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* About Us * Services * eCheck Payment Processing Services * Credit Card Payment Processing Services * Check Verification * Incorporation * Referral Program * FAQs * Contact Us Request A Demo Request A Demo BLOGS * Home * Blogs * Posted On: November 30, 2023 * Posted By: Blogs WHAT IS A MERCHANT ACCOUNT AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE? INTRODUCTION A merchant account is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept credit card payments. It acts as a middleman between the customer’s bank and the merchant’s bank, processing the transaction and depositing the funds into the merchant’s account. Businesses need merchant accounts because they allow them to accept payments from most consumers. Credit cards are the most popular payment method in the United States, accounting for over 80% of all transactions. Without a merchant account, businesses would be limited to accepting cash or checks, which would put them at a competitive disadvantage. THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO USING A MERCHANT ACCOUNT, INCLUDING: Increased sales: Studies have shown that businesses that accept credit tend to have higher sales than businesses that don’t. This is because customers are more likely to make purchases when they have the option to pay with their credit card. Improved customer experience: Customers appreciate the convenience of being able to pay with their credit cards. This is especially important for e-commerce businesses, where customers expect to be able to pay online quickly and easily. Reduced risk of fraud: Merchant accounts come with fraud protection features that can help businesses protect themselves from fraudulent transactions. For example, merchant accounts can help to identify and prevent chargebacks. Faster access to funds: Merchant accounts typically deposit funds into the merchant’s account within 24-48 hours. This can help businesses to improve their cash flow and avoid financial problems. Professional image: Accepting credit cards shows customers that your business is professional and trustworthy. TYPES OF MERCHANT ACCOUNTS There are several different types of merchant accounts available, depending on the needs of the business. Some of the most common types include: * Retail merchant accounts: These accounts are for businesses that have a physical storefront. * E-commerce merchant accounts: These accounts are for businesses that sell products or services online. * Mobile merchant accounts: These accounts are for businesses that need to accept payments on the go, such as food trucks and taxi companies. * Mail order and telephone order (MOTO) merchant accounts: These accounts are for businesses that accept payments over the phone or through the mail. HOW TO CHOOSE A MERCHANT ACCOUNT PROVIDER When choosing a merchant account provider, it’s important to compare the different features and pricing options available. Some of the factors to consider include: Fees: Merchant account providers charge a variety of fees, such as monthly fees, transaction fees, and chargeback fees. It’s important to compare the fees charged by different providers to find the best deal. Features: Merchant account providers offer a variety of features, such as fraud protection, online reporting, and customer support. It’s important to choose a provider that offers the features that are important to your business. Reputation: It’s important to choose a merchant account provider with a good reputation. You can read online reviews to see what other businesses say about different providers. HOW TO SET UP A MERCHANT ACCOUNT Once you’ve chosen a merchant account provider, you’ll need to set up your account. This process typically involves filling out an application and providing documentation about your business, such as a business license and tax ID number. Once your application is approved, you’ll be able to start accepting credit card payments. BENEFITS OF USING A MERCHANT ACCOUNT There are many benefits to using a merchant account, including: * Increased sales * Improved customer experience * Reduced risk of fraud * Faster access to funds * Professional image INCREASED SALES Studies have shown that businesses that accept credit cards tend to have higher sales than businesses that don’t. This is because customers are more likely to make purchases when they have the option to pay with their credit cards. For example, a study by the National Retail Federation found that consumers who used credit cards spent an average of $211.55 per trip, while consumers who used cash spent an average of $129.70 per trip. Another study, by the Federal Reserve, found that credit card transactions accounted for over 80% of all retail transactions in the United States in 2022. These studies show that accepting credit cards is essential for businesses that want to increase their sales. IMPROVED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Customers appreciate the convenience of being able to pay with their credit cards. This is especially important for e-commerce businesses, where customers expect to be able to pay online quickly and easily. A study by the Baymard Institute found that 69.89% of shopping carts were abandoned in 2022. One of the main reasons for cart abandonment is a difficult or inconvenient checkout process. Accepting credit cards can help businesses to reduce cart abandonment and improve the customer experience. REDUCED RISK OF FRAUD Merchant accounts come with fraud protection features that can help businesses protect themselves from fraudulent transactions. For example, merchant accounts can help to identify and prevent chargebacks. Chargebacks occur when a customer disputes a transaction with their bank. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as if the customer received the wrong item, the item was damaged, or the customer did not authorize the transaction. Merchant account providers typically charge merchants a fee for each chargeback. However, merchant account providers also offer fraud protection features that can help businesses reduce the number of chargebacks they receive. For example, merchant account providers can use machine learning to identify and block fraudulent transactions. Merchant account providers can also help businesses to verify the identities of their customers and to detect unauthorized use of credit cards. FASTER ACCESS TO FUNDS Merchant accounts typically deposit funds into the merchant’s account within 24-48 hours. This can help businesses to improve their cash flow and avoid financial problems. In contrast, businesses that accept checks typically have to wait several days or even weeks for the checks to clear. This can cause cash flow problems for businesses, tiny businesses. PROFESSIONAL IMAGE Accepting credit cards shows customers that your business is professional and trustworthy. This is important for businesses that want to attract and retain customers. A study by Nielsen found that 73% of consumers are more likely to trust a business that accepts credit cards. Another study, by Small Business Trends, found that 55% of small businesses said that accepting credit cards helped them to increase their sales. These studies show that accepting credit cards can help businesses improve their professional image and attract more customers. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MERCHANT ACCOUNTS Chargebacks Chargebacks occur when a customer disputes a transaction with their bank. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as if the customer received the wrong item, the item was damaged, or the customer did not authorize the transaction. Merchant account providers typically charge merchants a fee for each chargeback. However, merchant account providers also offer fraud protection features that can help businesses reduce the number of chargebacks they receive. PCI compliance PCI compliance is a set of security standards that businesses must follow when accepting credit and card payments. Merchant account providers typically require their merchants to be PCI-compliant to protect customer data. PCI compliance requirements include: 1. Protecting credit card data from unauthorized access 2. Encrypting credit card data in transit and at rest 3. Using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication 4. Regularly scanning for security vulnerabilities Integration with your shopping cart If you have an e-commerce business, you’ll need to integrate your merchant account with your shopping cart. This will allow you to accept credit card payments directly from your website. Most merchant account providers offer integration options with popular shopping carts, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. Conclusion A merchant account is an essential tool for any business that wants to accept credit card payments. Merchant accounts offer several benefits, including increased sales, improved customer experience, reduced risk of fraud, faster access to funds, and a professional image. If you’re a business owner, you should consider getting a merchant account to help your business grow and succeed. * * * Comments are closed. POPULAR POSTS November 30, 2023 ECHECK PAYMENT ADOPTION IN THE FITNESS AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY November 30, 2023 ECHECK PAYMENT INTEGRATION WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS November 30, 2023 ECHECK PAYMENTS AND THE GROWING TREND DEFI RECENT POSTS * ECheck Payment Adoption in the Fitness and Wellness Industry * ECheck Payment Integration with Project Management Tools * ECheck Payments and the Growing Trend DeFi eCheckplan is the leading payment facilitator bridging the gap between merchants and merchant account providers. We provide trusted and technology-enabled payment solutions for enterprises, small businesses, and financial institutions. SERVICES * eCheck Payment * Credit Card Processor * Check Verification * Incorporation RESOURCES * FAQ's * Blog * Privacy Policy * Terms & Condition ADDRESS * Location: Florida, USA * Email: support@echeckplan.com * Phone: (800) 974-9661 eCheckplan © 2024 All Rights Reserved