In today’s world, not being able to process credit cards online can be a huge detriment to your business. If you can accept credit card payments anytime, anywhere, it can mean the difference in having your business succeed or fail.
Even if you run a traditional brick and mortar business, you still need to be able to process credit cards online. Thanks to the explosion of the world wide web, we now live in a society where customers expect to be able shop anytime – and do it right from the comfort of their own homes.
If you accept credit card payments online, the process is similar to taking credit cards in your store. With online purchases, the transaction can be approved instantly, and the money can be transferred into your account in just a day or two.
And, by being able to process credit cards online, you open yourself up to a whole new group of customers. People who live on the other side of town, on the other side of the country, or on the other side of the world can now buy from you. Think of how many more profits you could see if you really did open up your inventory to the world wide web!
But, being able to process credit cards online comes with a couple of different nuances than just swiping a credit card in your store.
Above all else, you need a payment processor that is safe and secure. No matter how eager people are to shop online, they are not going to hand over something as important as their credit card number if they do not think it’s safe to do so. That’s why you need to find an online payment processor that specializes in fraud prevention and encryption. In fact, there are total merchant services out there that will handle all of your online transactions, set up the proper security parameters, and can even customize your account so that only certain employees have access to customers’ credit card numbers.
By working with professional merchant services, you can also take advantage of other opportunities. For example, some companies may throw in freebies in exchange for getting your business. If you sign up for an online credit card payment processor, you may get a free credit card terminal that accepts payments on the go – like if you make deliveries, or need a way to accept credit card payments at a trade show or street fair.
