Your Business Merchant Account

by: Dane Collins
Do you have a business merchant account? If not, isn’t it time you got one? The companies you compete against for customer business may already have this special account that allows them to process customers’ credit payments. If you are not yet doing so, why not apply for a merchant account to help your business grow?

A business merchant account is the best way to expand your company’s operations and conduct e-commerce without risking too much of an investment. Simply apply for a merchant account the way an individual would apply for a personal credit card. As with individual applicants, a company needs to show a positive credit history and the ability to make payments on a merchant account at present. In addition, it cannot be involved in shady dealings with which the underwriters might not agree. Many lenders will let you apply online, although some charge a fee for this. Often you will get a decision on your application within a day or two. If approved, you can begin making arrangements to accept credit payments in a variety of ways. Pay attention to fees and payment terms. For example, you may be asked to pay 15 to 25 cents per transaction. Or you could have the choice of paying a low overall percentage rate. Some lenders impose minimums, though, meaning you will have to pay a “bottom line” fee no matter how many transactions you make.

Your business merchant account will let you purchase or lease a credit card processor that can be plugged into your store. Or you can take a wireless version with you when collecting payments from other locations. Many business owners prefer to use a telephone ordering and payment system. This can be automated, reducing the need for staffing except for questions or glitches. Customers can speak or touch-dial their credit card numbers into the phone to process orders at their convenience. You will need to make sure your system is fully operational at all times and that it is customer-friendly to keep from annoying or even driving away current or new clients.

When you utilize a business merchant account, you can receive a printed monthly statement, discounts for other services, and occasional other benefits as well. Being able to accept credit card payments suggests that customers will look at you a little differently, knowing that you have earned an underwriter’s trust for this important role. Posting signs for accepting credit card payments places your company in the ranks of the elite, since many smaller or newer companies do not yet enjoy this privilege. When you begin accepting credit card processing, you can move away from cash-only payments or checks that can bounce. The time saved from managing cash flow can be channeled into more meaningful tasks.

Getting a merchant account means that you’re ready to upgrade your business, and that you are taking extra steps to accommodate your customers. Be proud to receive a merchant account, knowing that not everyone is approved. Handle it responsibly, since you have much to be thankful for with your new business merchant account.

About the author:
Dane Collins is with Merchant Digital http://www.merchantdigital.coma nationally recognized merchant account provider. Start accepting credit cards today: http://www.merchantdigital.com

Wireless Merchant Account?

by: Shane Penrod
A wireless merchant account can bring your business into the 21st century by enabling you to accept credit payments while on the go. All you have to do is get approved for a merchant account and then purchase or lease a wireless credit card processor that can be transported from one location to another by employees who collect credit payments from customers. Here’s how it works.

1. Apply for a wireless merchant account by finding a reputable merchant services provider to partner with. You can browse many kinds of merchant account Websites on the Internet to find those that will approve your company for a commercial account that will let you accept credit card payments using a wireless processor. Shop for banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions that offer merchant services. Apply online, by mail, or in person with local providers. In many cases you can get a response within a matter of hours, or at most, a day or two. Most underwriters look at an application to determine whether a company has a good credit history, is able to make monthly payments on a merchant account, and is not involved in a questionable or unsavory business.

2. Once you have been approved for a wireless merchant account, you can immediately select the equipment you would like to use. Check out several units to find one that is the right size and weight for your company’s needs, especially if it will be transported for off-site credit processing. You also should be eligible to get a regular credit card processor to plug into any outlet in your store or another location, if preferred. Many units combine printer and terminal for greater convenience. Purchase prices vary greatly, but you can expect to spend several hundred dollars to purchase a quality wireless unit. Your merchant account extras can add to the cost, with the potential for application, maintenance, service, gateway, and discount fees, among others. Find out in advance what you will have to pay for a particular deal up front, monthly, and annually, and make sure the expenses fit with your company operating budget.

3. After implementing wireless merchant account equipment, see how it works for your customers and the degree to which the company benefits. Processing credit payments can help to increase profits, since more customers may be eager to make purchases when they have the flexibility to pay in credit as opposed to paying in cash or by check. If the initial set-up works well, you may decide to move on to other electronic items, like a pager, a check and debit processor, and other types of equipment that can help your company operate smoothly and efficiently. Don’t go overboard with purchaseing fancy features that you really don’t need. Simply purchase or lease the technology that addresses a specific need that you have already identified. If it works, you can always add more later. If it doesn’t, you’re only out the investment on the one item.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

What to Consider when Filing for Personal Bankruptcy

by: Roy Barker
President Bush in April signed into law The Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act. This bill promises many changes to law, and will make it more difficult for the average person in financial trouble to have debts removed with bankruptcy. Recent social and economic changes indicate that those considering a bankruptcy should do so now, as the queue is getting longer.

It will be now be harder to file under Chapter 7 of the code, which allows the courts to wave consumer debt and give the debtor a new start. Filings posted will be tested and those who have a decent income it seems will have to file under a more strenuous Chapter 13, which demands repayment by installments and the assistance of a lawyer. Now looming, bankruptcy filings are not only higher than they were previously, but are also higher than expected. Acros the country, filings are substantially higher than last year, and some bankruptcy practitioners say that their business has increased dramatically.

To make it more confusing is another law, that requires credit card companies to establish a payment schedule that permits consumers to repay debts in amended installments. Since early year, most credit card providers have doubled their minimum payments. An average person with say $12,000 in credit card debt, will have approximate monthly payment increases from between $150 to $450, an increase most people can ill afford.

This increase in bankruptcy filings has overwhelmed bankruptcy lawyers, who face a burden of being liable for false information filed by clients once the new law takes effect. Certainly an unwelcome change. This additional liability, together with the additional tasks, has prompted many lawyers to raise fees subsstantally over the same time as last year.

What does this mean for bad debt? From here on, bankruptcy filings will be more confusing, complicated and costly. The system is already overloaded with bankruptcy cases. If you suspect you're in the bankruptcy category, you should move on it now. Waiting even another day could be too late.

About the author:
A contribution from Roy Barker owner and publisher of www.bankruptcy-aid.com a resource for attorneys and anyone seeking information.


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Want A Credit Card Merchant Account?

by: Shane Penrod
Who doesn’t want a credit card merchant account! This special service allows you to process credit card payments from your clients in a number of ways that can help to speedily grow your business. A merchant account has been known to double or triple business profits in a relatively short amount of time, so only if your company is poised for growth should you consider this exciting opportunity.

If you currently work with a bank that you trust with your business concerns, ask about the possibility of applying for a credit card merchant account. Most companies are eager to welcome this type of business from customers they know and trust. As long as you have established a solid business credit history, pay your bills in a timely manner, and aren’t involved in questionable or unethical pursuits, your chances of being approved for a merchant account are good. Of course, your bank may not offer this type of account, or you may be able to find better terms with another lender, so don’t feel as though you must apply for merchant services with your current lender. Instead, ask around at trade shows, conventions, or civic business meetings to see what type of merchant account providers your competitors are using. They can probably offer helpful tips on which lenders to court and which ones to avoid. You also can check with local business listings for references on general lenders, some of which may offer merchant accounts. Or you can browse the Internet to bring up a list of links that will let you contact those that seem most compatible with your business interests.

Getting a credit card merchant account is pretty easy. After locating potential lenders to work with, you should compare services and fees to make sure they will work with the business plan that you are using or one that you plan to set up. Check your company’s budget to find out how much you can afford to invest in credit card processing equipment and service options. Then compare your budget with transactional fees, maintenance expenses, and application or gateway rates to find a lender that is affordable for your needs.

When you have been approved for a credit card merchant account, you can start to accept credit card payments from your clients immediately, often with a couple of days. All you need to do is select the type of processing equipment that best fits with your customers’ purchasing patterns. For example, if most visit your store to shop, an onsite credit card processor that you can purchase for a few hundred dollars is the simplest and perhaps most effective way to start. But if you deliver goods and services, a wireless unit might be the better choice. Of course, if you do both, two units might be affordable, but you will need to check your budget. You can always start with one and add another later.

Start looking for a possible merchant card services provider to get approved for your credit card merchant account!

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.comSpecializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Top 5 Reasons Your Business Needs ACH Processing

by: Wayne Akey

Almost any business, on the Net or not, can benefit
from using the ACH system to electronically move
money. Here are the top 5 reasons why:

1) Accepting checks via your web site.

Everyone knows you have to accept credit cards to
succeed online. The problem for many consumers is that
they either don't have a credit card or are at their
credit limit. The good news is that the vast majority
of these consumers have a checking or savings account
that you can access for payment.

