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Featured Credit Cards Articles

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Accepting Credit Cards For Your Online Business
 
Copyright 2005 Gibble LLC

Did you know that one of the best ways to increase sales for any online or offline business is to offer your customers the convenience of paying by credit card? As a merchant, you have several options available when it comes to becoming part of the credit card acceptance and processing chain. Here's a quick guide to get you thinking.

Merchant Accounts

If you want your online business to be capable of accepting credit card payments, you must have some type of merchant account. A merchant account allows you to take credit cards as forms of payment in a safe and secure manner.

You apply for a merchant account by filling out an application and signing a fee agreement. Unfortunately, navigating the merchant account maze can be difficult if you do not have financial experience. There are many different companies out there, and they all have a deal to offer. But before you sign up for anything, read the fine print.

The three main fees you need to look for are the set-up fees, the percentage you will pay for each transaction, and the monthly fees. All of these fees need to be taken into consideration. One company may advertise low set up fees, but they may take a higher percentage of the sale or the monthly fees may be considerably higher.

There are two types of merchant accounts, your own personal merchant account or a third party merchant account. A bank will open your own account and although they may have higher initial opening costs, these accounts generally have a lower transaction fee (what you pay them for each transaction).

Deciding which of these two types will work best for you is a personal decision, but if your business is established and thriving, the bank-based merchant account will probably work best.

Third Party Merchant Account Providers

There are a large number of providers out there, all offering what is sure to be the best deal ever. Let's evaluate some of the top providers and see what it is they really offer.

2CheckOut (2CO) offers instant acceptance for new merchants and has a $49 setup fee, no monthly fees, and an average transaction fee. The account offers a built-in shopping cart and accepts one-time or recurring payments. They accept both physical and digital goods merchants.

ClickBank offers a one-time setup fee along with a transaction fee of $1.00 plus 7.5% of the sale price. There is no monthly fee. They will also handle tracking and paying your affiliates automatically. They only accept merchants selling digital goods.

PayPal has no setup fee and a sliding transaction fee, all of them very low, based upon sales volume. They accept both physical and digital goods merchants and have various methods for you to tightly integrate their interface with your site. Subscriptions and one-time payments can be processed.

This is just a general overview of some of your payment options. Before you decide, do some in depth research and find the account that will work best with your company's needs.
For more information and resources on credit cards, please visit: http://www.consumer-news.net


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Credit Cards News


MSNBC

How to make your credit cards pay
Independent, UK - 36 minutes ago
By James Daley Britain's credit-card market is one of the most competitive in the world. Most cards have no annual fees, offer attractive interest-free ...
Suze Orman: Tips to pay off credit cards MSNBC
Credit card interest stays high Stuff.co.nz
Amex card charges record 46pc for credit Telegraph.co.uk
New York Times - Motley Fool
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New York Times

When Cash Is Scarce, There’s Comfort in Miles
New York Times, United States - 2 hours ago
First, the returns on loyalty are always positive, as long as you don’t spend needlessly just to earn rewards or carry a balance on your credit cards. ...

FOXNews

Obama and the Politics of the Stimulus
Washington Post, United States - Jan 8, 2009
I learned a hard lesson and built up 14k in credit card debt. Over the years I managed to pay it off and now I pay my credit cards off in full EVERY MONTH. ...
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Obama lays out his stimulus proposal San Francisco Chronicle
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Consumer Credit Cards Greater Worry Than Mortgages, Nixon Says
Bloomberg - Jan 8, 2009
8 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Bank of Canada Chief Executive Officer Gordon Nixon said he’s more concerned about rising defaults on credit-card debt than on ...
'It is business as usual' for Canadian lending, bank CEOs assert CBC.ca
Banks shy away from big US acquisitions ReportonBusiness.com
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WSAV-TV

Fed report shows plunge in credit card use
CreditCards.com, TX - Jan 8, 2009
Those factors, combined with reduced lending on part of the banks, cut into credit card balances in November. "It looks like that combination of weak retail ...
• Consumer Credit Plunges Record Amount in November Consumer Affairs
Consumer credit posts record drop in November MSNBC
Consumer Borrowing in US Falls Record $7.9 Billion Bloomberg
Reading Eagle - The Associated Press
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Telegraph.co.uk

Personal loan and credit card rates rise as Bank rate drops
MyFinances.co.uk, UK - 12 hours ago
Use myfinances.co.uk to compare UK credit card providers for the best credit card deals on offer. Personal loan and credit card interest rates are failing ...
Rate Cut: Who's Passing It On? Sky News
BOE Cuts Rate to Lowest Since Bank’s Creation in 1694 Bloomberg
Base Rate Cut To All-Time Low Of 1.5% Motley Fool UK
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New Credit Card Scam in Topeka
WIBW, KS - 10 minutes ago
Topeka police are warning local merchants and financial institutions about a new scam involving pre-paid credit cards. The cards, usually Green Dot brand, ...

Police Need Help Finding Credit Card Theft Suspect
WCAV, VA - Jan 8, 2009
Charlottesville Police are asking for your help identifying a suspect involved in the theft of several credit cards. Police say the cards were used at ...
Police Searching for Credit Card Thief NBC 29 News
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Examiner.com

How you score...repairing your credit
Examiner.com - 2 hours ago
Pay down your credit cards. 30% of your credit score is determined by how much of your available credit you are actually using. Generally, you want to keep ...
Protect yourself against identity theft Mount Desert Islander
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Beware Of Mail Identity Theft Meadow Free Press
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Blotter: Report: Credit cards used improperly
Denton Record Chronicle, TX - 11 hours ago
By Donna Fielder / Staff Writer Police are investigating a report from parents that their 15-year-old son gave out four of their credit card numbers over ...