Which Processing Method is Right for Your Business?

Choosing a method for your business isn't as difficult as it seems. The section below details the different ways to accept credit cards. Plus, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us at 800-559-0278.

Face-to-Face

If the majority of your business is done face-to-face with your customer—such as a retail storefront, professional office, or other point-of-sale location—a terminal or PC payment software with a card reader¹ is the best way to process your credit and debit card sales.

Ideal for retail storefronts, professional offices, and other point-of-sale locations.

Advantages of this processing method are:

Lower, card-swiped rates.

Fewer chargebacks, due to card-present transactions and signed sales drafts.

Ability to process PIN-based debit cards and save money. Note: Merchant must be signed up to accept PIN-based debit cards and have a PIN pad.

Required:
Terminal or PC software with payment gateway and card reader.

Consider Going Wireless

A wireless terminal works like a cell phone, encrypting and transmitting data via satellite. Great for:

Trade shows
Door-to-door sales, service and repair
Mall kiosks

Phone, Fax, and Mail Order

Phone, fax, and mail-order merchants generally don't have physical access to their customers' cards at the time of the transaction. For them, there are two processing options:

Software:
Turn your PC into a terminal by using card processing software, such as QuickBooks® financial software.
Terminal:
Use a terminal to manually key-in transactions, and still have the option to swipe cards and qualify for lower, card-swiped rates.

Ideal for catalog, home-based businesses, and inbound and outbound telesales.

Advantages of this method are:

The ability to process cards manually and by card-swipe.

No geographic limitations.

Required:
Terminal or PC software with payment gateway—generally you will manually enter card information (card-not-present).

eCommerce/Internet

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, "Total eCommerce sales for 2004 were estimated at $69.2 billion, an increase of 23.5 percent from 2003."

eCommerce offers many advantages that can help you meet and exceed your business objectives. Unlike most retail stores, the Internet is available 24 hours a day which means your business can literally grow overnight.

Ideal for Web sites.

Advantages of this method are:

The ability to process sales 24 hours a day.
No geographic limitations.

Required:
A gateway, such as Innovative Gateway and a Web site.

Recommended:
A compatible Shopping Cart.

QuickBooks Users

No matter how you process—via a PC, eCommerce, or a terminal—use QuickBooks Merchant Services.

Advantages of this method are:

It's the simplest to use.
It seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks.
It saves time and makes reconciliation easier.

Required:

At least QuickBooks 2003 for the PC.