Using ACH processing allows you to accept payment from
a checking or savings account electronically. Funds
are debited from the customer and credited to the
business owner. Issues such as bounced checks or
closed accounts can be addressed through a combination
of fraud screening and collection tools. This includes
the ability to verify in real time that the account
number the customer uses is valid and that there is
money in the account.

There are many providers. PayPal, http://www.paypal.com
is perhaps the best known. There are more economical
options available. The processor you elect to use
should have experience, a client list and easy to use
web site integration tools.

ACH processing can be much less expensive than credit
cards. On a typical $100 transaction you could pay
$2.75 or more for a credit card as opposed to .35 or
less for an electronic check with no discount rate.
Using ACH processing can also save a great deal of
money if you receive an NSF (non-sufficient funds)
check. Depending on what your bank currently charges
you can save 90% or more.

2) Accepting checks via phone.

NACHA (http://www.nacha.org) the governing body of
electronic transactions now allows a business to
electronically debit a consumers account for
payment taken by phone. Similar savings to web
transactions are possible. You can offer a new payment
vehicle to your customers and cut costs. Verification
services can reduce fraud and the charge back window
compared to credit cards is shorter.

3) Recurring payments.

If your site collects a monthly fee from consumers or
businesses and you only use credit cards you are both
paying too much and losing a significant percentage of
users who would pay electronically via ACH.

4) Electronic pay-outs.

If you pay affiliates by mailing checks you could be
electronically crediting their account. No postage
or invoice costs. Automation of payments is possible.

You can also pay employees and vendors via ACH.

5) Processing mailed payments.

Your bank probably charges between $10-$20 for
returned checks. You can convert these paper checks
to electronic transactions and get your money faster,
avoid expensive returns and trips to your bank.

These are 5 solid reasons your business needs ACH
processing. The bottom line is that it can save you
time and money while offering customers a payment
alternative.

Partner with a reputable ACH processor and you can
enjoy the multiple benefits of ACH payment processing.
These include reduced costs and time as well as
automating manual tasks.

*ACH refers to the Automated Clearing House and
generically means money moves electronically.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Wayne Akey has helped numerous businesses save
time and money with ACH processing. Get your
free report on how your business can benefit
http://www.ach-payments.com/software/secrets.doc
or visit http://www.ach-payments.com

Tips for businesses that accept credit cards

by: Bob Hett
Let's face it, many businesses cringe when they think of dealing with banks when they are looking to set up merchant credit card accounts. The truth is that in order to be in business in this day and age as a merchant, you must be prepared to accept and process credit cards. Most especially if you do business over the Internet. If you are not prepared to offer a full array of credit card acceptance options, I'm afraid you will soon be out of business. The downside to accepting credit cards is that the merchant is at risk for not only the amount that has been charged, but a charge back fee as well.

The banks will take the disputed charge along with a chargeback fee directly from the merchants account and if the merchant does not have sufficient funds that have already cleared from paying their own bills, they will be hit with yet another charge which is known as an overdraft charge. It can become a vicious cycle. There are now more than a few banks that recognize that these charge backs are not always the fault of the merchant, and that indeed, most merchants are honest with their credit card dealings. I regret having to say that there is so much credit card fraud out there today, and because the merchant is always liable, you must take active steps to protect yourself and your business.

First of all, you must be careful to verify to the very best of your ability that the name, address and cvv number verification are all in good order. The business owner, or merchant, must be careful to verify the IP address of each and every transaction to make sure that it is within the approximate location of the cardholder. A red flag should go up if a person who lives in Des Moines, Iowa is suddenly making a charge in Boca Raton, Florida. This is your livelihood so the exercise of due diligence and caution are always of paramount importance.

Do not fall into the habit of becoming apathetic because as quickly as money is credited to your merchant account it can be taken away due to the charge backs that we discussed earlier. Now there are organizations who are working to try to change the banking and processing rules and regulations so that businesses that are both small and large will have some more protection against credit card fraud.

The time to begin protecting yourself and your business is right now. You need only pick up the newspaper, or read a news report, to know that the risk is very real and always present. Reports state that there are over 40 million credit cards in the hands of thieves and criminals who have no compunction about using these credit cards for any nefarious activities that they can dream up. That is why I have written this article. It is most certainly not my intention to scare anyone. I simply want to remind you of the dangers and risks associated with processing credit cards for your business.

About the author:
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Credit Cards.
Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.Find-Cards-Now.com

The Secret of Credit Card Numbers

by: Gordon Goh
Have you ever really looked at your credit card and tried to figure out what that huge string of numbers really means? Do these card issuers have so many customers that your account number has to be 16 digits long?

You may be surprised to know that all those numbers you see actually do stand for something, and it's not just who YOU are. Let's take a look.

Most of the major credit card companies operate on the same system when choosing a credit card number. Other cards like gas cards, department store cards and phone cards go their own way. Let's concentrate on the ones that all play by the same rules.

The very first digit in the series will be a 3,4,5, 0r 6. This number designates the type of card as follows:

3 = a Travel & Entertainment Card like American Express or Diners Club.

4 = Visa and Visa-branded debit cards, cash cards, etc.

5 = MasterCard and MasterCard-branded debit cards, cash cards, etc.

6 = Discover

American Express and Diners Club use the second digit to identify the company. That means that Diners Club cards will start with either "36" or "38", and American Express cards will use either "34" or "37".

The remaining numbers in the series are used for different purposes depending upon the card type and issuer.

In most cases, the next group after the opening series of numbers represents the routing number of the card-issuing bank, the group after that is the user's account number, and the final digit is a check digit. The check digit is a number that is calculated by applying a special formula to all of the other numbers. The check digit is the result of that formula and is used as an anti-fraud check.

To keep things from getting too confusing, look at your card as you follow along for the next steps.

American Express

The American Express Card uses digits three and four for type (business or personal) and the currency of the cardholder's country of origin. The next digits from the fifth through the eleventh are account numbers. Digits twelve through fourteen indicate the card number within the account and the last digit is the check digit.

Visa

With Visa, digits two through six represent the bank number. Beginning with the seventh digit and running through the twelfth or the fifteenth represents the account number and the last number is the check digit. Since all Visa cards do not have the same amount of numbers in the sequence, the number of digits in a group may vary.

MasterCard

For MasterCard, the second digit, through to anywhere between the third and the sixth digit is the bank number. All remaining digits, except the check digit at the end of the series, identifies that cardholder's account.

Now that we've gone over it all, you're probably wondering why you were ever wondering in the first place. Just remember though, knowledge is power. Some things are just fun to know.

About the author:
Gordon Goh is the owner of Easy-Credit-Card-Guide.com offering free credit card information for everyone. You can receive a free credit card at http://www.easy-credt-card-guide.com

The Key To Increasing Your Customer Base: Accept Credit Cards

by: Jeff Usher
Here is a tactic you should heed for your online business… accept credit cards. Whether you’re selling digital products or tangible goods through online channels, your business should be able to accept credit cards to ensure the widest customer base possible. The importance of the ability to accept credit cards cannot be denied. Being able to accept credit cards makes your online business more accessible to a greater number of potential clients and customers.

World Of Benefits When Your Online Business Accepts Credit Cards

Credit cards have been tagged as plastic money because they have become accepted as a good alternative to actual cash. A lot of people actually prefer real world establishments who accept credit cards. They would rather shop in stores that accept credit cards rather than those that don’t accept credit cards.

The same principle applies in online transactions. People would look for eCommerce sites that accept credit cards, particularly those that accept credit cards which they own. I you would be able to accommodate these people by designing your online business to accept credit cards, you’d be able to increase the number of potential customers you could gain.

Additionally, by building an online enterprise that could accept credit cards, you will be able to secure payment in a more convenient and safe manner. If your online business would accept credit cards from paying customers, you’d be empowering them to spend for your products.

Overcoming An Important Hump When You Accept Credit Cards Online

Sad to say, however, that there are quite a number of people who are afraid of online transactions, even if your business would accept credit cards. There have been tales of so many scams and fraudulent dealings on the Internet, and legitimate businesses which accept credit cards are the ones that have to suffer such stigma.

To help stem the tide of this fear, businesses that accept credit cards should ensure the following things:

* A business that would accept credit cards should make sure that its payment processing page is embedded with Secure Socket Layers (SSL) of at least 128 bit.

* A business that would accept credit cards should also make sure that such SSL encryption appears on the lower right side of the user’s browser window, in the form of a lock icon.

* A business that would accept credit cards should establish a responsive customer support system that would answer the needs of your clients when it comes to transactions involving the acceptance of credit cards.

