As an ecommerce business owner, you know that accepting credit card payments is essential to your success. But what are the best merchant services for ecommerce?
There are a lot of different options out there, and it can be hard to know which one is right for your business. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about merchant services for ecommerce, so you can make the best decision for your business.
What is a Merchant Account?
A merchant account is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept credit card payments. In order to be able to process credit card payments, you’ll need to have a merchant account with a credit card processor.
There are a few different types of merchant accounts, but the most common type is a third-party merchant account. With a third-party merchant account, the credit card processor handles all of the transactions for you. This is the most common type of merchant account for small businesses, because it’s generally the easiest to set up.
Another type of merchant account is a direct merchant account. With a direct merchant account, you’ll be dealing directly with the credit card companies. This can be a good option for larger businesses that process a lot of credit card transactions, but it’s generally more complicated and expensive to set up.
Finally, there are some businesses that choose to use a merchant services provider. A merchant services provider is a company that provides credit card processing services to businesses. They typically work with multiple different credit card processors, so they can offer a more customized solution for your business.
How Does Credit Card Processing Work?
In order to accept credit card payments, you’ll need to set up a merchant account with a credit card processor. There are a few different types of credit card processors, but the most common type is a third-party processor.
With a third-party processor, the credit card companies handle all of the transactions for you. This is the most common type of processor for small businesses, because it’s generally the easiest to set up.
Another type of credit card processor is a direct processor. With a direct processor, you’ll be dealing directly with the credit card companies. This can be a good option for larger businesses that process a lot of credit card transactions, but it’s generally more complicated and expensive to set up.
Finally, there are some businesses that choose to use a merchant services provider. A merchant services provider is a company that provides credit card processing services to businesses. They typically work with multiple different credit card processors, so they can offer a more customized solution for your business.
What Are the Different Types of Credit Cards?
There are four major types of credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Visa and MasterCard are the most common types of credit cards, and they’re accepted at most businesses. American Express is less common, but it’s still accepted at many businesses. Discover is the least common type of credit card, but it’s accepted at some businesses.