equipment fees, and statement fees are all commonly charged by a merchant account provider. However, some companies will tax on additional fees for various other services. Plus, payment gateways generally charge a monthly processing fee, in addition to a transaction fee. This is a flat fee that is assessed just for authorizing credit cards and may cost somewhere around $40 per month.

There are numerous merchant account and payment gateway providers. Each of them varies in terms of fees. Therefore, it is important to shop around for the best deal before signing an agreement for service. Also, be sure to read all the fine print of any contract.

The best Merchant Account provider is MerchantWarehouse. They have cheap fees and are very easy to use.

Off Shore Merchant Accounts

2010-04-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Offshore merchant accounts, or international merchant accounts provide another alternative for ecommerce services. Merchant accounts enable online businesses to accept credit cards or other payment types, and collect funds as they are transferred. Off shore, accounts often appeal to high risk stores. There are both advantages and disadvantages to using a merchant account outside of the United States.

Many people choose to do business with off shore merchant account providers for a number of reasons. First of all, off shore merchant accounts are easier to acquire and apply for than domestic ones. Some first time business owners, owners with poor credit, or owners who are at risk for high dollar charge backs are denied merchant accounts after completing the application process. Off shore accounts provide a viable alternative, with more lenient requirements for acceptance.

Another major reason that business owners turn to off shore merchant accounts is for the potential to save money. Although charges are sometimes higher with offshore merchant accounts, you may be able to get a tax break or pay as little as zero percent in taxes. However, tax laws for off shore merchant accounts vary from state to state, so be sure to do your research.

On the other hand, sometimes off shore merchant accounts can be rather expensive with the merchant account fees they charge. Many of them charge a steep annual fee for opening and maintaining your account status. Another problem with using an off shore merchant account is that there are some fraudulent companies out there trying to get to your money. Due to the fact that off shore merchant accounts do business primarily over the internet, you can be sure that some might be scam artists.

However, many Americans presently use reliable off shore merchant accounts for their ecommerce business needs. It seems as though the advantages must be outweighing the risks since this practice is growing. Plus, off shore merchant accounts provide services to those who may not be able to receive them elsewhere.

Compare Merchant Accounts

2010-04-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

When comparing merchant accounts there are many factors to evaluate. Merchant accounts allow your business to accept credit cards and alternative forms of payment. Ideally, their job is to make yours easier. However, merchant accounts vary in price, practice, and customer service. Selecting a merchant account by making an informed, well-educated decision can ultimately save your business time and money.

One of the primary factors that most businesses investigate when comparing merchant accounts is the cost. Merchant accounts generally charge both a percentage of each sale (discount rate) and a per transaction fee. In addition, there are also a number of other fees assessed for anything from batch reporting to statement generation. Be aware of companies that advertise extremely low rates and those who push contracts. Application fees, annual fees, set up fees, installation fees and programming fees are usually excessive and shouldn’t have to be paid in order to receive good service. Also, never pay more for credit card equipment than what it is worth.

In addition to merchant account fees, be sure to investigate service practices when choosing a merchant account. Some merchant accounts put a cap on the number of business transactions you are allowed to complete each month. Others may raise issues if you process a large number of international credit cards. Additionally, it is a good idea to use a merchant account provider who offers some kind of training on how to handle difficult situations and the ability to view transactions online, using the latest technology. Overall, you will want a merchant account provider who presents clear terms and stays involved.

When processing credit cards and other forms of payment for your business, there are certain problems that you may encounter. Perhaps the equipment fails to operate or you have questions about handling a charge back. Great customer service is essential for an adequate merchant account provider. Look into the various ways your merchant account can be contacts and their hours of operation. Most reputable companies offer 24 hour service and a 100% money back guarantee, so you can try them risk free.

MerchantWarehouse- Best Merchant Accounts

High Risk Merchant Accounts

2010-04-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

With the increasing amount of fraud that occurs on the internet, banks are becoming more adverse to accepting high risk accounts. High risk online businesses tend to be more susceptible to fraud and endure greater numbers of credit card chargebacks. Small companies that process few transactions, but market high ticket items are usually considered high risk to merchant account providers. In addition, any account that exhibits high levels of sales disputes or processes numerous hot cards are considered high risk.