Allowing your online business to accept credit cards could only expand your customer base and provide good profits for you for many years to come.

About the author:
Jeff Usher researches and writes articles on all aspects of Internet Marketing and eCommerce. For further information on the subject of this article please visit:-
http://www.more-merchant-account.info

Shop: Is Shopping Online Secure?

by: Linda Quinones

Is shopping online becoming popular and safe enough for you and I
to do the vast majority of our shopping on the Internet?

As I contemplated, when I initially set up my website: www.shopshopshop.org The first thought that came to mind was will they
come and will they spend money? Sure people are always curious and some will visit but will they stay long enough to spend some money?

Safety was the first concern of those I had spoken to, they were somewhat skeptical and therefore reluctant to make any online purchases. It is our
responsibility as online marketers to convince them to about the safety of
online shopping.

We all know about the convenience of getting on the computer and viewing the sale that retailers are using to entice the shoppers into making a commitment. But are not always as eager to go ahead and complete the purchase online.

The internet today is as safe or safer than making purchase in person, I recently read an article where BJ Wholesalers was fined by the Securities and Exchange Commission for not having sufficient security to protect Credit Card users.

Most of the purchaseing we do today is pay for by either a credit card or a debit card. So If you think that when you purchase gas and pay for it at the pump
with your credit card or debit card that you are making a safe purchase think again.

I recently purchase gas at my favorite gas station and paid for it at the pump with my debit card, only to find out two weeks later when the bank call me to question some of purchases that were charge to my debit card.

It seems that somebody was making purchases that were very uncharacteristic for me. And the institution where I have been banking for many years was able to detect this and all my money was refunded and a new card issued.

I was fortunate in the incident just described, but back to online shopping,
most of the retailers that do business online have very good security to protect the purchaseers. After all they would rather you make your purchases online,

Online shopping is much more profitable for the stores and safer and besides
no shoplifting takes place on the internet, so the store want to protect this revenue source by making it safe as well as convenient.

Another willing partner is the credit card companies themselves they want you and I to continue using the plastic, and are doing all they can to protect the credit card user.

In our website we have a page titled credit card fraud protection, with direct links to the major credit card companies website and anti fraud page, so that shoppers can read what the credit card companies are doing to protect them from fraud and identity theft.

As more and more people become aware of the security measures being undertaken to protect them, they will avail themselves of the convenience
of doing their shopping online and use the time they save for pleasure and
family activities.

People today are always in a hurry and don’t usually have time to wait on long lines for cashier to ring them up, when they can accomplish the same
thing without leaving the house.

This is more attractive to younger active people would rather play a round of
golf or a couple of sets of tennis than fight the maddening crowds.

So I recommend that you get online and start spending! For safe secured shopping visit: shopshopshop.org


About the author:
Linda Quinones has been active in promoting her own site while trying to help others to succeed in the Internet marketing field. Previously she was involved in the financial sector for several years. Her website is: http://www.shopshopshop.org

Save money basics

by: Mansi gupta
‘MONEY’, in this era I think can well be stated as the ‘Most Outstanding Necessity Enveloping You’. Life is impossible without money. Funds are essential in every walk of life. So, such a crucial indispensable aspect of our lives needs extra care and protection. This article, therefore, is a guideline to many effective money saving strategies.


Money Management might not be imperative for everyone. But many of us nowadays need to be vigilant while spending. This is because of the soaring market prices and limited income. But ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. If you desire to save your hard earned cash, you ought be judicious while spending it.


The foremost technique to be economic is to prepare your monthly budget. This will help you in administering your expenditure throughout the month. But mere planning a budget is insufficient. What basically matters is, how much you adhere to it. So, try to stick to your budget. Any deviation from it should be in case of an emergency.

Shopping from coupons is deemed to be a very cost effective nowadays. These coupons are gift vouchers can be grabbed from your daily newspaper, magazines, in shops and on Internet. They provide you with varying lucrative offers such as 40% off on your eating in a restaurant at a particular date and time etc. Coupons thus are a wonderful way to enjoy a variety of things in life while saving many of your dollars.


Be frugal in using your credit card. Though credit card acts as bank in your pocket, it comes with huge rate of interests. This is the most significant drawback of using a credit card that perhaps supersedes all its merits.

Try shopping during the sale season. It is the best time when you can get an item worth $100 in just $80 or even $50. So, don’t miss an opportunity to avail the sale season benefits.


Avoid repeated shopping. It is not prudent to shop time and again because each time you make it to the market, you will be spending money on travel (oil, taxi fare etc.). Moreover, the market rates keep on fluctuating. The thing prized worth $45 today may be for $50 by the end of the month. Therefore, once you are on for shopping, especially some items such as foodstuff etc are concerned shop as much required and make no compromise. Take these a little more than needed. This saves you from landing into troublesome exigency situations.

Don’t be habitual of junk food and eating out. This will not just be emptying your pocket soon but can even be hazardous to your health.


Get a medical insurance. It will facilitate you with requisite amount during unfortunate health perils.

Planning a garage sale at the end of the year is not a bad idea to make some money out of the undesired items in your house.


Another good way to save money for your own self and your successors is to make investments. These can be in the form of property, land, stocks, trusts and the like.


Save on electricity and phone bills. Do not assist your children with separate TV and phone connection in their rooms. Keep just one television set and phone connection in your living room. This will enable you to keep a check on the amount of usage of these things. It is definitely a money spinning way for those fraught with hefty electricity and phone bills.


Apart from these there might many other ways to manage your outlay that may appeal to you. All you need to do is to be a little cautious, far-sighted and love your well-deserved money.

About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about. Save money .Learn more at http://www.howtosavedough.com

Retail Merchant Accounts - Do You Need One?

by: Shane Penrod
Some entrepreneurs are satisfied with making a certain amount of income and have no wish or plan to grow their business with a retail merchant account. Others, however, aggressively pursue professional opportunities for expansion by seeking out technological advances that can help them better serve customer needs while increasing profits. A retail merchant account will elevate you to the next level of business development by providing access to sophisticated methods that can impress clients and outdistance the competition.

Reasons for opening a retail merchant account are many and varied. Here are some of the more prevalent:

1. A retail merchant account can equip you with key equipment that will make your job easier and more efficient. For example, you can have a credit card processor installed, sometimes at no cost, and pay just a few cents for each customer transaction. Or you can arrange a deal whereby you pay a small percentage of all credit card transactions your company accepts. For a minimal fee you may soon be able to multiply profits while reducing costs typically associated with hiring employees to manage cash purchases.

2. A retail merchant account can make doing business with your company easier and more convenient. Customers won’t have to worry about stopping by the bank or writing a check to get cash before visiting your establishment, nor will they have to pay ATM fees to withdraw cash. They can simply pull out a credit card with confidence, knowing that you can quickly process payment without the hassle of making change or opening a check-cashing account.

3. A retail merchant account can put you ahead of others in your area who conduct similar business but who do not yet have a merchant account or its accompanying advantages. If customers have to choose between two companies for shopping or service, they are more likely to choose the one that provides credit card processing as a payment option, along with other professional services that build trust in the company’s vision.

4. A retail merchant account can offer the first step toward leading your business into the future. After implementing a credit card processor, for example, you may later decide to offer wireless processing options, which will provide your customers with even more options for doing business with your company without the need for staff to manage every telephone call, order, or payment. You can cut operating costs and increase profit margins when you expand your business to include customer-friendly automated technology.

Don’t be the last in your industry to jump on board the technological bandwagon. Start checking the various programs that are available to help you improve the services you can offer customers to keep them coming back with repeat business. Compare options to get the best services for your customer’s needs. Negotiate for the lowest costs and most effective terms. You might even want to conduct an informal customer survey to learn about the types of upgrades they want to see happen in your company. Then shop for the best deal in your new retail merchant account.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Restaurant Merchant Accounts

by: Shane Penrod
Some eatery entrepreneurs enjoy the old fashioned style of cooking and serving customers themselves, while others are experimenting with the latest technological enhancements via restaurant merchant accounts. While it is always enjoyable to dine at a restaurant where the owner or manager employs a personal touch, there are times when a customer appreciates modern conveniences like a server’s use of a pager or paying by credit card that are unavailable at many old-fashioned establishments. If you are an owner or manager who appreciates customers’ needs for fast, up-to-date service, you may want to learn more about a restaurant merchant account.

