Reviewing the Best Merchant Account Providers

As any online business owner who has made the decision to add merchant services knows, the decision is the easy part. Finding the right provider can be like trying to find a grain of sugar in the sands of the Sahara.

Most people these days naturally turn to the Internet to find potential suppliers, but type in “credit card processing” to any search engine and you’re going to get so many hits it will seem like there are as many providers as there are, well, grains of sand in the Sahara.

Which begs the question, how do you intelligently narrow down the field?

If you are lucky you’ll have some professional colleagues that are already doing business on the Internet who will be happy to share recommendations about their provider, and possibly some war stories about the companies they steered clear of and why they did so. These people are great resources, if you have access to them, because they have no vested interest in giving any company a good or bad review.

However, for the sake of argument let’s say you don’t have any networking contact that can help you here. Who do you talk to then?

Virtually every legitimate credit card processing company will be happy to provide a list of references that you can speak to. These are different from people whose testimonials you see on the websites. These are people who have expressed a willingness to be contacted about their relationship with their merchant account provider.

Take the time to speak to these people because, again, they are the ones who have experience with a particular company and can help you navigate through the decision process. They may have a little bias, but they will still be likely to offer more candor.

The next conversation to have is with someone from the company you are considering. Granted, this person will be connected to the sales force, but they should also have a wealth of information that will contribute to your final decision.

Some good questions to ask include:

•    How long have they been in business?
•    What independent entities have given them positive ratings?
•    What experience do they have with a company in your industry?
•    If their fee schedule is different – and more – than the competition, ask how they justify those higher rates.
•    And a great conversation starter is why should you sign with them?

And as much as you’re seeking information, listen to the way the questions are being answered. Listen for thoughtful answers that truly address your question. In the way your questions are being answered – do you feel they are truly trying to earn your business? And are they showing that they have taken the time to understand exactly what you need?

Any credit card processing company still in consideration after these three steps (networking with peers, talking to references, conversation with a company representative) is one that should seriously be considered for your business.

One company that fits into this description is Cardaccept.  In business for the last 15 years, Cardaccept has a proven track record as an industry leader.

Also of note, Cardaccept does not have any application fees, setup fees, fees for processing/gateway/shopping cart software, or technical support. The latter is available 24/7 – the same hours your online store is open.

And for most applicants, your application will be approved with 24 hours, with some processing their first credit card transactions in the same time frame.

For more information go to www.cardaccept.com