If you will be creating a web store, you will definitely need to setup a Merchant Account and a payment gateway. When creating a merchant account, it is a good practice to start with a bank you already work with. You can certainly shop around for better rates. For a payment gateway we recommend authorize.net
What to know for your Merchant Account application process:
1) If you have started development of your e-commerce site, get your merchant account under wraps as soon as possible. It takes time to work out a deal and even get approval from a bank, and if you are shopping around for the best deal, it will take even longer.
2) Know your products, and know your sales potential. You will need to offer the banks prospective sales numbers when negotiating the terms of your merchant account.
3) Be prepared to deal with fraud. Credit fraud happens. What will your recourse be if someone uses a stolen credit card through your e-commerce site? There are certainly steps to take to head this off. New sites most likely take advantage of better security measures such as Address Verification for the cardholder, as well as confirmation of CV2 codes. (the numbers on the back of your credit card)
Payment Gateways:
Payment gateways work through a secure encrypted route of communication between your e-commerce site and credit authorization services for validating transactions. They are a necessary safeguard against credit fraud. Additionally, you can use services through a payment gateway to process repeated billing cycles. This would be an additional plus if the services you are rendering are to be charged in some recurring basis.
With a merchant account and a proper payment gateway, you will be properly equipped to enter the e-commerce realm. If you are interested in more information on our e-commerce solutions, please contact us
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