Restaurant merchant accounts help owners to provide the latest technology to their clientele. We all know of restaurants that don’t accept credit cards, and when we’re in a hurry or low on cash, we avoid such places. But other eateries, from fast food to fine dining, are increasingly choosing to implement credit card payment options, electronic check processing, and even wireless payment processing for merchants on the go who deliver food at home or to businesses and public places for special occasions. A server wearing a pager will be greatly appreciated when someone at your table chokes or a little one spills her beverage. Scenarios like these, as well as a host of others, show why it makes sense to consider an upgrade to a restaurant merchant account.

If you are unsure about the benefits of restaurant merchant accounts, you can readily find information on the Internet at a variety of Websites. Merchant accounts come in many forms and offer a range of advantages depending on your company’s specific needs or your long-term business growth plan. For example, you may want to start with a simple credit card processor on-site at your restaurant. You will get a feel for the degree to which your customers appreciate the new technology by their comments at checkout. If they appreciate the option of using credit, you will know that further upgrades may likewise be valued down the road. But if they complain about your establishment losing its old fashioned appeal, you may want to hold off on additional improvements until the clientele has time to get used to the initial changes.

Restaurant merchant accounts will provide the means of setting up a restaurant Website and accepting online credit payments for reservations, business accounts, or bulk purchases, among other things. Your Website can attract visitors from all over the world who may come to visit when in your part of town. The site can also offer local customers helpful information, such as hours and days of operation, driving directions to your location along with a map, regular and banquet menus, and special services. Your merchant account status will let them order online and confirm reservations without the need of a human voice, thus reducing staffing hours and human resource costs. If you want your restaurant to attract fast-paced customers who pay with plastic, check out the limitless possibilities that await you by browsing the available restaurant merchant accounts.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Protecting Your Business From Credit Card Fraud

by: Keith Baxter
Credit cards are used as forms of payments now more than ever. There are also more online businesses and most of these businesses accept credit card payments. Therefore, protecting your online business from credit card fraud is vital. For businesses that are offline, the challenges of accepting credit cards as payment can be the same. Fraud is such an ugly word and we want to avoid it at all costs. Thankfully, there are steps you can take, whether your business is online or offline, that will help to eliminate your risk of being a victim.

Steps For Online Business Owners

Although most consumers think being a victim of credit card fraud, particularly when purchasing a product online, it is actually much more likely that the merchant will be the victim rather than the consumer. Here are some tips to help you avoid this.

First, always verify that the address the consumer has given you is correct. Your merchant account probably offers an Address Verification System that will verify that the address you have been given matches the billing address of the cardholder.

If you're shipping a product to a consumer, make sure the shipping address matches the billing address. If it does not, you probably should investigate the transaction.

Be leery of unusual orders. Since a thief would have no idea of the consumers purchasing history with you, if something gets ordered that is completely out of the ordinary check it out. Phone the customer if you can. Even if it's legitimate, they should be grateful that you called.

Take as much information from the purchaseer as you can when they are filling out the order form. In addition to their name, address, and telephone number, ask for the name of the bank that the card is issued from as well as the 3 or 4 security digits that all cards have now.

State on your web site that you have anti fraud devices in place and operating at all times. This will give the thief pause before entering your web page.

Steps For Offline Business Owners

Since you are actually going to see the person that is trying to use the credit card, your chances of being a victim of fraud are diminished, but problems can still happen. Here are some tips to help protect you and your business from credit card fraud.

Never take a credit card without getting identification. Check the name and signature to see if they match. This will not offend most customers who are on the up and up. Most will even be grateful.

Check the credit card for forgery by knowing what characteristics are found on legitimate cards. Many cards now contain a hologram that changes color in the light. Check the signature panel to make sure the signature cannot be erased. If it can, it's fake. Look for the magnetic strip and make sure it is intact.

You should also use the Address Verification Service. This will help you as well.

About the author:
Keith Baxter made it his mission after college to educate as many people as possible to the advantages and disadvantages of credit through a widespread re-education initiative. You can find out more about Keith and what he's up to at http://www.credit-card-debt-consolidation.net

MasterCard: Then, Now and Why

Way back around 1947, many banks in the US started doing their premium customers a favor. The banks gave them a piece of paper for the customers to flaunt at stores. The paper said, “ We, the bank, will pay you on behalf of the customer. Just send us the bill.”

One can imagine how privileged and special those customers felt. One can also visualize how those customers would stay bonded for life to their respective banks, as would their succeeding generations.

This practice of banks really caught on because it promoted customer loyalty and brought in new accounts. Which is why in 1951, The Franklin National Bank, New York, offered the first credit card as a formal financial instrument.

Throughout the fifties, this idea was franchised; a single bank in each large city would allow chosen merchants to accept cards instead of cash. The Interbank Card Association (ICA), which later became MasterCard International, evolved from this situation in August 1966.

ICA was a member-run organization, and banks formed the majority of members. They elected governing members and committees from amongst themselves to frame rules for ICA’s functioning and to implement those rules. In short, ICA was and is run like a true corporation.

In due course, like a typical corporation, ICA put plans in motion to expand internationally. The first steps took place in 1968, when ICA signed agreements with partners in Mexico, Europe and Japan.

By around 1978, ICA had practically covered all the continents. It changed its name to MasterCard to reflect its international stature. 1987 was a watershed year: MasterCard arrived in the People's Republic of China, where no other credit card had stepped foot in the history of banking. The very next year, the Soviet Union fell to that smart little piece of plastic.


*Now*

The situation now, to quote MasterCard Incorporated, is simple: “No other payment card is accepted in more locations around the world than MasterCard.”

MasterCard presently has a staggering 25,000 shareholders. A list of MasterCard's largest current shareholders with their holdings reads like this:
1. JPMorgan Chase - 11.7%
2. Citigroup - 6.2%
3. Bank of America - 6%
4. Euro Kartensysteme - 5.2%
5. Europay France - 5.0%


* Why *

So why do millions of people carry MasterCard?

Well, to start with, and as mentioned earlier, it is accepted by more merchants the world over than any other credit card. Add to that the fact that wherever you may be on earth, you have an ATM nearby that will disgorge you cash if you have a MasterCard. How many ATMs are we talking about? Just 780,000!

Also, the intermediate and premium cards, Gold and Platinum, carry attractive value-added features. Such as “Road Assist”, which provides access to emergency service to travelers anywhere in the US. Or “PayPass”, which is a smart MasterCard that you just tap on the PayPass reader at participating locations for your card account to be debited (no swiping or giving your card to checkout counter staff).

If you are in the US, you also have MasterCard’s famous zero liability benefit: you are not liable if your card is stolen and misused.


* Conclusion *

MasterCard offers customers one of the greatest advantages in today’s commercial world: cashless transactions. Coupled with all the benefits mentioned above, it is very difficult to prove why you should not acquire one! Count on MasterCard International to evolve beyond plastic into state-of-the-art personal technology, like credit-loaded mobile phones… stay tuned!


About the author:
Lucky Balaraman is a graduate engineer who writes on a variety of subjects. Learn more about MasterCard from his site, http://master-card-information.info

Internet Payment Solutions - Need One?

by: Shane Penrod
So your business has expanded to reach the point where you need to find an effective Internet payment solution? The first option to consider is applying for a merchant account. If your business enjoys a solid credit history, pays its bills on time, and avoids controversial dealings, your application should be approved without a hitch. Then you can set up a company Website where you can sell more products and services and let customers pay with a credit card online.

This Internet payment solution is one of the fastest growing e-commerce innovations today. No matter how large or small your company, it is always a good idea to put up a Website to establish a cyberspace presence. At their leisure, your current and potential new customers can visit your site and browse all kinds of information, such as hours of operation, product lines and price lists, testimonials, FAQs, and other useful details. When you install a credit card processor, guests can shop on the Website and pay with plastic by inserting the cardholder’s name, account number, and date of expiration. There is no need to wait around for a check in the mail or a hand-delivered money order.

Pricing for this type of Internet payment solution will vary. After being approved for a merchant account with a participating financial institution that will most likely be a bank, you can shop for the best deal associated with your new merchant status. In some cases, the installation fee will be waived. In other situations, you can get a low transaction fee or an inexpensive monthly percentage rate that will be paid on your account. Other fees may apply, like those associated with membership, maintenance, and gateway service, so you will need to ask about these and other possible costs before signing up for your account with a particular bank or credit union.

Your individual Internet payment solution can be tailor-made to suit your company’s needs. For example, you can apply for a high-volume merchant account if you are doing a brisk business, or you can stick with the conventional merchant account if you are still building a client base. Then you can decide whether to use the regular credit card payment method via the Website or whether you prefer guiding guests to a toll-free number that can be dialed for orders. Discuss you specialized needs with a merchant account associate who can explain the pros and cons of each option so that you can make an informed decision rather than purchase the least expensive or the most up-to-date equipment.

