How to Allow Your Website to Accept Credit Cards
- 1). Apply for an "e-commerce" merchant account (online merchant account) through a merchant account services provider. There are many online providers that you can choose from. You can also apply for an e-commerce account through your local bank. To get a merchant account, you must meet the provider's qualifications. Qualification requirements will vary by provider.
- 2). Sign up for a third-party "payment gateway" if you don't want to go through the hassle of applying for a merchant account. With a third-party gateway, you use a "middleman" to process credit card payments on your site. There is generally no rigorous approval process for a third-party payment gateway. However, you will need a bank account for processed payments to be sent to. An example of third-party payment gateways are PayPal, ProPay, 2 CheckOut, ClickBank, Google CheckOut and CCBill.
- 3). Access the HTML code for your merchant account or payment gateway. This code can be obtained from your merchant account provider or payment gateway provider. If you are accessing the HTML code online, you can copy it by highlighting the code and pressing "Ctrl" + "C" on your keyboard.
- 4). Open the HTML editor for the website page you want to accept credit card payments on. To access the HTML editor, log in to your website's control panel. Select "File Directory." Select the page you want to place the code on. Select the "Edit" option.
- 5). Press "Ctrl" + "V" on your keyboard to paste the HTML code into the page editor. Click "Save" and "Publish."
- 6). Log out of your site's control panel. Access your website as if you were a regular Internet user instead of the site owner. Click the credit card payment link on your site to ensure that it is working.