Some businesses are considered high risk based on the products they are promoting. Adult entertainment, tobacco and cigarettes, dating sites, web hosting, jewelry, electronics, furniture, herbal supplements, and travel may all be classified as high risk businesses for ordinary merchant account service. The fact is that most banks and well established merchant accounts will deny services to high risk types of businesses. Therefore, high risk merchant accounts are offered as an alternative for merchants that still need to acquire services. These high risk busiensses also tend to require adult web hosting.

High risk merchant accounts are allotted by designates banks and credit card processors. In addition, there are off shore merchant accounts that cater to the needs of high risk businesses. Although the screening process for these types of accounts is very lenient, they may charge steep annual fees, or high percentages on each processed sale. A high risk merchant must constantly be on the look out for the best prices in the high risk merchant service industry. These types of companies have been known to spike prices without warning, or alltogether be fraudulent, so be sure to do your research and read the reviews.

Reliable high risk merchant accounts are those that are well organized and straight forward. They should not exhibit skepticism regarding high sales volumes. Plus, reasonable set up and incurring fees, diverse payment options, fraud protection measures, and a guaranteed approval time are all characteristics to look for when shopping for a high risk merchant account.

Overall, high risk merchant accounts provide services to high risk businesses for the purpose of enabling them to accept online payments. Although they may be more expensive and some pose the threat of internet trickery, there are many high risk merchant accounts that provide adequated services to help those who need them.

Free Credit Card Machines

2010-04-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Some companies will charge hundreds of dollars for credit processing equipment. Setting up a new business to accept credit and debit cards can be a major expense. However, the top merchant account service providers are now competing for your business by offering free credit card machines upon signing a service agreement.

Ecommerce merchants can receive full featured point-of-sale terminals to swipe and authorize credit transactions. Many of the machines provided are of the highest quality and covered at the expense of the merchant account provider. The best merchant account providers like to entice new customers with this initial upfront savings. Typically, the transaction fees and discount fees they charge will more than make up for their initial loss.

When shopping for a merchant account provider, ask them about receiving a free credit card machine. Many of them are willing to negotiate their costs in order to acquire your long term loyalty. However, be aware that some merchant account providers will make up for the initial cost of the equipment with hidden fees. Some may charge a steep application or set up fee for their services, while others may charge higher monthly fees for services such as batch processing and issuing statements. Reading over the fine print before signing any agreement with a merchant account provider can prevent you from paying more than what is necessary.

BlueHost eCommerce Hosting

2010-04-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

One thing that Best Merchant Account Reviews hasn’t done yet is start to review eCommerce web hosting providers. These are the web hosts that work in conjunction with all the merchant account tools including SSL certificates, payment gateways, and etc. Perhaps one of the best eCommerce web hosting providers is BlueHost. In this BlueHost review we are going to talk about all the BlueHost eCommerce web hosting features that you get when you sign up for BlueHost. We also are going to provide you with a BlueHost coupon code that will save you a ton of money each month.

BlueHost Official Promo

As you know accepting credit cards and having a merchant account is very important to your online store. So is having all the added features that come with eCommerce hosting. When you sign up for BlueHost you get the following features:

Free domain name- Nice feature to have
Unlimited disk space- Never worry about running out of disk space
Unlimited data transfer- See above
Four shopping carts to choose from- ZenCart, osCommerce, Agora, and CubeCart
Free generated certificate
Password protected directories
SSL secure server
Free shared SSL certificate
Dedicated SSL certificate available

When you take those core eCommerce features and combine them with the best merchant accounts, there is no excuse not to have a successful business website. What makes BlueHost even better is our BlueHost promo price. The normal BlueHost price is $6.95 a month but we have secured a BlueHost promo that allows you to get the best web hosting for only $3.95 a month. That is a huge savings and one of the key factors to all the positive BlueHost reviews. To take advantage of this BlueHost discount pricing offer, simply click on our official BlueHost links.

BlueHost Discount Link

Credit Card Terminals

2010-03-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

A credit card terminal is a tool used by a merchant to input a consumer's credit card information and receive authorization. If a merchant accepts a credit card that has been stolen or processes a transaction when the consumer has insufficient funds or an invalid account, they are at a lose. Therefor, credit card terminals act as a source of protection to the merchants who use them, by accepting credit cards in a way that better ensures payment.

