Jan
29
2012
The benefits of accepting credit card payments for a business has been extensively discussed. Because of this, both small and big businesses have already arranged for the requisites of credit card processing. It is advised, however that every business owner first understand the basics of processing credit card before he finally makes this available in his own store. And if you are one of those who are still in the process of learning about credit cards, you should be aware that one of the most critical aspects to pay attention to is the cost. There are multiple fees that you have to pay for any of the merchant account types that you would open. These can vary among providers and a clear knowledge of the rates and fees can help you choose the right company to get your merchant account from.
Discount rate is among the basic fees that you would incur for accepting the plastic money. This is what you are charged for by the provider for processing credit card transactions and transferring the funds to your account. Rates differ from one provider to another so you should comparison shop. The rate is usually between 1% to 3.5%. Transaction, another basic card processing fee, is the minimum amount that credit card companies charge per credit card transaction. This is typically a set fee and for this reason, the lower the amount of business that a merchant has, the higher is the transaction fee. The minimum monthly fee is another cost that a merchant has to consider. The account you opened with a provider is charged with a minimum monthly fee, regardless of whether or not there are credit card transactions. Those that make use of mobile credit card processing also has rates to be concerned about. But then again, costs vary depending on the credit card company. It is important to remember, though, to be wary of hidden fees.
A statement fee, which serves as payment for monthly statement or bill can also be charged. Its ranges is between $5 to $10. Merchants who would choose paperless bill can save on this cost. Apart from the monthly fees that you have to be familiar with, you should also learn the initial cost such as the cost of the equipment or terminal. You also have to decide on whether to buy thermal printer, which can be an effective tool against the dreaded chargeback fees, among other benefits it offers. Chargeback is synonymous to void of transaction. You are bound to incur a fee for every successful or unsuccessful reversal of charge. This can be costly but if you can have the receipts printed and signed by the customer, you can do away with this.