Internet Credit Card Processing Resource

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Credit Card Processing on the Internet By: Jay B Stockman So you have finally finished your e-commerce web site, hired the best web publisher, added all the bells and whistles, outstanding graphics, and great merchandise. Now, how does your prospective customer pay you for your products? Clearly, it is necessary for your site to accept, and process credit card payments, in real time. Failure to do so, would result in a failing enterprise. Before you can begin the application process, there are several standards that all credit card processors have set. Follow this checklist and you will save yourself a significant amount of time, and aggravation. Plan ahead, avoid frustration, and provide your customers with an easy, secure experience that will make them come back for more. 1) The checkout, and transaction pages must be secure. This protects the customer from credit card, or identity fraud, which has become epidemic. You achieve this "security" by installing a secure socket layer certificate, or SSL. SSL encrypts information being entered on your site as it is sent across the Internet, so hackers are unable to steal the transmitted information. This Certificate has become very common, and any web host would be able to assist you. 2) A robust Shopping Cart software that utilizes the highest degree of security, and is compatible with the credit card processor. This program must be able to receive, and process orders. Collect personal data, and securely transmit the credit card data from software to the credit card processor. Most importantly, the software should provide the building blocks for a complete, successful customer experience. 3) Your server must have a firewall, especially if you plan on storing the credit card information on your server. Basically, a firewall is a combination of software, and hardware, that inspects incoming data, and filters unwanted, or potentially destructive packets of information. This firewall will not allow hackers to enter your server, and steal sensitive information. When all these conditions have been met, you are ready to contact your bank to open a credit card merchant’s account. Once your account is opened, your bank will suggest a credit card Gateway. A credit card Gateway receives the customer’s credit card information from your web site, approves or declines the charge, and ultimately transmits money to your bank. Although the process appears to be very complicated, it is quite straightforward when you know what you are doing. Plan ahead, avoid frustration, and provide your customers with an easy, secure experience that will make them come back for more. Copyright @2005, Jay B Stockman About The Author Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor of Internet Credit Card Processing Resource For more details on Internet merchant accounts and Credit Card processors go to: http://myinternet-credit-card-processing.com/ Technorati Tags: processing, credit, credit card processing, accepting credit cards Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl | Accept Credit Cards Online without a Merchant Account By: John Lynch It is often assumed if you want to accept credit cards on your website that you must have a merchant account. This is not the case. You can accept credit cards with a Third Party credit card processor. 1) What is a Third Party Credit Card Processor? A Third Party credit card processor is a company that will accept credit card payments on behalf of you or your company. The payments your customers make are processed through the Third Party's own merchant account, and you the retailer is paid (minus a commission fee) by the Third Party processor. No need to pay for expensive processing software, monthly fees or minimum transaction fees. As you only pay a percentage fee on a sale, you cannot lose money. 2) Should I have a Merchant Account or Third Party Processor? For most businesses this decision will be made according to the size of the company. Most small businesses do not need their own merchant account. Small businesses are better off with a Third Party processor. The advantage is that when you sell your products, the Third Party processor takes care of the payment by checking the card, processing it, and sending you a monthly check. Larger businesses with a bigger turnover are likely to need a full merchant account. You will pay a bigger set-up fee for an online merchant account but pay less per transaction than with a Third Party processor. So recouping your initial outlay. So there it is, unless you have a large business it is possible to accept credit cards online with a Third Party processor. (c) John Lynch 2004 [ For details of Third Party credit card processors and online merchant accounts visit: http://www.merchant-account-service.com/credit_card_processing.html ] For Free review on Site Build It - the most advanced web site design software for small business go to: http://www.merchant-account-service.com/sitebuildit.html Keywords: credit card, party credit card, credit cards, card, visit http//wwwmerchant-account-servicecom/credit_card_processinghtml ], accounts visit http//wwwmerchant-account-servicecom/credit_card_processinghtml, credit, credit card processing, accept credit, http//wwwmerchant-account-servicecom/credit_card_processinghtml