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What's the easiest way to start accepting credit cards?

by PublicEnemy
8 replies
Accepting credit cards online seems to be a whole lot trickier than I thought it was going to be.

I've read a load about it and I'm still confused.

I set up an internet merchant account (more of a 3rd party deal, than a true merchant account) with PayMall (recommended by 1shoppingcart), they said I needed to be a fully registered LLC to complete setup. Is that true for all merchant account providers? Is being a sole proprietor not going to be enough?

What is the easiest way to get started? If I use PayPal payments standard I'm sure I'll lose sales when people don't realise that they have to click "Don't have a PayPal account" to pay with their c/c.

I can't use PayPal advanced/pro, which seems ideal, because I'm in Ireland.

BTW I'll be selling physical goods if that changes anything.

Any help is much appreciated.
#accepting #cards #credit #easiest #start
  • Profile picture of the author tuanng
    Have you looked at 2checkout.com ? Fairly easy to get started, I've been using them for over 10 years
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    • Profile picture of the author PublicEnemy
      Originally I was going to use 2CO, except their T's and C's said that they didn't allow one click upsells which is a problem.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom Reed
        You really need to be set up with a real time credit card processor to accept credit cards on your site / shopping cart.

        Then add PayPal standard as an additional option to maximize sales and conversions.

        Control your business, build your business and don't make it dependent upon a 3rd party service that dictates today, and can change their rules tomorrow.

        Granted, MasterCard and visa are "3rd party" services, I get that, but it's not the same thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author LaneB
    This is a bit of a stretch but I'd convert your existing website into a pre-sell and place your product on Amazon, Ebay or Google Checkout with the "buy now" link on your site routed to the 3rd part sales page.

    The cool thing here is you'll be exposed to organic site traffic and it increases with sales and reviews.

    Nonetheless, if this is an info product--I think you're best served going the Clickbank route.
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  • Profile picture of the author rodsav
    You have to decide what type of entity you are going to have for your business. Sole proprietor, DBA Trade Name (Doing Business As Name), LLC, or Sub-Chapter-S Corporation. If you do a DBA ,LLC, or S-Corp you would need to file for an EIN (employer identification number) with the Federal government. You would then file with your local Secretary of States office for your business. You will need this when you setup your bank account and merchant account. These merchant accounts require all of this paperwork and you may get approved or may not. If they think you business is too risky, meaning possible of too many chargebacks, they may not approve you. I would keep looking until you find the right one. You can also negotiate terms, and payment turn around. Some will give you turn around next day deposits to your bank account, but you have to ask for it because they won't offer it. Good Luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author PublicEnemy
      I totally agree that relying on a 3rd party processor is very far from ideal, but starting out there does seem to be some advantages.

      I got a PM recommending Moneybookers. I completely forgot about them to be honest. They seem like a good fit in the short-term, to test my idea out. Has anyone else done business with them?

      The biggest question is do operate like PayPal and make it difficult to see that you don't need an account to pay with credit card?
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  • Profile picture of the author mervp
    Here's another vote for just selling your items through Clickbank or similar vendors who have their own credit card system for ordering. Saves you the work of setting up a merchant account yourself and staying in their good graces, or relying on a 3rd party processor. You are still relying on a third party, but not subject to sudden limitations or freezes.
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    • Profile picture of the author PublicEnemy
      Clickbank only deals in in digital products.

      What processors are the equivalent of Clickbank but for physical goods?
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