There are several alternatives to the traditional credit card payment methods. Virtual terminals, for example, have been growing in popularity because they provide a business with one more payment gateway than relying on several. Virtual terminals receive, process and send payment information between a virtual account and a merchant account using software. This means that all payments between the virtual account and the merchant account can be processed exactly as if you were making the payment in person. A business has a single interface for sales and customer service, no need to send payment information over the telephone or internet. However, many businesses still prefer to have a traditional payment gateway to process credit cards. Merchant Alternatives 260 1ST AVE S, STE 200-130 SAINT PETERSBURG, FL 33701 United States Some companies have started to use payment gateways even if they do not accept debit cards. Virtual terminal companies usually have a payment gateway that can process all forms of payment including debit cards. Even if the company does not accept debit cards, they may still have a payment gateway that will allow you to process payments through them. If a business chooses not to use a payment gateway, they can process all forms of credit and debit card transactions over the phone or internet instead of going through a payment gateway. However, this means that they are missing out on a variety of benefits that may be important to your business. Payment gateways make the online payment process easier for your business. Without a payment gateway, it is difficult and time consuming to process payments and get reports from your accounting system. Businesses need to know their gross receipts and expenses and be able to make the necessary adjustments based on their income statement. Merchant services help you manage your cash flow and provide you with an easy-to-use interface for managing your cash flow. You can also check your merchant services account on a regular basis to make sure your payments are processing, and that your merchant services are being properly managed. Another advantage of merchant services is the ability to accept debit and credit cards from your local merchants. This gives your customers the ability to pay with any of their preferred payment methods and helps you expand your customer base. With the growing popularity of ecommerce, more consumers are making their purchases online. To increase your customer base, you need to be able to accept these electronic payments. To meet the increasing needs of your customers, you need to find a merchant service provider that offers the most options for your business. A merchant service is a web-based application that you install and maintain yourself. It acts as the middleman between your customer and your business. There are several types of merchant services which include the following: Payment Gateway - A payment gateway is a service that acts as the merchant and allows the customer to pay with a credit or debit card. It accepts the major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard, as well as many other smaller ones. This payment method is widely used because of its ease of use and security. Credit Card Terminal - A credit card terminal (PCT) is a type of terminal which works just like a brick and mortar store. It can accept credit and debit cards, which are inserted into a special reader. Once this has been accomplished, a number of different payment methods are available which are commonly referred to as "gateways". For instance, a PCT could accept Sales Charge, Debit and Automated Credit Card Machines. Payment Gateway - If your business is looking to implement alternative payment methods such as those provided through a payment gateway, then you will first need to set up a merchant account. A payment gateway is a service that acts as the third party between the customer and your business. The merchant account acts as the intermediary and it receives money from your client, holds the money until it is required by your customer. Your option if you want to accept payments through a payment gateway would be either PayPal, Google checkout or Xoom.
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