If your LLC or Corporation relies on retail or internet sales, you need a merchant account that works for you and your customers. A merchant account enables you to process credit card payments making purchasing more convenient for your customers, and thus potentially increasing sales. The type of merchant account your business needs will depend on where you conduct the majority of your business.

A retail merchant account is an account set up for businesses who interact face to face with the majority of their customers and whose customers physically swipe their credit cards through a credit card terminal. If the majority of your sales are made online or by mail rather than face to face with customers, you can opt for either a mail order or an internet merchant account.

Internet merchant account rates and fees will vary between merchant accounts, but keep in mind what your business expects from its merchant account service. Be sure to know you are getting 24/7 support, financial backing from a reputable processor, and a secure payment gateway, such as authorize.net that keeps your business open to your customers anywhere, anytime. Also by setting up a merchant account that accepts all major credit cards, you get to keep more customers. You want secure credit card processing for your customers and for your business, so make sure your merchant account delivers.

Keep in mind your merchant account should be flexible enough to service and accommodate your business needs now and to change with you as your business grows. Learn how a merchant account can keep your business from losing sales because you can’t accept convenient credit card payments. The sooner you are ready for business, the sooner you start gaining customers and growing sales. Plus, you can widen your customer base even further when you are ready and able to take your merchant account live online.