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Getting A Business Ready to Process Credit Cards Startup businesses have a lot of things to consider when getting ready to open their doors for the first time.  If the business is set in a brick and mortar store, having a large inventory, a clean appearance, and catchy signs and publicity are probably the first things a shop owner is thinking about.  If the business is being established online, factors like the appearance of the home page, the functionality of the site, and how well it has been marketed to search engines and consumers may be of primary concern.  However, both types of businesses need to think first and foremost about their ability to process credit card transactions.  Cash may be the easiest option for merchants to accept, but credit cards are often far more convenient for customers. That means that most new businesses are in dire need of merchant accounts with one of many credit card processing companies.   What Other Options Exist for CC Processing? If a business would rather avoid signing a long term contract for merchant services, it may be able to accept credit card payments through an offshore account or through a service like Pay Pal.  Existing companies may be able to save money on credit card processing by shopping around and doing their research.  The U.S. government website on small businesses is also a helpful place for startup CEOs to research their options for credit card handling as well as other aspects of doing business.  By researching their niche and their potential clients, some businesses may find that they can avoid credit card processing altogether -- though that is a rare situation indeed!   What are Merchant Services? "Merchant services" is the term used for companies that process credit cards for other companies.  While credit card processing agents are easy to come by, reliable information about processing is not.  Some of the most important things to watch out for include being classified as a high risk or higher risk merchant and researching tips for avoiding chargebacks.  These pitfalls can be avoided if the business is structured as a low risk processor, which means that it accepts credit card payments in person and that employees swipe the card through a machine and obtain the customer's signature on a receipt.  If all of these conditions are met and the merchant account holder's credit history is clean, the business will benefit from low transaction rates.   Getting Ready to Process Cards Once a business has decided to sign up for a merchant account, they should contact a number of companies to find out the best rates available for their particular type of business.  Remembering that many providers have solutions for both high and low risk merchants, business owners of all types should investigate all their options before settling on a credit card merchant account company.