Doing business on the Internet can seem a little overwhelming to entrepreneurs who worry about transactional security, fraud, unwanted spam, and computer viruses. Take a short course like those offered by the major computer manufacturers to learn about Internet payment solutions and how to secure your Website. When you are ready to take the plunge, open a merchant account, set up a company Website with ordering capabilities, and provide customers with your Internet payment solution.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

How to Find the Best Low APR Credit Cards

by: Morgan Hamilton

Low APR credit cards are much more prevalent than in years past. Competition is stiff and credit card financial institutions offer many nice perks, rewards, points, low annual percentage rates (APR) and other inducements. They want to capture new customers who've never had a credit card but also those who already have a credit card and might like to save money by transferring that card's balance on to their new low APR credit cards.

Of course, there is nothing lower in an APR than zero - and those exist too, although sometimes for a limited time period. It may be that the lowest, or even the zero percentage APR is for an introductory period, after which the rate is higher. The permanent APR is what you want to watch out for, of course. Although if you're not opposed to doing a lot of switching, you can always purchase a low APR credit card, or zero percentage APR credit card, transfer the balance from your current high APR credit card, and then, once the introductory time period has expired and the APR is about to go up on your newest credit card, transfer the balance yet again to a brand new low APR credit card.

Let's look at a few of the low APR credit cards out there, so you know what kinds of options are typically available to you.

Citibank, for example, offers low APR credit cards that give you five percent cash back on any purchase you making at grocery stores and gas stations with your low APR credit card, and one percent back for any purchase elsewhere. The APR on transfers is zero for the first year. If your transfer transaction is at least $1500 you will earn $5 cash back with the low APR credit card. There is no annual fee and the APR after the first year is 12.24 percent.

Discover has a platinum clear card whose low APR is continual. The first year the APR is zero, but after the first year it's still a very competitive 9.99 percent. And there is no annual fee. With these low APR credit cards you earn a five percent cash back bonus on purchases made from hardware and home improvement retailers, restaurants, book vendors, and gas stations. If the retailer doesn't qualify you for the five percent discount you will always get one percent back no matter what you purchase and from where with this low APR credit card.

Chase Bank offers low APR credit cards as well. Its zero percent APR is good for six months, after which you will pay 10.49 percent. These low APR credit cards have no annual fee, and offer rewards at the rate of one point for every dollar spent with your Chase card. You can get free airline flights and hotel rooms, as well as cruises and auto rentals. This card also provides $500,000 worth of travel insurance for worldwide vacationing. You can also take advantage of a fifteen percent discount off a Hertz car rental with these low APR credit cards.

Improving Your Financial Situation With Investments and Business Ideas

by: David Arnold Livingston
With financial information and virtual business transactions just a click away, people are finding themselves more financially savvy and in the know on how to fatten up their financial portfolios.

While most people rely on banks and properties to secure their retirement days, others who are smart enough and worldly enough with the affairs of the green buck opt for more lucrative financing opportunities. They do not just let their money sit idly inside a bank vault and wait for the interest to add up. A few actually roll their money and invest them in the high stakes of stocks, bonds and currency.

Stocks can be very risky but if you start small and give yourself time to get the hang of it, you may enjoy it and may even discover that you have the gift of foresight. Watch for stocks that are just on the rise. These are often companies that are very promising. Their value will still be relatively small compared to blue chips so you really don’t have to shell out much. If you want to risk more, you can actually purchase blue chips or those stocks that established companies offer to the public. Examples are Microsoft and Dell.

Bonds on the other hand may have modest returns but they are probably the best and most secure of financial investments. Bonds come highly recommended and should not be absent in any financial portfolio.

Currencies are trickier to deal with as their value are affected by so many forces, local or within the country involved, regional and global. Though banks also offer currencies, most have high exchange rates. Others just purchase but they do not sell, choosing to keep the currencies within the financing institution.

Debt is perhaps the single worst thing that you can do to damage your financial portfolio. Do not get the wrong idea, debt can be good when used the right way. In fact, successful businessmen have debts too. This is because they have their money tied up in other ventures that have a higher return of investments than the interest of the loans. After all, you cannot make money without having some money to begin with. So, if you feel that you can yield more money using the money that you got from a loan, then by all means, get a loan!

What should be avoided are debts that come from credit cards. Credit cards hold the highest interest rates in debts perhaps because the whole debt business is risky. Getting into deep credit card debt can mean paying a lifetime for the interest without even touching the principal. It is important that when you use the credit card, make sure that you pay on time and that you pay for the whole amount. Otherwise, you would find yourself slowly falling into a financial trap.

It will be risky but the fastest way you can earn big money is to venture on a business. Even something as small as operating a cafeteria in a factory or school or engage in purchaseing and selling of goods over the Internet, can be a great start. With the advent of technology, it is even easier now than before, not to mention faster, to conduct financing and business transactions. You don’t even have to meet face to face. You just have to learn to communicate through emails and mobile phones.

This is not intended to give financial advice and professional advice is suggested before investing.

About the author:
David Arnold Livingston is an entrepreneur with many years of successful business experience. For financing options, he recommends you visit: http://www.financingltd.com/

Identity theft: Safeguarding Can't Hurt

by: Daryl Campbell
Will we ever get a break? Not right now .In San Diego, police arrested a postal worker for stealing mail and trading it to identity thieves to support his drug habit.

Another arrest involved the hacking of wireless carrier T-MobileUSA's network. According to Fox News, the attacker gained access to a database of 16 million customers including the personel information of the Secret Service agent investigating the break in.

Then there's Choicepoint. When last we left the information giant, criminals broke into their 19 billion records database. Choicepoint now acknowledges previous attacks that date back to the year 2000.

The number of identity theft victims as well as the methods of getting personal information continue to increase sharply. Yet while no 100% guarantees exist online or off, safeguarding can't hurt and one of the best ways for fighting identity theft exist in your own home.

Check your trash.

Going thru your garbage has turned into an exact science and a major goldmine for the identity thieves. The Department of Justice refers to this as "dumpster diving" Check everything you throw away then check it again.

Mark any information including financial statements, driver's license, address and especially your social security # "Sensitive" then shred it. I recommend a crosscut shredder. Throw it away in different garbage cans on different days.

Shred junk mail credit card offers and get taken off the major credit agencies' marketing lists.

If you're not doing it already, get into the habit of taking your mail particulary any bill payments directly to the Post Office. Identity thieves also target mailboxes. They frequently stake out the area and wait for the optimum time. Getting a locked mailbox doesn't hurt either.

Use anti spyware, a firewall and antivirus programs on your computer system. If performing a transaction online make sure the company provides a secure server. They should tell you but if not look for the yellow lock at the bottom of your screen.

Guard your plastic. Examine your credit card statements and request a copy of your credit report. Agencies will send you one free copy per year. If you request more than one, you get charged a fee anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars depending on the credit bureau.

Handle this with care. Eventhough you're doing the right thing in trying to protect yourself, too many inquiries are frowned upon by these agencies and could impact your credit negatively. Joining a credit monitoring company can remove that obstacle.

One caveat.You should exercise vigilance in protecting your credit cards but it's not the total solution that some experts claim. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 60% of all identity theft cases do NOT involve any existing accounts. Guard your plastic but make guarding your Social security number the top priority.

These methods of protection take on a special significance
due to the identity of the criminals. According to the Better Business Bureau's 2005 Fraud Survey Report, family freinds and neighbors account for half of all identity thieves. You don't want to turn someone you know and love over to the authorities so do your best to eliminate the temptation.

Again, no 100% guarantees exists. You make transactions at the restaurant, corner store, gas station and a host of other places. We all need to deal in this world so there's always a risk factor. Stay vigilant on the things you control and the chances of identity theft can decrease.

Because at all costs you want to avoid what many victims rank as the worst part of identity theft. The nightmare of recovery.

About the author:
Daryl Campbell is a writer and home business owner.Banks say you should check your credit once a year. No problem right? Except it leaves identity thieves the other 364 days to steal it. Get the professionals on your side to watch your back 24/7. How? Go now to => http://digbig.com/4dwsx

How to register a company

by: Jakob Jelling
Make sure you’ve chosen the best name for your company first!

If you're wondering how to register a company, you're not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people try to start their own businesses each year, and often they end up having more trouble than they should just because it is difficult to register a company if you are unfamiliar with the process. It would be nice if there was a simple, universal guide to registering a company - unfortunately, that is more or less impossible. Company registration is different in every country in every part of the world. Not only that, but it is subject to legal changes at any time.