Merchants in physical stores almost always use a credit card terminal that appears as a small machine with a keypad and a sliding slot. The card is swiped through the slot, which reads credit cards numbers from a magnetic strip. They accept debit cards in this same manner, allowing the consumer to enter their pin number for verification. However, as ecommerce grows rapidly in our world, new types of credit card terminals have developed.

In web-based credit card machines, no card swiping takes place. Instead, card numbers are entered at the point of check out and authorization is almost instantaneous. Credit card numbers and other sensitive data is encrypted as it travels through a payment gateway for authorization purposes. Additionally, many web-based credit card terminals require vin numbers, the 3-4 digit security code on the back of the card, or address verification. These measures are used to fight against the growing crime of identity theft.
Virtual terminals are another type of credit card processing machine used in ecommerce. They allow you to manually process a credit card over the internet. Phone, mail, or fax orders that are received by online merchants can be processed this way. They are beneficial for completing transactions in which the consumer requires assistance.

BigCommerce Shopping Carts

2010-03-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

Best Merchant Accounts has recently found what is possibly the best shopping cart software around. This shopping cart software is from BigCommerce. Immediately when we saw all the features of the BigCommerce we knew that we had to try them out. We looked around for BigCommerce reviews and found that people rated them highly and had no complaints about them.

BigCommerce Official Site

In today’s Best Merchant Accounts review, we are going to briefly discuss the five BigCommerce shopping cart programs. All five of them have the same core features and differ in the amount of products, staff logins, bandwidth, and storage. Here are the core components of the BigCommerce shopping cart programs.

Free web hosting
Free support
Unlimited email accounts
Over 60 shopping cart templates
WYSIWYG editor
Dreamweaver compatible
Drag and drop themes
SEO friendly
Single page checkout
Shipping quotes
Multiple items in cart
Inventory reports
Tax calculation
Cross selling and up selling
Ability to offer coupons and gift certificates
Accept multiple currencies
Supports over 50 of the best payment gateways
UPS, FedEx, USPS shipping
Accept credit cards
Sales and business reports
Affiliate tracking software support

That is such a small list of the BigCommerce features that it isn’t even funny! Here are the differences between the five BigCommerce plans.

BigCommerce Bronze- 100 products, 3 logins, 2 GB data transfer, 200 MB storage. $24.95 a month.
BigCommerce Silver- 500 products, 10 logins, 3 GB data transfer, 300 MB storage. $39.95 a month.
BigCommerce Gold- 1000 products, 20 logins, 5 GB data transfer, 500 MB storage. $79.95 a month.
BigCommerce Platinum- Unlimited products, 50 logins, 15 GB data transfer, 1 GB storage. $149.95 a month.
BigCommerce Diamond- Unlimited products, 100 logins, 30 GB data transfer, 3 GB storage. $24.95 a month.

If you are looking for the best shopping cart software you need to look at the BigCommerce plans.

BigCommerce- Best Shopping Carts

Accepting MasterCard

2010-03-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

Online merchants everywhere understand that accepting credit cards as a form of payment will increase your sales. MasterCard is one of the leading names in the credit card industry. They provide merchant solutions and transaction processing to numerous financial institutions who issue cards with their logo. With catchy advertisements and beneficial intensive programs they attract and maintain a large number of cardholders who tend to be very loyal to the MasterCard company. When you accept MasterCard you can assist your online business with growth. It will encourage consumers to complete transactions by providing them with what might be their preferred method of payment.

As the use of cash and checks decline, the MasterCard company continues to grow. There are more than 25,000 plus financial institutions that issue its card. A large number of these institutions offer incentive programs to the consumers that make MasterCard their preferred method of payment. Everything from extended warranties and auto rental insurance, to cash back bonuses and free golf equipment are being offered to entice new cardholders and encourage use of the MasterCard. Within the United states alone, there are over 211 million MasterCards in circulation.

Upon signing up with your merchant account provider to accept MasterCard, you will also be able to accept debit and gift cards with the MasterCard logo. Plus, because MasterCard is issued internationally, its acceptance can help advance commerce on a global level. Overall, the main benefit of accepting MasterCard will be more business to your ecommerce website.

Accepting Discover

2010-03-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

We all know how important it is to accept credit cards if you are running a brick and mortar store or an eCommerce website that sells products. More and more consumers are becoming Discover card holders. Discover is a major credit card that was first introduced by Sears Roebuck and Company back in 1985. However, today it stands independently and is unique because its cards are not issued through a variety of different financial institutions like those of Visa or MasterCard. With cash back intensive programs and clever advertising, Discover seems to be rapidly growing in popularity. Although at present, the fact remains that it is primarily a United States company and the general credit market shows that the Discover card share based on purchase volume was only 4.75% for 2008, significantly lower than that of other major credit card companies.

