Choosing merchant account provider is easy
Setting up a merchant account is not always an easy routine operation. You’ll need to find a good merchant account provider and check the services provided.
Choosing a merchant account is an important step. You will find very useful information here that will help you make a wise decision for your needs.
Nowadays it’s absolutely obvious that merchant accounts are available from different providers. One of the most important things that you need to consider is that the company providing these services is not always the right one to go with.
First of all you need to consider real merchant account instead of banks. Actually, going to your bank is only a disadvantage. This is mainly related to the technologies used in today’s world, unfortunately not all the banks can keep up the pace and thus aren’t up to date on the latest tech trends, such as wireless processing or ecommerce. What is more, banks usually outsource these activities to a 3rd party merchant provider, so you are going to be charged extra fees just for this ‘outsourcing’. The best way is to go directly to a merchant account provider and forget about banks.
What do you need to know to choose the right merchant account provider?
If a certain merchant account provider has numerous complaints from customers you better stay away from them. There are still enough companies that will be happy to help you with your business.
Then, ask them if they offer a 100% money back guarantee. A reputable company will provide such guarantees, you can also try their services for some time and see if they match their promises.
Also, check their customer service practices as well as technical support options. Find out if they offer a toll free customer service line, their customer service hours. You’ll need to get as much information as possible.
Now it’s time to check their fees. They should be relatively low but not the lowest rates on the market. Such companies are most likely to have some hidden fees you might not be aware about. Moreover, you might get horrible customer service if you choose a company offering very low rates; make sure to find the most appropriate provider for your needs.
Make sure you are not paying extra fees such as application fee, setup and installation fee, programming fee and annual fee. Some of the merchant account providers are eager to stick you with these fees. You need to be very careful and stay away from shoals.
These are just some of the tips but the most crucial thing is your personal needs. You’ll have to make a list of what you really need and expect from your provider, what kinds of credit card you are planning to accept, what services you want to be included.
Also, consider other things when choosing your provider such as technical competence, how long they are in business, email and phone availability and other information. If everything is convenient for you, you’re good to go!
Resources:
Credit Card Processing
Merchant Account
Merchant Accounts