The first thing you need to do, no matter where you are, is to make sure that there are no registered companies with your chosen name. If there are, you'll have to choose a new name. If there aren't then you're ready to move onto the next step. When you choose your company's name, make sure that it is short, and preferably something memorable - the more your name is memorable, the more likely it is that you'll get word of mouth business from people.

If your company is going to operate on the internet, then you should also check to see if the domain names that you would want to use are already taken. Essentially, if they are already taken and you think that it would be too hard to purchase the domain, then you should probably think about changing your company name. The best domain names, after all, would just be the name of your company, since these are the easiest to remember.

Once you decide on a company name, you need to make sure that you get all the proper forms. By registering as a company, you can get a lot of benefits that you wouldn’t have if you were just selling things on your own. For instance, you’d be able to get a business credit card, and you could benefit from the help that some small businesses are eligible for.

Finally, even if you are going to register your company in the United States, you should also pay attention to the different rules for each state. You may want to choose which state to register in based on what the rules and restrictions for that state are.
About the author:

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.comVisit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

How to Cut Credit Card Debt

by: Richard Townsend
Most Americans have too much credit card debt. Duh, we've all heard that
before, right? Only now its gotten a bit personal... right again? You
personally have too much credit card debt and its about to drive you crazy.

Well there IS hope so don't file those bankruptcy papers just yet. One
major thing you have to keep in mind is your creditor is probably very
willing to work with you. Its in their best interest to have you making
some payment versus no payment. So here are a couple points to help you deal
with your credit card debt.

The first thing you have to do is simply contact your creditor and let them
know your situation. Ask for a lower interest rate or a repayment plan.
You might not have thought of it because you're just naturally so polite but
its a very good strategy to be courteous at all times when negotiating with
your creditor. Polite, but firm. Come across as one who knows what you're
asking for and expect to get it. If you're not sure what you're asking for
in the first place you might consider a reputable credit counseling service.
There's a lot of great, honest organizations out there whose mission is to
help you work things out with your creditors.

Next you've GOT to stop using your cards. Cut them up, freeze them in a tub
of water, whatever you need to do to get them out of your wallet or purse,
do it! You simply can't keep adding to the problem by running the debt up
any higher. This is actually one of the hardest parts of cutting your
credit card debt. Its like you're addicted to spending money you don't
have. So go cold turkey and drop the habit.

Start paying the ones with the highest interest rate first and work from
there. How do you do that? Concentrate on those high interest rate cards
by paying more than the minimum balance each month. The minimum is just
designed to keep you on the hook longer anyway. The credit card companies
are in this business to make a profit and want to have you paying them for
years to come. Even a little extra each month makes a big difference in the
long run.

Lastly, keep your chin up and have a good attitude. Millions of folks just
like you have begun to cut their credit card debt by following the common
sense steps outlined above. You can do it too. Good luck.
About the author:
You can reproduce this article as long as you include the authors name and website.

Richard Townsend
www.cut-credit-card-debt.com
http://www.cut-credit-card-debt.com/

How To Avoid Being A Victim Of Ebay purchaseer’s Fraud.

by: Kirsten Hawkins
From everything you’ve heard about the risk of fraud on eBay, you might think it’s only purchaseers getting scammed – but you couldn’t be more wrong. Here are a few common scams that sellers fall for every day.

The Rubber Cheque.

This one obviously isn’t limited to eBay – it’s been going on for years in all kinds of business. It works like this: a purchaseer sends you a cheque that they don’t have the funds to cover and you pay it in your bank. You then send the goods right away, only to find out a few days later that the cheque bounced.

The solution to this is simple: don’t send anything to a purchaseer until their payment has cleared, no matter how quickly they might say they need it. Advise them to pay electronically if they don’t want to wait so long for their items. Then again, if your items are quite small, you could just take the loss from an occasional bounced cheque. Think of it as a small price to pay for faster and better customer service.

‘I Never Bought Anything!’

This is one of the riskiest scams to fall victim to. In this case, the credit card’s real owner still has control over it – no-one has stolen their details. They have realised, however, that they can phone up the bank who issued their card to say that it’s being used fraudulently and they never bought any such thing, and the bank will often reverse the transaction without even investigating. The only way to beat this scam is to make all your sales through eBay, as they keep a record of transactions.

The Unconfirmed Address.

It is quite easy to steal PayPal accounts from inexperienced users: all you need, after all, is their email address and password. PayPal tries to protect against credit cards registered on stolen accounts being used to purchase things by listing a ‘confirmed address’ for each purchaseer – an address that matches what is registered with their credit card issuer.

What many scammers will do is ask you to ship to a different address – unless you’re very sure of them, this is a bad idea, as they could be trying to commit credit card fraud. Be especially suspicious of anyone who wants to pay a higher price and get overnight shipping, especially if not even to the same country as the confirmed address. The fraudster is trying to make sure the item reaches them before they are discovered.

It’s up to you to take responsibility for fraud on PayPal, as eBay’s favourite way to refund fraudulent payments to their rightful owner is to just reverse it from you! This is considered an occupational risk of PayPal usage, and sellers who get burned severely sometimes go as far as moving to a rival electronic payment service. See http://www.nopaypal.com for more.

In the next email, we’ll take a closer look at PayPal, and ask: should it be the only kind of payment you accept?

About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is an Ebay and internet auction enthusiast from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.auctionseller411.com/for more great tips on how to make the most from Ebay and other online auctions.

How To Accept Credit Cards Without A Merchant Account

by: Stephen Pope
To increase sales on your website, you must accept credit cards. To process credit cards, you could apply for a merchant account through your bank or other financial institution.

Sometimes, though, you would be further ahead to use the services of a credit card processor. This is especially true when you are first starting out and have more limited resources. In this way, you may process credit card transactions without the high front-end costs and requirements of a merchant account.

Here, then, are just a few ways of accepting credit cards without a merchant account. I personally use all of these vendors and can recommend them wholeheartedly.

1. Clickbank

If your product is downloadable (such as electronic books or software), you might consider ClickBank.com . For a $49.95 initial fee, you can process credit cards and on-line cheques for $1.00 per transaction plus 7.5% of sales.

You receive additional exposure through free listing on their website and through the search facilities of other websites, such as CBMall.com.

As an added bonus, you have your own built-in affiliate program. You decide what commission (from 1% to 75%) you would like to pay your affiliates.

2. PayPal

PayPal.com has no initial fees. For just 2.9% of sales and $ .30 per transaction (and sometimes less), you can receive money from anyone.

Also, you can pay others by credit card or chequing account without supplying your personal credit information to the payee. PayPal can be used to collect money from your auctions, website sales, or even from friends or clients.

3. PaySystems

In the original edition of this article, I recommended PaySystems.com (also known as MyPaySystems.com). This is what I wrote about them:

"PaySystems.com can handle either intangible (downloadable) or tangible (shippable) products. For an initial fee of $49.00, you can accept all major credit cards as well as online checks. Fees are just 3.95% of sales and $1.00 per transaction. Alternatively, you may pay 5.5% of sales and $ .35 per transaction."

"For this, you receive shopping cart, integration with third-party affiliate programs (such as ClixGalore.com), fraud screening, multi-currency transactions, toll-free support, marketing tools, and more."

Unfortunately, PaySystems.com has discontinued their "Internet Billing Account" for those outside the United States.

4. 2CheckOut

2CheckOut.com can handle both intangible and tangible products. For an initial fee of $49.00, you can accept all major credit cards as well as online checks. Fees are just 5.5% of sales and $0.45 per transaction.

For this, you receive shopping cart, fraud detection, integration with third-party affiliate programs, multi-currency transactions, free on-line support, and more.

Incidentally, 2CheckOut.com has the same policy as ClickBank.com does with regard to sales taxes. Both companies take the position that you are selling your product to them and that they resell it to the final consumer. Thus, they claim that you are not subject to sales taxes on those sales.

About the author:
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years. To learn more about accepting credit cards and other profitable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/creditcards.html

Home Equity Loans ... Wise or Unwise?

by: David Greene
Home Equity Loans

Over the past few years many Americans have established lines of credit secured by the equity in their homes. For marginal borrowers this can turn out to be highly risky as it exposes these families to the loss of their homes. Lenders tend to quickly change colors from friend to foe in times of financial crisis and need and will "take it away if you can't pay".

Prior to mortgaging or refinancing a home one should consider what the families finances would look like if one or more of the family members living in the home lost their job or came down with a serious illness.


