How to Accept Payments Online and Grow Your Business

Online business is all about convenience, so if you sell online, including if you have an online store to compliment your face-to-face sales or services, It’s crucial that you offer online payment options.

Selling online offers customers the convenience of shopping over the Internet whenever it suits them. But if you don’t accept credit card payments for purchases made online, then the convenience aspect of shopping online almost completely vanishes.

But what about safety?

Your most important security decision is to choose a reputable merchant service provider. A good merchant service provider will have security requirements already set up on their servers and on the payment gateway that they install and integrate with the existing shopping cart option on your website.

And you need not be an expert – your merchant service provider can take you through every requirement, install your card payment system and set you up to accept card payments in no time.

If you already are selling online, then you have already realized that you are losing out on potential sales because you don’t accept card payments. If you are still thinking of selling online, then it is vital that you have a card payment option installed on your website from the get-go.

Tips to grow your business:

1. Choosing the right merchant services provider is critical.
   Partnering with the right service provider can help ensure that your business will grow. Here are some questions you may want to ask of any merchant account provider you are considering:
   1. How long have they been in the industry?
   2. Are their security protocols of the best available?
   3. Do they comply with industry and financial service regulations?
   4. Do they hold the prescribed security certifications?
2. Advertise far and wide that you accept credit card payments!
   Once your card payment system is up and running make sure that all of your existing and potential customers know about it. Put banners on your site and use every means available to let your customers know that your business now accepts safe, secure, and convenient card payments.
3. Change the way you think!
   Drop the ‘cash is king’ mantra and recognize that ‘plastic is fantastic.’ Do everything you can to encourage your customers to pay by credit card. Apart from the fact that card payments are a safe and sure option, when customers pay by credit card, multiple studies show that they are inclined to spend more. Encourage impulse buying by popping those special deals and discounts right under their nose, where they can see it as they are about to check out.

That’s not the only benefit

Online payment systems can also include a virtual terminal, which means you can process credit card payments by mail, over the phone, or face-to-face. Log into the virtual terminal from your desktop or mobile device and just enter the card details to request payment approval.

If you would like more information about how to accept credit card payments, or to sign up for a merchant account, please call (888) 924-2743 or go to Charge.com.