Internet Merchant Account Services

There are plenty of Internet merchant account services to help you accept credit cards online. These tips will help you choose the right Internet merchant account provider for your craft business.

If you're going to build a commercial website, you'll need to consider different ways of accepting online payments. The method or methods that you choose will likely depend a lot on the nature of your business.

Different methods for accepting online payments vary in functionality and price. I'd recommend comparing prices and policies carefully to see which plan best suits the needs of your business.

For example, Internet merchant account services with low monthly fees, but higher transaction fees (the percentage that you pay at each sale) will typically be a more cost effective option for a company that is new and not making a large volume of sales. On the other hand, as your sales increase, it may become more economical to switch to a plan that has a higher monthly fee, but lower transaction fees.

You'll also want to consider your customers' needs and expectations. Considering that up to 75% of online consumers abandon their shopping carts, (The Yankee Group) it will be important for you to include online payment options that customers trust and can use quickly, easily and efficiently. You may even want to consider using more than one method of accepting online payments.

Finally, read the fine print. If you sign a contract with an Internet merchant account provider, be certain that you understand all of the details of the contract. You won't want to end up with a bill you weren't expecting because you didn't read the fine print in the agreement.

Here are a couple of Internet merchant account services to check out (Yes, that pun was intended ? Don't groan, it's not easy to make the topic of credit card processing entertaining):

Many professional craft artists say that Charge.com offers services that are a good fit for their needs. Charge.com offers (among other things) same day approval, 24/7 technical support, competitive rates and free web shopping carts.

I have been happy with my PayPal business account. Their merchant services include no monthly fees, low transaction fees and a free shopping cart. Customers do not require a PayPal account to pay via PayPal, but many people do not realize this, so you will have to educate your customers a bit if PayPal is the only payment option you choose. Experienced online shoppers are typically familiar with and trust PayPal.

If you're ready to start to accept credit cards for your online business, you're also going to need to find ways of driving traffic to your site. Read on for tips on promoting your craft business website.