With more than 3 million merchants in the United States accepting Discover Card, people are being given an additional payment option for their convenience. Most merchants are pleased with the competitive rates that Discover offers and acknowledge the fact that accepting the card may increase the amount of business they obtain. More than 50 million people currently possess an active Discover account. When combining the total of both their point of sale and ATM transactions, Discover's sales volume equals over 3 billion a year.

If your company is not presently accepting Discover card as a form of payment, talk to your merchant account provider. Many Discover card holders are loyal to the Discover company in order to gain the maximum rewards for using their credit lines. Also, many Discover card holders favor the Discover company because of the customer support and security that is offered to them. Therefore, companies who don't offer Discover as an option for payment may be losing money to their competitors.

Best Shopping Cart Programs

2010-03-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

Ecommerce shopping cart programs all function to provide the catalog and operating system for your business. However, choosing the best one for your website can be a challenge. While some shopping cart programs can be pricey, others are open source, or also known as free shopping cart programs. Not all shopping carts operate in the same programming language. Plus, they tend to vary greatly in the types of features they offer. The best shopping carts are the ones that meet the specific needs of your business.

If you have never operated a shopping cart program before, you should know that they vary in terms of being user friendly. Some require more extensive programming experience, while others can be used by almost anyone with some time. Be sure to pick one that works best for your programming skill level. Other features found in the best shopping cart programs are marketing tools. Marketing tools help you reach out to potential customers by increasing your traffic and influencing people to buy from you. Good shopping carts have the ability to send bulk emails, generate mailing lists, cross sell, accept gift cards, and produce ads. The success of your online business could be in the hands of your shopping cart's marketing features.

The best shopping cart for your business is one that is able to integrate with your check out system, merchant account, payment gateway, and shipping program. Remember that the shopping cart software is intended to make your job easier, not create problems. One additional thing to consider when shopping for the best shopping cart program is technical support. Some programs offer free or paid support, while others do not provide any formal assistance and are sustained by a community. Before selecting any shopping cart program, review the needs of your business and do your research.

Accepting American Express

2010-03-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

American Express is accepted all over the world, in more and more locations everyday. With their catchy advertisements and customer intensive programs that include cash back bonus rewards, they produce loyal card holders who like to be able to use those accounts. In fact, American Express card holders are believed to spend more on average than those of Visa, Discover, or MasterCard. In some recent surveys, 74% of American Express card holders stated that American Express is their preferred card of choice.

Most merchants are aware that American Express traditionally charges higher fees than other credit card companies. However, there is some validity behind the claim that American Express card holders spend more. This might make the higher fees well worth it for most businesses. According to data provided by The Nilson Report in 2003, the average American Express card annual charges were $9,600, while Visa's were less than half that amount at $3700, and MasterCard's were only $1,900. Plus, with American Express card holders being so loyal to the American Express company for the benefits and services associated with their credit lines, accepting American Express can add value to your business. If you don't give your customers the option of using their card, they may shop with one of your competitors who will.

A 2007 survey suggests that 59% of consumers would choose a merchant who accepts credit cards, especially with American Express over one who does not. On the other hand, most merchants would agree that if all of their customers used American Express, the high fees would cut into their bottom lines. However, if you are interested in providing American Express as a payment option to increase your overall sales and provide more payment options to your customers, contact your merchant account for additional details.

Accepting Visa

2010-02-28T23:21:00.000-08:00

In today's world of convenience, if you aren't accepting credit cards as a form of payment for your business, you are probably losing money to your competitors. According to the Nielson Repost of 2006, Visa held 44% of the credit card market share and 45% of the debit card market share in the United States, making them the single most popular for of card payment. Merchants usually sign up to accept Visa credit cards, along with the also popular MasterCard, even if they do not choose to accept any other form of card payment.

Like all credit card companies, Visa charges the merchant fees for doing business. The fees are often based on a percentage of the total transaction amount, but may also include a small per transaction rate. The rates vary depending on your merchant account provider and the total amount of sales your company generates. However, Visa's fees have traditionally been fairly competitive when compared to those of other credit card companies. Additional fees you may be charged from Visa or other credit card companies include authorization fees, statement fees, monthly minimum fees, and batch fees. This is an area where it really pays to shop around for the merchant account that offers the best deals.

