Home Based Business Owners Can Accept Credit Cards
If you own a home based business and are looking to increase your sales, getting a merchant account to process credit cards is a must. Many people today have moved from paying in cash or even a check to paying with plastic. When you can accept credit cards as a form of payment you will most likely attract new customers, increase your per transaction sales and of course increase your overall sales. Read on to find out everything you need to know about credit card processing and how to select and account that is right for you.
Where To Start
You will first need to decide what type of merchant account will best suit your home based business needs. There are a variety of options available including a traditional retail account, ecommerce accounts and mobile accounts. If you do most of your business over the internet then an ecommerce account is most likely our best option. If your business is mobile and you are always on the go, then a mobile account is probably your best bet. Depending on your business needs you may need more than one type of account.
Choosing The Best Credit Card Processing Company For Your Business
There are so many companies out there that it can be a bit overwhelming trying to find one that will best fit your needs. You may want to start by getting recommendations from other similar business owners. You then will want to look at and compare several different companies looking closely at their fee structure, how long it takes to set up and get account approval, whether or not they have an account that will fit your needs and how good the customer service is.
Can't I Just Use PayPal?
Especially if you are a smaller home based business and you do the majority of your selling over the internet, you may want to consider a third party processor like PayPal. PayPal offers easy account set up and only charges you when you process a transaction. You can easily link your web sites shopping cart to PayPal so that your customers can easily check out. If you are a larger company you may find that PayPal is not the best choice. If you have a high sales volume you may find a traditional merchant account will cost you less and give you more flexibility.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
There are other things that you will also want to consider when it comes to selecting a credit card processing merchant account provider. First, know that account approval is not automatic. Your best bet will most likely be to find a company that specializes in working with home based business owners. When searching for a company to go with you will also want to watch out for hidden fees. Always make sure you read the fine print of your contract. Finally, select a company that does not make you commit to a long term contract. This will give you some flexibility in case you find out the company you choose does not end up fitting your needs.
Where To Start
You will first need to decide what type of merchant account will best suit your home based business needs. There are a variety of options available including a traditional retail account, ecommerce accounts and mobile accounts. If you do most of your business over the internet then an ecommerce account is most likely our best option. If your business is mobile and you are always on the go, then a mobile account is probably your best bet. Depending on your business needs you may need more than one type of account.
Choosing The Best Credit Card Processing Company For Your Business
There are so many companies out there that it can be a bit overwhelming trying to find one that will best fit your needs. You may want to start by getting recommendations from other similar business owners. You then will want to look at and compare several different companies looking closely at their fee structure, how long it takes to set up and get account approval, whether or not they have an account that will fit your needs and how good the customer service is.
Can't I Just Use PayPal?
Especially if you are a smaller home based business and you do the majority of your selling over the internet, you may want to consider a third party processor like PayPal. PayPal offers easy account set up and only charges you when you process a transaction. You can easily link your web sites shopping cart to PayPal so that your customers can easily check out. If you are a larger company you may find that PayPal is not the best choice. If you have a high sales volume you may find a traditional merchant account will cost you less and give you more flexibility.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
There are other things that you will also want to consider when it comes to selecting a credit card processing merchant account provider. First, know that account approval is not automatic. Your best bet will most likely be to find a company that specializes in working with home based business owners. When searching for a company to go with you will also want to watch out for hidden fees. Always make sure you read the fine print of your contract. Finally, select a company that does not make you commit to a long term contract. This will give you some flexibility in case you find out the company you choose does not end up fitting your needs.