How long could you keep the home payments current if there was an unfortunate loss of family income?

In spite of the dangers of refinancing or taking out a home equity loan there are times when it may in fact be wise. Perhaps credit card debt has gotten out of hand. You can get a home equity loan at much lower rates, pay off the credir card debt, and lower your monthly payments, perhaps as much as by 50%.

A word of warning, however. You must not run up your credit card balances once again or you will end up in even worse financial shape than you were to begin with. It would be far safer to avoid temptation by cutting up your credit cards and using a debit card instead.

There are other occassions when a home equity loan may be justified. Perhaps you wish to start your own business and are willing and able to take the risk that things may not work out as you plan. Your home equity will likely be the cheapest source of start up capital around.

Perhaps you wish to purchase an existing business, one that should earn you a good income for a long time to come. Again your cheapest source of capital would likely be a home equity loan.

In general, one should consider a home equity loan when the loan proceeds are used to very likely improve ones financial position. This would be a wise use of the loan proceeds.

One should use extreme caution in using a home equity loan to purchase additional consumer goods, say a large expensive flat screen TV set or a new SUV. The worst example of the use of a home equity loan that I know of was a couple who took out a loan in order to go to the Superbowl. Just think of how much that Superbowl trip will really cost over the years as interest payments are added in. What a terrible short sighted financial decision.

My advice. Use a home equity loan only to improve your financial position or to raise funds in a true emergency situation. Using a home equity loan to purchase things that will only lose value is a misuse of the loan proceeds that could cost you what is probably your most useful and valuable possession ... your home.

About the author:
David is a full time Internet business developer who maintains an office in Bradenton, Fl. but who spends most of his time in the Land of Smiles, the Kingdom of Thailand.

His latest Internet project is http://www.smartloanshop.com

High Volume Merchant - Do You Need One?

by: Shane Penrod
When your business grows to the point where it is ready to move into the electronic age, you should give some thought to opening a high volume merchant account to expand your company’s potential. A merchant account will allow you to partner with a local bank or another financial institution to provide credit card processing payment options to online customers through the company Website.

Creating a high volume merchant account will let you increase operating capacity to process exponential numbers of customers and credit transactions. You won’t have to worry about keeping correct change on hand at all times, nor will you have as many bad checks to chase after. Your customers won’t have to look for an ATM and pay extra usage fees to get cash when they wish to shop at your company’s physical location or online Website. You can hire fewer people to accept payments since your electronic equipment will be able to do that for you. In a short time your profits may soar as operating costs dwindle.

To apply for your high volume merchant account, first find a bank that offers this service. It need not be in your area, as you can now do most banking tasks online via the Internet. You will probably want to open your merchant account in a country that is economically stable. One with U.S. bank branches might be particularly useful in helping you open a high volume merchant account, since many U.S. banks enjoy a highly esteemed international reputation. Whether you apply online or in person, you will need to show proof of your citizenship and your company’s country of operation. You must show that your business does not involve illegal, and in some cases, immoral activities like pornography, gambling, pharmacy, and telemarketing initiatives. Generally, there are no limits on volume, so even if your credit card processing unit brings in far more profit than anticipated, you need not worry about being charged extra fees, although you will have to clarify this up front.

Your application for a merchant account could be approved in a day or two, which means you could start accepting credit card payments in a couple of days. Of course, you will need to select the type of credit card processor that you want to use either at a physical location or via your online Website. You may want to use a wireless processor for employees who travel from one site to another. Your high volume merchant account will be ready for business promptly to ensure that payments can be processed right away for your customers’ convenience and your company’s profit.

Many entrepreneurs, company owners, and managers find it exciting to expand their operations to include credit card processing options so that customers can shop night and day, 24/7. Start browsing online banking sites or community financial institutions that can provide this opportunity, and carefully read the conditions and terms for each institution before you choose one and apply for your high volume merchant account.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

High Volume Merchant Accounts

by: Shane Penrod
As your business continues to grow and customers purchase more goods and services, you may want to consider joining those who are applying for high volume merchant accounts. When you are approved for a high volume account, you can get good prices on mid- and non-qualified sales, along with debit processing, monthly statement fees, and additional expenses. The greater your volume of business, the better deals you may be eligible for when working with financial institutions or companies who can provide this valuable service.

The way it works is that you apply for a merchant account at a bank that offers great pricing and low-cost fees. These can be packaged in a variety of ways. For example, you may want to pay a few cents for each transaction, but if you experience high-volume sales, this could become a costly option. The other route to go is to pay a low monthly overall percentage, often between 1% and 2%, for the entire sales volume you experience via your credit card and debit-processing program. High volume merchant accounts can save you money over time because you will be able to pay smaller fees for each transaction or get a better rate for the amount of profit that you bring in.

If you currently have a sizable volume of sales and perhaps expect to do more in the near future, keep in mind that high volume merchant accounts have helped others in your position. Your customers will appreciate the ease of using up-to-the-minute technology for processing their orders with your company. And your employees likewise will be happy to turn their attention to other tasks within the organization. Your company may even see profit increases within the first few months as the word spreads about your merchant account status and credit card processing capabilities.

You can apply for high volume merchant accounts through your local bank or a preferred financial institution that can process Visa and MasterCard credit accounts. Your application should demonstrate that your company is not involved in illegal or shady dealings that the underwriters are unlikely to approve, including gambling, pornography, pharmaceutical offerings, and telemarketing. Then you will want to be able to show that your company is fiscally solvent and maintains a solid credit history. You might include documentation to support the notion that your company will be able to pay merchant account fees in a timely manner.

In upgrading your business to accommodate e-commerce solutions like credit card processors through a merchant account, be sure to calculate in advance the type of fees or expenses that will be affiliated with this move. You don’t want to start something you can’t finish, so project related expenditures for the coming year to see how they fit with your company budget. If it appears a credit card processor or wireless unit will tax your operating budget, you may be able to take out a low-interest loan to fund the initial start-up expenses. Discuss this option and any other questions you might have with the bank representative who manages applications for high volume merchant accounts.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Get The Best Credit Card Merchant Account

by: Dane Collins
Looking for the best credit card merchant account? Admittedly, there are a plethora of lenders to choose from when you browse the Internet for merchant account services. But what are you really looking for? Do you want an enhanced business image? Increased public exposure? A larger client base? Additional sales and revenues? Then you’re on the right track! A merchant account can do all this and more when you work with the right company.

Finding a quality lender to work with for the best credit card merchant account is not as difficult as you might think. You can start by asking your local banker for information about its merchant accounts. If you don’t feel the terms are quite right for your company, ask for a referral or check out other local banks yourself. You also might want to try credit unions or reputable lenders to see if you can partner with a financial underwriter in your community. That way you will get to know the company representative and perhaps meet occasionally face to face, which is always a desirable goal in business when feasible. But if not, there are plenty of good lenders to work with.

The best credit card merchant account providers tend to compete with each other to get business owners’ business. In fact, some will offer to meet or beat a competing underwriter’s price. So if you like the terms but not the price at a particular bank, find a lower rate somewhere else and tell the first bank about it. Perhaps you can get your preferred terms and lower costs at the bank of your choice. But if it doesn’t work out for some reason, keep looking for other lenders and shop for the deal that will best suit your company’s growth plan. It’s just a matter of matching your needs with the lender’s capabilities to make a match that satisfies both of you.

What would the best credit card merchant account do for your business? You can start accepting credit card payments immediately when you get approved for a merchant account. Start by installing a simple credit card processor, the kind that swipes a credit card, at your place of business. Then you may want to consider digital telephone credit processing services. Or you might opt to go wireless if you travel to remote destinations to collect payments. You can even put up a company Website as your crowning achievement and accept credit card payments there as well. In a very short time your client base could multiply, along with your profits, all because of your merchant account status. Are your competitors already using technology like this to accept credit card payments? Then you have no time to lose!

Start shopping now for a lender that will approve your application, offer low-fee services, and provide reliable support while you upgrade your company’s business image. Don’t stop with the first company to offer you a merchant account. You deserve the best so don’t settle for less when you apply for your bank merchant account.

About the author:
Dane Collins is the owner of http://www.merchantdigital.coma nationally recognized merchant account provider. Start accepting credit cards today: http://www.merchantdigital.com

Get A Credit Card Merchant Account

by: Dane Collins
A card merchant account can put your business on the road to financial success. If your company is not yet accepting credit card payments, you are missing out on the powerful potential of this income stream. Many business owners who started taking credit card payments claim that their income has doubled while overhead costs have diminished. When you become eligible to receive credit card payments, you are likely to experience an increase in sales volume and chase fewer dud checks. To facilitate credit card payment, however, you will need to apply for a merchant account.