Almost all merchants accept Visa anywhere you go these days. For the most part, there are few drawbacks that come with this form of payment. However, many merchants are able to run Visa debit cards just as they would a credit card, which may create complications if a sale is to be canceled. Although debit cards are directly linked to the consumers checking account, the Visa company doesn't permit cash back to be given on a debit card that is ran as a credit card. Often a hold is placed on checking account funds that might tie up the consumer's cash for days. Therefore, a business owner who accepts Visa should communicate with their merchant account to be aware of these limitations and know exactly how to handle certain processing issues. However, for the most part, Visa is a reputable company that provides convenience for both card holders and business owners alike.

Free Shopping Carts

2010-02-04T23:02:00.000-08:00

Free shopping carts, also referred to as open source shopping carts, are useful tools when starting an online business. Generally licensed under the GNU Genral Public License, free shopping cart programs provide an online store management system for selling tangibles and digital goods over the internet. Most free shopping carts feature a template based structure that allows you to select from a number of designs. In addition, they include features for building catalogs, easy check out, marketing, and more.

There are a number of free shopping cart programs that you can obtain online. Some of the more popular ones include Os Commerce, ZenCart, Cube Cart, Pinnacle Cart, and Agora Shopping Cart. Most of those are availble through cheap web hosting plans also, such as FatCow and BlueHost. Selecting a free shopping cart program should be based on the individual needs of your business, However, there are several things you should consider before making a decision. First of all, you need to make sure your shopping cart program uses the scripting language that you are comfortable with. Most free shopping carts are PHP based, using a MySQL Database and HTML components. Another important aspect to consider is the user friendliness of the software. Although most open source shopping carts claim to be easy to use, some programming experience is usually very helpful.

Effective free shopping cart programs will give you a robust catalog with the options to accept gift certificates, show multiple views of am image, and place items on sale. Search engine optimization and marketing tools such as bulk email templates and the ability to create a guest book are essential for promoting your online store. Regardless of which free shopping cart program you choose, be sure you have done your research and know exactly what you are getting. Also, be aware that open source programs do not typically provide any formal technical support. Make sure to select a program with a good community that has forums and tutorials to offer you assistance in your project.

Merchant Express vs Yahoo!

2010-02-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

With so many merchant account companies vying for your business, it can be difficult to know which one will provide you with the best rates and the best service. Merchant Express is one of the most highly rated merchant accounts in the industry, while Yahoo merchant solutions host more top 500 companies than any other ecommerce service provider. Both companies offer competitive rates with a number of internet resources, including email, hosting, marketing tools, and more. Deciding between Merchant Express and Yahoo can pose somewhat of a challenge.

When it comes to accepting credit cards for your business, Merchant Express offers free sign up, authorization.net, Check Software, and a shopping cart program. Their services also come with same day approval and free 24/7 customer service for any technical questions or immediate concerns. There are no set up fees and their competitive merchant account fees start at just 1.69% and a .19 cent per transaction charge. On the other hand, Yahoo's merchant services can be purchased as part of an ecommerce package, complete with marketing solutions and advanced shipping features, or can be purchased separately. Their Merchant Starter Plan is $39.95 per month and has a $50 set up fee. However, Yahoo only charges a .75%-1.5% fee, with no per transaction charge.

Merchant Express is a fairly new company that was established in 1998. However, they have rapidly grown into one of the top providers of internet merchant services in the country. Their technical support has been described as reliable and friendly. Plus, they extend a 30 day money back guarantee, so you can try them risk free. On the other hand Yahoo is one of the most trusted names in the internet service industry and offers automatic entrance into their store directory with any of their ecommerce services. Selecting a merchant account should be based on the individual needs of your business but we have provided you with two of the best internent merchant account providers!!!

Merchant Express Official Site

Yahoo Official Site

eCommerce Web Hosting

2009-10-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to operate a marketing business online, there are a few things that you should know about eCommerce web hosting. Not all hosting packages are the same. It is important to shop around and find one with all of the features that you need to create and maintain your online store. Ecommerce hosting plans need to include security features, store building applications, marketing solutions, and more.

