Expand Your Business with Online Credit Card Processing

From: forbes.com

As a merchant, the only way to remain competitive in today’s market is to maintain a website that supports online credit card processing. With secure servers, automated transactions, and a new system for combating fraudulent transactions, credit card processing has become increasingly accessible. Boiled down to basics, credit card processing software and/or terminals check your customers’ credit card numbers, expiration date, and other pertinent information, then withdraws money from their cards and deposits it directly into your merchant account. Statistics show that online credit card processing can increase your online business revenues anywhere from 50% to 400%, so the time to act is now! Different types of credit card processing software will suit different needs, but most will provide a merchant account for immediate processing, secure and encrypted SSL (Secure Socket Layer) for secure transactions and a web-based terminal from which to access your account. There are three major types of online credit card processing. A virtual terminal allows manual addition of mail and telephone credit card transactions of the type that were used before the Internet existed. The second type, a simple integration method, links your site directly to the credit card and bank system, allowing you to instantly accept transactions over the Internet. Finally, the advanced integration method provides a mechanism for custom-linking your system to more complex systems using a transaction gateway server. The benefits of these various systems include the ability to access all of your information from the internet without making manual transactions impossible, setting up recurring billing cycles, and, most importantly for your business, protecting against fraudulent transactions.