Credit Card Processing
A Brief History of Credit Card Processing
The first known use of a card to make purchase dates back all the way to 1914, when Western Union issued a metal plate to its employees. This metal plate was in lieu of a paycheck, and it was meant for use in company owned stores. The first credit card however, was developed in 1946…
Read MoreWhy Your Business Should Accept Credit Cards
Cash may be fun to have, but it can be a tiresome medium for transactions. There’s a lot of it to handle during the day, and after you close your store or business, you have to go through bookkeeping, which can be tedious and repetitive. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case.…
Read MoreWhat a Merchant Account Can Do for your Business
If you are a small business owner, do not immediately assume that your company is not big enough to accept credit cards, electronic payments and online transactions through a merchant account. All of these payment methods are essential if you want to take your business to the next level. How does a merchant account work?…
Read MoreWhat is the Role of a Payment Processor?
A payment processor is a company that handles all processing between you, the merchant and your customer when a credit card payment is processed. They are responsible for transmitting and relaying encrypted data between banks. It is the payment processor’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all data transmitted, confirm if a transaction has been…
Read MoreAn SSL Certificate Does Not Guarantee PCI Compliance
Many businesses would like to be PCI compliant, because it is a security standard that can help prevent security breaches. PCI stands for Payment Card Industry, but you sometimes see the abbreviation DSS attached as well, with DSS standing for Data Security Standard. Companies of any size can become PCI compliant. When it comes to…
Read MoreDoes PCI Compliance Apply to Your Business?
After a slew of massive data breaches, information security is more important than ever. This is where the concept of PCI compliance comes in. Otherwise known as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or PCI DSS, this concept is a security standard for proprietary information that applies to any business that stores, processes or…
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Business From Cybercrime
Cybercrime is a reality. It’s important for all business owners to protect their businesses from cyber-security threats. Every day, the shadow of cybercrime looms larger over businesses of all sizes. Despite this, many companies still do not have the basic protection to withstand even a weak attack. In fact, according to recent statistics, 83% of small to…
Read MoreAccept Credit Card Payments During the Holiday Season
Accepting credit cards is always good for business, but it is particularly important to be able to accept them during the holiday season. Businesses that open up a merchant account and start accepting credit cards see an increase in sales almost immediately, and given that people like to spend during the holidays, it stands to…
Read MoreWhat is a Payment Processor?
When you’re buying or selling online, the most logical payment option is a bank card. However, you can’t swipe your card online, so you need to use a payment processor. This is a third party financial service provider that processes cards on behalf of the buyer and the seller. Payment processors can also transact offline,…
Read MoreThe Difference Between a Merchant Account and a Payment Gateway
Accepting online payments can be the next step in growing your business. However, setting everything up might be a little confusing, especially if you are just launching your first online store. If you’ve done some preliminary research on the matter, you may have run into terms such as merchant account and payment gateway. Since these…
Read More