First of all, you will need your online store to be hosted on a secure server. Purchasing an SSL certificate shows your customers that you are who you say you are and that their information will be encrypted during transit. You may want to shop for an ecommerce hosting plan that provides you with a free SSL certificate to save money.

The next important feature to have in an ecommerce web hosting plan is a shopping cart program. You may purchase a shopping cart program and use it to build your store or find a hosting company that will build one for you. However, there are many open source shopping cart programs that are often built into your web hosting package for free. Agora, Os Commerce, Zen Cart, and Cube Cart are some of the most common and best shopping carts that are provided by hosting companies for eCommerce solutions. Also, you will want to to make sure that your ecommerce hosting supports the merchant account company that you wish to use. Customers like to have multiple payment options, so in addition to accepting credit cards, you may want a hosting plan that supports alternative forms of transferring funds such as PayPal or Google Checkout.

Most importantly, when operating an online store you are going to need an ecommerce hosting company that will help you promote your business. Many ecommerce hosting plans will submit your site to the search engines for you. In addition, they should provide you with marketing tutorials that teach you how to increase your sales. Often, ecommerce hosting plans will even come with advertising credits for Google AdWords or other popular search engines to help you get your name out.

There are many web hosting companies that a geared towards operating an online store. Some companies even sell separate hosting plans that are specific for ecommerce. Be sure to research multiple hosting options and select the one that is best suited for your marketing needs.

FatCow and BlueHost offer some of the best eCommerce hosting plans at cheap eCommerce hosting prices!

FatCow- $3.67 a month

BlueHost- $3.95 a month

Merchant Express Review

2009-09-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

Merchant Express has been in operation for 10 years and serves businesses all over the United States. They are a merchant account that allows businesses to accept payment by credit or debit cards online. Merchant Express is known for having competitive rates. Depending on the volume and the total amount of sales, they have rates starting as low as 1.69% with a .19 transaction fee. In addition to being a well established company and having low rates, Merchant Express offers a variety of additional features for those who sign up for their services.
Merchant Express uses one of the best payment gateways called Authorization.net for online and web business. Authorization.net is the number one payment gateway on the market and is pre-integrated with almost every shopping cart program that exists. Merchant Express provides the services and set up of Authorization.net for free. Plus, you do not need to purchase your own secure SSL certificate, because Authorization.net includes Secure Order page. In addition to getting the program for free, you get a free terminal for processing orders manually.
Xpress Cart is a shopping cart program that comes free with a Merchant Express Account. This shopping cart program is highly favored for being search engine friendly and it is exclusively provided to those who sign up for Merchant Express services.
Another thing that makes Merchant Express unique is that they do not charge excessive fees like some other merchant accounts do. Merchant Express does not charge a fee for applications, set up, programming, monthly maintenance, checking account change, or being over the limit. Plus, the fees that they do charge, including a batch fee, address verification fee, and statement fee, are less than what you find with the average merchant account company.
Merchant Express' customers seem to be pleased with their services, as they have given the company a 98% approval rating. Also, the company 100 Best has said, “Merchant Express is the best merchant account that we have reviewed.” Many others have been very happy with the personalized service that they have received from Merchant Express. Plus, you can try Merchant express with no risk, because they uniquely offer a 30 day trial period for all new clients.

MERCHANT EXPRESS- Official site

Accept PayPal Payments

2009-09-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

Best Internet Merchant Account has done this PayPal review to educate you on PayPal.

PayPal is great because it is fast money. Sell something online using PayPal and the money goes into your PayPal account instantly. Of course, there is a small transaction fee that applies, but the same goes for accepting credit cards. PayPal's fees are reasonable. At 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, you are paying for convenience and some added security. There are reasons that PayPal has grown in popularity so rapidly. PayPal offers protection to both the buyers and the sellers in online business marketing.

In today's world, where identity theft is the fastest growing crime, people are weary about giving out their personal information over the internet. PayPal doesn't expose a customer's financial information to the merchant. Plus, they use a high security encryption for information that is in transit. Therefor, it safeguards customers from becoming the victims of criminal activity. In addition, customers like to use PayPal, because it offers them some assurance that they will be refunded properly, if they do not receive their purchase or their purchase is not as it was described by the seller. It is important to offer PayPal as a choice to your customers, because it can increase the amount of business that you have. PayPal provides peace of mind to the shoppers who may not purchase your product otherwise.

