I know there a lot of merchant account providers on the Internet and I’d like to know their websites, but I really have no fondness of surfing to look for them. I’d like to see which ones offer really competitive rates. Suggestions please?

Also, searching info on their standard rates. have read that merchant account fees, especially those offshore are absurd. Any thoughts appreciated. Peace out!

i’m working for a travel agency and my supervisor has assigned me to open an offshore merchant account.

I am actually opening a call center and will be processing credit cards. Which bank has the best accounts for this?

Typically, the first question that merchants ask when they contact a merchant service provider to inquire about a merchant account service is regarding their rates and fees. Then they would call another and ask the same question. Perhaps many would also go online and search for the lowest possible merchant account pricing. There might be a definite answer to be found and, if one could go through the pricing pages of all individual merchant account providers, the answer could emerge. I have seen adds for 1.59% eCommerce merchant account rates and probably this is the lowest one I’ve encountered. Now, in order to make an informative decision, it is important that you understand exactly what is being offered at the advertised rate.

Generally, when you see a card processing rate that is substantially lower than the rest on the list, you will be well advised to read the fine print notes that are likely to accompany the add. In the above example, a 1.59% processing rate will apply to debit card transactions which make up a small percentage of the overall card volume. What you really need to know is what the credit card payment processing rate is. Here the rates will be above 2% and I am yet to see one lower than 2.15%. You will need to make sure that your merchant processing provider does provide separate rates for debit and credit cards, in order to take advantage of the lower debit card acceptance cost.

Keep in mind that the payment card processing rate is just one component of the processing cost, although the most important one. Also be advised that your pricing model may provide for different processing rates for the different types of credit cards. Some types of business-to-business, commercial and rewards credit cards will be processed at substantially higher rates.There are a host of other fees and charges and you will need to be aware what all of them are and make sure that the low card rates are not offset by high charges elsewhere. There are tools available out there to help you estimate the overall cost of credit card processing for business.

THE TWO COMPONENTS OF A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD TRANSACTION

Each time a merchant process a credit or debit card transaction, she is charged an inquiry fee and a percentage of the total transaction. The inquiry fee is a flat amount, typically between 20 cents and 35 cents. The percentage charged, is typically called your “credit card rate” and it is variable based on the type of transaction and the type of card used.

CREDIT CARD RATE CATEGORIES

Credit Card Rates are typically broken into two categories:

Card Present (where the card is physically swiped through a credit card terminal)–The lowest rates are typically applied to card-present transactions.

Card Not Present (any type of transaction where the card cannot be swiped)–This type of transaction is also referred to as MOTO (mail order/telephone order). All transactions where a credit card is not physically swiped through a terminal, including internet transactions, phone transactions, or credit-card numbers keyed into a terminal, fall into this category.

CREDIT CARD RATE TYPES

The rate for each credit card transaction type is determined by both the kind of card used, the way it is processed, and the time it takes the merchant to batch the transactions for processing. It is important to know whether you do mostly card present or card not present transaction when selecting a plan type, because card not present charges are significantly higher in a Type 1 plan than in a Type 4 plan.

Type 1 (or Retail)–This type of account is designed for card-present transactions.

Type 1 Qualified–The card is swiped through a terminal, and the merchant batches the transactions within 24 hours. Most swiped credit cards will fall into this category. It is typically the lowest rate.

Type 1 Mid-Qual–This rate applies to rewards cards and key-entered transactions. It also applies to charges batched in 24-48 hours, that would be Qualified had they been batched sooner.

Type 1 Non-Qualified–All corporate and government cards are charged this rate regardless of batch processing time. Other transactions batched after 48 hours are also charged this rate. This is typically the highest rate charged.

Type 4 (or MOTO)–This type of account is designed for card-not-present transactions.

Type 4 Qualified–Most transactions fall into this category, provided the merchant batches transaction within 24 hours. This is the lowest Type 4 rate.

Type 4 Non-Qualified–All corporate, government, and reward cards are charged this rate regardless of batch processing time. It also applies to charged batched after 24 hours that would otherwise be Qualified had they been batched sooner.

DEBIT CARD RATES

Debit cards are classified the exact same way credit cards are, but the rate for a debit card transaction of the same category and type is typically lower than the rate for a credit card.

