Merchant Account... Why, When, Where

A merchant account is absolutely necessary to the success of an online catalog...

TRUST. Shoppers want to know they are dealing with a reputable company. Having your own merchant account and a security seal goes a long way toward building that trust.

Here are some options for your merchant account:

• Your local bank: If you already have a merchant account for your retail store you definitely want to talk to the company that provides that account. Most local banks now offer internet merchant accounts. When you talk to them make sure you let them know that you intend to do business over the web. Some banks require a different account for Internet sales. You will need to find out what processor they use and which payment gateways they require or suggest.
  Contact your local merchant account or bank for more information.
  
• Internet based merchant companies: There are a number of Internet based companies that provide merchant accounts for online catalogs. These companies are used to dealing with online catalogs and will generally provide a full set of services including an online transaction terminal that will enable you to process payments through a web interface. For more information see our merchant accounts page.