Not only can PayPal increase your business, it can also protect it. PayPal helps to shield you from liability. Unauthorized payments and item not received claims, chargebacks, and reversals are all scrutinized by PayPal, They use an anti-fraud team to detect and prevent fraud before it affects your business. Plus, they verify addresses, require security codes, and even have the buyers verify credit card and bank account information for added protection.

PayPal is a valuable asset for any business. It is affordable, offers a safe alternative for your customers, and acts as a buffer, protecting your business. If you have an eCommerce website then you should be looking at PayPal.

Best Merchant Accounts for eCommerce

2009-08-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

In today's world of modern conveniences, it is essential for your on-line business to accept credit cards as a form of payment. No one wants to wait for their payment to be received by mail, before their product can be shipped. Merchant accounts take credit card numbers from your shoppers and request approval from the bank prior to authorizing purchases. Once funds have been authorized, the merchant account provides an electronic receipt to your customer and tracks all purchases until you batch your sales and get paid for them. Merchant accounts are an amazing technology that increase sales through convenience. However, it can be very frustrating to shop for a merchant account as there are so many companies vying for your business.

So, what should you expect from a good merchant account? The first thing to consider is cost. After all, you are in this to make a profit. Top merchant companies, with competitive rates usually provide services with no set up fees or application. However, you will be paying a percentage of your sales and/or a flat rate per each transaction. You can expect merchant account services to cost you anywhere from 3%- 7% of your total in generated sales. 5% is about average for a small to medium size business.

In addition to considering price, you should also consider what kind of service you will be receiving. Your merchant account needs to provide security features like encryptions for safe transactions to take place. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is one of the most commonly used programs. Also, in terms of service, no one wants to feel like a number, so it is important that you are getting live 24/7 communication with your merchant account providers. It may be a good idea to ask some other business owners for references.

In addition to the basic services that a merchant account is expected to supply, many companies advertise special perks for using their services. Some of these perks include free site building programs and free shopping cart programs. This can save you money from having to purchase these programs individually. It can also save you frustration as you already know that the shopping cart program they supply will be easily compatible with their merchant account services.

Price, security, service, and special features should all be important considerations when shopping for a merchant account. Search on-line reviews for a place to get started. Also, you'll want to check out a the best ecommerce hosting services to host you small business website. Business web hosting is great for starting a website for the cheapest price.

HostMonster vs. HostGator Web Hosting

2009-07-22T15:59:00.001-07:00

Need a web hosting for your ecommerce website? Check out HostMonster vs. HostGator.

Click Here for HostGator

Click Here for HostMonster

HostMonster and HostGator are web hosting companies that are very similar to each other. They both offer unlimited space and broadband at competitive prices. Host Monster is as low as $5.96, but with a 36 month contract. HostGator provides a similar hosting plan for 12.95/month with no contract. Both companies allow for unlimited domains. With Host Gator, domain registrations are $15 each per year, while HostMonster charges $10 each per year, with the first one included in the hosting package. Both companies come with a free site bulder, making it easy to design your own web pages. This can save you a lot of money as hiring a web site designer can be expensive. Host Gator advertises that their site building program is easy enough for a child to use and contains over 4500 templates to chose from. Both companies also include FrontPage hosting for easy upload. Both HostMonster and HostGator have multiple features for blogging and for selling products on-line. Also, both HostMonster and HostGator include Wordpress which is a popular program for creating blogs. However, Hostmonster includes b2evolution as an additional option. HostGator also offers reseller web hosting plans for those looking to start a hosting company.

When it comes to e-commerce, HostGator seems like the better deal as they offer three programs, including ZenCart, CubeCart, and Os Commerse. In addition, one of their main selling features is that a free toll-free number is included with the plan. This also can save you a lot of money over time. HostMonster uses Os Commerce and Agora to meet your marketing needs. They both only operate for Linux and have a money back guarantee.

Click Here for HostGator

Click Here for HostMonster

It is important to consider all the features when shopping for a web hosting company and to choose one that best fits your personal web designing needs.

Charge.com Review

2009-07-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Charge.com is our top pick for best merchant account. We'll do a charge.com review here to cover all the bases with regards to the discount rate, merchant fees, and other included features.

Charge.com SignUp - CLICK HERE!!!

Charge.com offers cheap merchant account services for all types of businesses. Large and small. It doesn't matter if you're selling glock pistols or fitness equipment...these guys can handle the type of merchant service you're looking for.