Start by finding a lender you can trust. This may be a bank you already work with, one that perhaps got your business started or helped it to grow to where it is today. If so, there is a good chance that the lender will continue working with you in this key operative. But if you do not have such a lender or if the one you do have does not seem eager or suitable for underwriting your merchant account, you will have to find another reputable bank, credit union, or other financial institution to facilitate this account.

Your card merchant account can make or break your company, so it is wise to spend time finding the best possible lender for this purpose. Don’t just grab the first deal to come along. Take time to shop the many available offers and compare terms before making a decision. All too often a new or small business owner will be dazzled by the array of benefits that suddenly become available through a merchant services card. Then, after implementing this account, expenses mount while income remains stable or falls and the company can experience a shortfall. Approximately 80% of small companies close their doors within two years. Don’t become a casualty of this predictor. If you are approved for a merchant account, use it according to your business plan or company budget. Avoid investing large amounts into questionable activities. Start small by purchasing or leasing a basic credit card processor for your physical location. Or get a wireless unit for deliveries or remote destinations. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get started. Go it one step at a time until you see how your customers respond and what your potential growth is shaping up to be. At that point you can always add more services, like an e-check processor or a pager, if you find they are truly needed for continued growth.

After getting approval for your card merchant account, you usually can start accepting credit payments immediately. Make sure you understand the terms of your account, which often boils down to a per-transaction rate of perhaps 20 to 25 cents. Or you may be able to opt for a low-interest monthly fee that may or may not impose certain minimums. In other words, you will be charged a baseline amount for up to perhaps 1,000 credit transactions. If your company does not get that many, you still have to pay the baseline fee, but you will not have to pay more, even if you get 2,000 or 3,000 credit card transactions, although this can vary from one lender to another. Check with local or online lenders for more details on applying for a card merchant account.

About the author:
Dane Collins is with Merchant Digital http://www.merchantdigital.coma nationally recognized merchant account provider. Start accepting credit cards today: http://www.merchantdigital.com

Free Credit Card Processing For Business Owners

by: Shane Penrod
Would you like to upgrade your company’s operations by taking advantage of free credit card processing for business owners? There has never been a better time to locate banks offering this service and make the best possible deal for your interests. Financial institutions are eager to work with you in opening a merchant account, and they sometimes offer attractive incentives to get entrepreneurs’ business. If you like the idea of free credit card processing, start shopping at your community banks and credit unions to see what type of deals they can offer.

Free credit card processing for business owners is an attractive perk, since some companies impose fees of perhaps 15 to 25 cents per transaction or a monthly percentage fee overall of between 1% and 2%. Being able to get free credit card processing for business owners could save you a significant sum of money each month, and over time, those savings could increase even more. Your customers will love the ease with which they can make online credit card payments, and you will appreciate the time-saving benefits of handling credit payments electronically rather than by employees who require regular paychecks.

It is a good idea to sit down with your financial institution and discuss the precise terms of the free credit card processing for business owners deal. Will you have to pay an application fee? Will annual membership fees come due each year? Are there other embedded costs that you should know about up front? Even if your credit card processing is free, other start-up expenses could add up to cost even more than the transactions would. You will want to make the best possible deal before signing an application or contract to be sure you don’t get trapped into paying unexpected high costs later.

Keep in mind that free credit card processing for business owners may not be the best perk to ask for when applying for a merchant account. In addition to start-up fees that could be imposed and perhaps increased in lieu of the free credit card processing option, you also may have to pay expenses like a statement fee, a minimum fee, a discount fee, and a license fee. These could add up initially to more than you will pay for transaction fees. Even if the free credit card processing option appears to save you money at first, is this a limited time offer? When reinstated later, will transaction fees be difficult to add to the company budget since you did not start the process with them?

You might want to get a second opinion on weighing the benefits offered with various merchant account deals. You could even ask the customers via an informal survey about the type of credit processing they are most interested in and then see how promotional offers for opening a merchant account may impact customer interests. Of course, you can always check out the benefits of paying no transactions costs, and if permissible, switch to another system later if costs increase more than expected with free creditcard processing for business owners.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Free Credit Card Merchant Account

by: Shane Penrod
If you have been doing business for a few years, you probably have heard about the benefits of opening a free credit card merchant account to expand the availability of your products and services. However, there are so many banks and other financial institutions competing for your business that you may be unsure which one to partner with in this exciting venture. One attractive option is to look for a free credit card merchant account offer.

Applying for a merchant account is easy and often can be handled online in a few moments’ time. However, it may be difficult to know which bank to choose. One may offer a lower transaction fee for credit card processing. Another may vie for your business by offering a no-fee installation of credit card processing equipment. But you could benefit more from a free credit card merchant account if the card does not come with hidden fees or limits.

Start by shopping for a merchant account with banks that offer low-interest rate credit cards or a no-rate credit card merchant account. If your favorite bank does not currently offer this type of deal, ask about one. Perhaps they will consider offering you a special deal if you are a valued customer. Otherwise, when considering a merchant account credit card from a relatively unknown institution, compare the terms of the card to those from other banks to make sure you get the best deal.

Sometimes a “free” credit card deal may actually hide or incur unexpected costs. For example, while you may not have to pay any up front costs when opening the account, like an application fee, you may be billed later for an annual membership fee that entitles you to use the credit card. Failing to pay this fee may result in the cancellation of your credit privileges. A free credit card merchant account should be free in every sense of its use, so ask about contingency fees or possible changes in terms later on as the economy shifts. You don’t want to get comfortable using the card only to find in a few months that you are being billed for services you did not expect to pay for.

A free credit card merchant account can be just the thing to launch you into e-commerce use, however. You can use your credit account to purchase credit card processing equipment or other innovations that will upgrade your company’s image to impress customers and draw in new clients. Or you can use your free credit card merchant account to experiment with other marketing techniques, attend conventions, or try a new line of merchandise or services.

If you have demonstrated skill in using business credit responsibly and in keeping with your business income and expenses, this type of credit card account may be just what you need to move your business forward and expand company interests or operations for your customers’ benefit. Check out all the terms and conditions when you apply to get the best free credit card merchant account.

About the author:
Shane Penrod is the founder of Merchant-Acount-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Find The Best Merchant Account

by: Dane Collins
Do you know where to find the best merchant account? If so, you probably already have one. If not, maybe it’s time to find out. A merchant account can open the door to e-commerce and position your company for unprecedented growth. The chief benefit sought by many business owners is the ability to process credit card payments. Studies suggest that people who pay with plastic tend to shop often and spend more. You can take advantage of this trend with a merchant account from a reliable lender.

Plenty of well-known or highly ranked banks and financial institutions offer what some consider as the best merchant account. Since not all of them can be the best, however, it’s really up to the client—that’s you—to decide which account plan will best help your business to grow. Much will depend on the fees involved with various services. For example, some lenders charge application fees while others do not. Other lenders expect you to pay annual membership fees. It is a good idea to check out the price lists at each lender’s site or to discuss these with an account representative before signing a contract. Some lenders are known for implementing a terrific credit processor with a combination terminal and printer. Others might be more widely recognized for their ability to support an Internet site that accepts credit payments. However, you might be more interested in a telephone ordering system with credit card payment options that will facilitate customer access to goods and services.

Whatever your credit processing needs, the best merchant account is the one that will help your company develop its potential. You need a company that is not too far above you to treat your business as a valuable client. You also want a lender with helpful customer support personnel who are available to answer questions and provide guidance when needed. You don’t want to wait on the telephone for 15 and 20 minutes for someone to take you off hold. Nor do you want to have fees increased unexpectedly so that your company’s budget must strain to meet payments.

The best merchant account is the one that you can trust to protect your company’s interests. You need a dependable provider who can offer quality equipment and reliable support or maintenance if needed. Your lender should be able to offer reasonable account fees and secure transmission on all customer transactions. When you look good, your lender looks good, and the customer benefits most from this type of positive win-win relationship.

To find the best merchant account, you may want to ask other business owners to recommend a lender they have worked with. Or you can browse testimonials on the Internet or in chat rooms. Never sign up with a merchant account lender who seems suspicious or about whom you know little. Your business is too valuable to take chance on losing all with an unknown underwriter who may be here today and gone tomorrow, so hold out to find the very best merchant account.

About the author:
Dane Collins is with Merchant Digital http://www.merchantdigital.coma nationally recognized merchant account provider. Start accepting credit cards today: http://www.merchantdigital.com