If you’re looking to set up a merchant account for your business, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of choosing and setting up a merchant account, as well as some of the benefits of doing so.
First, let’s take a look at what a merchant account is. A merchant account is a bank account that is specifically designated for businesses that process credit card payments. When a customer makes a purchase with a credit card, the funds are transferred from the customer’s account to the merchant account. This allows businesses to accept credit card payments without having to worry about handling the money themselves.
There are a few things to consider before setting up a merchant account:
- The Type of Business You Have – For example, if you own a retail shop then you’ll need an ecommerce merchant account that allows for credit card transactions. If you sell products or services online, then there’s a good chance your business needs an ecommerce merchant account as well.
- The Type of Credit Card Processing You Want – There are different types of credit card processing available to businesses, depending on their needs. For example, if you plan on taking in a large amount of money from transactions then you may want to invest in a machine that can accept multiple types of cards as well as contactless payments such as Apple Pay. However, if you’re just getting started and don’t expect a large amount of transactions then it may be best to start with something simple like using an external credit card terminal that plugs into your computer.
- What Your Business Setup Is – Before settling on a merchant account, you want to make sure that the account is compatible with your business setup. Once you have a merchant account, there’s no switching it out for another one if you find that the type of account you’re using isn’t working well with your business.
- The Terms and Conditions of the Account – It’s important to carefully read through and understand all of the terms and conditions before signing up for a merchant account.
- The Cost Associated With the Account – There will be fees and costs associated with having a merchant account, so do your research to find one that fits within your budget and has terms that work for you.
Now that you know what to consider before setting up a merchant account, let’s take a look at the process of doing so.
- Choose a Merchant Account Provider – The first step is to choose a merchant account provider. There are many different providers to choose from, so do your research to find one that meets your needs. When choosing a provider, be sure to compare the rates and fees as well as the terms and conditions of the account.
- Open a Bank Account – Once you have chosen a merchant account provider, you’ll need to open a bank account specifically for your business. This bank account will be used to deposit the money from your transactions.
- Complete the Application – Next, you’ll need to complete the application form provided by your merchant account provider. This form will ask for information about your business, such as the type of business, the company name, and the address.
- Provide Identification and Proof of Address – In order to open a merchant account, you’ll need to provide identification and proof of address. This can be done by providing a driver’s license or passport, as well as a utility bill or bank statement.
- Set up Your Terminal – After your merchant account is approved, you’ll need to set up your terminal in order to be able to process payments. Many terminals are either mobile or desktop devices that plug into the computer through USB. However, some providers allow for mobile transactions so customers can pay with their phones.
- Start Processing Payments – Once your terminal is set up, you’re ready to start processing payments! Simply enter the amount of the purchase and the customer’s credit card information and the payment will be processed.
Now that you know how to set up a merchant account, there’s no need to worry about having a way to process payments for your business.
While you can sign up for an account yourself, it’s best to work with an expert who can walk you through the entire process. This is important because the last thing you want is to set up your account incorrectly or miss some key terms or details that could cause problems in the future.
If you’re looking for help setting up a merchant account for your business, contact us today.