Charge.com reviews on the web all say they are one of the best merchant services you can find.

At charge.com - there is no application fee and there is no setup fee. Free check by phone setup is also included. There is no programming fee, a free shopping cart, and they will set you up to accept american express and to accept discover card free of charge. You can get an instant approval and you'll get instant access to the charge.com 24X7 tech support! This is almost unheard of for merchant providers. 24x7 businesses will benefit from this - especially those on the web since the internet never sleeps!

The retail rate starts at 1.26% and the internet rate starts at 1.79% which is very low. Not all merchants will qualify for this rate. These are the base rates- it will depend on the volume and type of business. The transaction fee is as low as $0.15/trans.

Charge.com is the top merchant provider to accept credit cards online. Get your account today!

CLICK HERE FOR CHARGE.COM PRICING!!!

Accept Credit Cards on Website

2009-07-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

We get questions all the time like: How do I accept credit cards on my website? We'll start doing the FAQ on merchant accounts and accepting credit card payments starting with this topic.

How to Accept Credit Cards on a Website

There are a couple of tools you will need to accept credit cards on your website. These ecommerce tools include:

A merchant account
A payment gateway
Some type of shopping cart or order form
SSL certificate
Product or service to sell!

Let's explore what each of these does to enable credit card processing online.

Merchant Account - This is the account that actually drops the money charged from the customer into your bank account. These credit card merchant accounts are easy to signup for online with a few bits of your business or personal information. The cost is very minimal to startup and usually a very low monthly fee. The main cost is based on the per transaction.

Payment Gateway - A payment gateway is the software system that interfaces your website. It takes the data from your order form and processes it through to your merchant account. This is done securely if integrated properly with a SSL certificate. One of the most popular payment gateways is Authorize.net which we'll review here soon.

Shopping Cart - You need some type of system for customers to add products to a cart or order page for them to "checkout" with. There are many different types of shopping carts and order processing systems. These can include hundreds of products or a single product/service website. Yahoo shopping carts are some of the most popular, but GoDaddy shopping carts are the best available.

SSL Certificate - This is installed on the web server by your web host. They start in cost at around $12.99/year if you order a GoDaddy SSL Certificate. The prices go up from there depending on the level of encryption - we recommend at least 128-bit encryption. SSL certificates are what encrypts the data that gets transfered from your website to your payment gateway.

Product or Service - if you're selling something like windows web hosting - you will need a single order form system. If you're selling a product like camping equipment or digital cameras you will need a multiple product shopping cart system.

Merchant Services Comparisons

2009-06-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Merchant accounts compare quite differently. There are a few key features that you will need to look for when doing merchant account comparisons. We'll discuss the main points to pay attention too when doing a merchant comparison.

Merchant Discount Rate - this is the fee as a percentage that is charged each time to the merchant on the total transaction price. These vary with each merchant provider. Merchant account providers usually have a base discount rate of approx 1.65% on up on credit card transactions (this is usually the bottom rate they are allowed to charge by ISOs). Then depending on the type of card the buyer uses - the rate can change. Rewards credit cards cost a lot more than debit cards and there are many different rates for different types. Merchant discount rates can be negotiated sometimes and can be dropped down with more volume.

Merchant Transaction Fee - this is the per transaction fee as a flat rate. These typically range from $0.15-$0.45 per transaction. This is charged on top of the merchant discount rate.

How do these calculate? Let's say you have a sale for $10. Your merchant discount rate is 2% and you have a $0.35 per transaction fee. You net would be $10.00-2%($0.20)-$0.35=$9.45.

Setup Fees - these are sometimes charged to get the merchant account activated. Sometimes there may be extra charges for American Express and Discover activation. The best merchant accounts charge no setup fees for any of this.

Application Fees - some merchant providers charge an application fee to review your business to see if you qualify for a merchant account. This is never charged by the top merchant service providers.

Programming Charges - if you have a retail store or business that utilizes a credit card processing machine it will need to be programmed for your new merchant account to accept credit cards. The top merchant account providers will not charge a programming fee. This saves up to $100 or more in some cases. If you have a shopping cart - this does not include re-programming of any software.

Merchant accounts help small businesses of all kinds - from a retailer of police gear to internet business like php hosting. If you're a small business owner and looking to accept credit cards in your business - make sure you do a thorough merchant account comparison.