MONEY SAVING TIPS

1. If you have an account that gives you good rates for card-present transactions it will typically penalize you heavily for card-not present transactions. However, you can get a Merchant Account that is designed for these Card Not Present transactions that will provide you with substantially lower rates. Thus, before selecting an account you need to understand the type of transactions you use most. Also note that it is very important to immediately destroy credit card information provided in writing or over the phone and to store electronically submitted information (such as that submitted over the Internet) on a secure server.

Tip: If you regularly have both types of transactions, create two accounts. One Type 1 account and one Type 4 account.

2. Make sure your credit card processor is giving you separate lower rates for Debit Card transactions. They can afford to charge you less for these transactions, because their risk of non-payment is substantially lower. Approximately half of the transactions nationally are actually debit cards transactions, so if you’re not getting the benefit of a lower rate, you are paying too much.

Tip: Very low Type 1 Qualified Debit Card rates are often advertised as teasers to get people to switch Merchant Accounts. Know what percentage of your transactions fall into this category before making a switch.

Merchants: Make sure you know what you are really paying!

Which would you prefer to do? Spend a bunch of money accepting credit cards through a great merchant account – or spend significantly less for a fantastic merchant account that boasts identical features and services?

Well, unless you have recently had a serious blow to the head, I am sure you would rather pay less for the identical features. Any sane person would agree.

Unfortunately, in the merchant industry, it is not always as easy as comparing “A” to “B”. There are a plethora of diverse billing structures, charges, and fees that make it very difficult to understand just how one service stands up to another.

So why don’t we see how to find, compare and choose the ideal merchant account for your unique small business…

To start with, you have to locate a minimum of 3 separate financial institutions – these could include a bank or credit union who can sign you up for their merchant account. Also, you should locate different merchant providers by utilizing Internet search tools that provide particular benefits. There is a standard approval procedure that both the banks and the merchant services use. The following information will be required in order to process your application:

1. A business plan that is feasible,

2. A credit history free of significant blemishes, and

3. Proof that you are able to pay (and have to ability to continue to pay) the charges related to a merchant account.

It of great benefit to you to research the ins and outs of the fee structure charged by each of your potential merchant services companies and/or banks that supply merchant accounts. There are many providers who fail to fully disclose their terms and conditions until you actually sign up for the account – so you might need to ask them for a copy of their “T&C”. This way you are able to understand just how much it will truly set you back to use that account. In any case, make certain that you totally comprehend the terms and conditions before going with that company.

Things to look out for are:

1. Charges to cancel (how much, details, contract duration)

2. “Variable” or Introductory Discount Rates – the discount rate is the largest component in deciding just how much the true charge will be to accept credit cards. Make certain that the rate is single, locked-in, and non-changing. If it’s on a sliding scale, or can be altered without notice – run, don’t walk…

3. Free Equipment Offers – their return policies on the equipment are the most important to find out in this respect – for example, if the equipment is “damaged” at all, many times you are liable to substitute it at full market value – this can be extremely costly….

Now that you have that rudimentary information, to get the best possible credit card processing rates shop many different companies. The options are plentiful, and pricing plans and incentives are available for setting up a merchant account – each one highlights a specific facility. Finding out which one suits you the best is to your advantage. Some companies waive the installation fee, but others have a one-time overall fee and throw in other facilities at no charge. Each provider charges a discount rate, ranging from 1% – 5% and up, based on the type of account. A transaction fee, ranging from $0.05 to $0.25, is generally included.

If you want to get the best deal on credit card processing rates, you will have to do your homework well. Thoroughly search for the best priced terms and conditions – but make certain the company has a good reputation. You certainly don’t want to get stuck with a company that is lacking in the customer service department, particularly when your money is on the line!

Things to consider when looking for a good merchant services company include your average number of transactions per month, your profit margin, your average order size, and number of times you will be taking credit cards from your customers. Obviously, retailers with a lot of volume will focus on lowering their discount rates and per-transaction fees as much as possible more so than their monthly fees. Conversely, small and micro-businesses with a bigger order size, but smaller transaction volume are able to be a bit more flexible with the discount rate and transaction fees. They turn their focus primarily on lowering monthly/minimum fees.

In any case, discuss the subject with your peers in your industry and contrast their opinions with the research into your prospective merchant providers that you have done on your own. Taking credit cards should be a good money making choice if you decide to use the right service.

Just be sure you double-check all those terms and conditions!