Best Merchant Services for Small Business Owners
Having a difficult time deciding which merchant for credit card processing would be best for your small business?
It can be an overwhelming task finding the best merchant services company since the majority all offer an entire collection of fantastic tools for basic credit card processing such as virtual terminals, mobile credit card readers, credit card machines, and so on.
Unfortunately, many business owners tend to focus on selecting a merchant provider based on speed and simple integration.
However, opting for fast and simple is not always the best option. Simplicity is pricey so before you choose a turnkey merchant provider and pay processing fees from 2.9 % +.30 each transaction; spend some time and consider these four important factors.
- Processing and set up fees
- Monthly processing minimum
- Equipment purchase costs
- Business credit reporting
The reality is accepting a credit card from customers is a must in today’s fast paced business world. Customers expect it; it’s fast, convenient and a preferred way to purchase products and/or services.
As a small business owner this requires setting up a merchant account. A merchant account is what you utilize to accept credit cards, get money and generate cash as a business.
The challenge for small business owners is the costs involved in accepting credit cards if one’s not careful in selecting the best credit card processing for small business.
When it comes to processing and set up fees merchants can cost up to 5 % of every transaction a business makes including merchant processing fees, gateway fees, interchange fees, Visa, MasterCard, Amex fees, statement costs, and so on.
In time these expenditures could possibly add up to a great deal of cash; that's money your business is not taking in. Every cent being paid is cash your company is not making. The best merchant services companies should offer low processing fees, minimal costs and no monthly minimums.
Other costs to consider is whether or not the merchant services company provides the equipment your business needs to accept credit cards and at what cost if any.
Finally, the best merchant services provider should report your company's payment history to a major business credit reporting agency such as Dun and Bradstreet. This enables a business owner to build the creditworthiness of the business which in turn will help establish a positive business credit report.
A merchant services company that provides low processing fees, no monthly minimum, no equipment purchase costs, and business credit reporting, is the best solution for a small business owner when deciding to accept credit card payments from customers.
