"I have a small service base business. I would like to be able to accept credit card payments.?

I think I have lost some customers because I can not accept credit card payments. If I am a small new business where should I turn. I do have a separate business checking account. Is CitiBank a worthwhile look or am I looked over as a small company? I think online and swipe machine would be perfect.

"I have a small service base business. I would like to be able to accept credit card payments.?
Go ahead and accept credit card payments if your losing customers. I personally have not heard anything bad about CitiBank. You should not be over looked because you are a small company. I do hear how bad Pay Pal is. I use SPS, and have the Vx570 terminal. When you look for equipment online there are many processors who try to charge you for every little thing.Read all paperwork before you sign up with a company. Don't pay for annual fees, application fees, start up costs, equipment, software, or training.Get a low discount rate and low transaction fee.Ask questions and shop around and see what is best for you and your business.
Reply:Simple Payment Systems is truly the absolute best for credit card and electronic check processing. The electronic check processes the check like a credit card. So the check is deposited into your account ASAP from your business. If it is bad you know right away. I have done research for a long time. They give you free swipe machines of your choice, free training, free software- with a check out cart! (so you can have credit cards from your customers processed from your web site) They beat discount rate quotes that you give them too. They have 24 hour live help, which is handy. Make sure you tell them you want the free program. We switched from another company over to them. And have never been happier. Go to their web site and call them or fill out the form and they can contact you. I did countless hours of research! Trust me they are the BEST.


Best wishes!
Reply:You're right that you definitely need to accept credit cards. Especially if you're doing any business online there's really no other viable options.


You could try to get your own merchant account with your bank but new businesses are often turned down. Besides that, the startup costs and monthly fees can be pretty high. Still, if you're in it for the long run you should talk to your bank about it and plan to get a merchant account sometime in the future.


In the meantime there are some other options that are actually better in the short term. You can take payment for services using so-called third party processors like Paypal. The fees are a little higher but it's quick and easy to set up.


But your best bet is probably a service called Accept-by-Phone.com


This is ideal for a service business, especially if you're mobile. With Accept-by-Phone.com you can forget about a terminal or swipe machine. You can process credit card payments through any touch-tone phone, including cell phones. It's quick and easy to get started, almost everyone is approved, the fees are low and there are no minimum use obligations. All for $5 a month.


This really adds a whole new level of flexibility for small businesses.
Reply:If you have a very small business (under $1000 per month) you may want to use paypal. Here are some links.
Reply:Since you are a small business ask at your own bank. Most all banks have credit card merchant services they offer to their business customers. If they don't they can direct you to a good company. There are way too many dishonest credit card processors out there. Most anyone can be one and there is no insurance you will get paid in a timly manor. Many also charge transactions fees, statement fees, application fees etc. They offer you a low rate and if you figure out all the fees your actually paying more then you should. First data Reasources is a decent processing company and they have many approved vendors around the globe, but check with your bank first. What ever company you use set up a seperate bank account for all your credit card payments. Make sure that your fees are billed onece a month and not taken off each transaction. You also want to ask you bank if they charge you a fee for incoming credit card payment transfers, some do and each credit card transaction could cost you as much as $35 in bank charges if your not careful. Ask your bank!!. If they do I would change banks. Many of the smaller banks work with small business better then the big boys. I have used a small regional bank called "Commerce Bank" with out haveing such fees. I have also used "North Fork" that does charge for every transaction that his the account. Shop around and be careful.
Reply:You need a merchant. Our merchant is Pay Pal. We process hundreds of orders per day and Pay Pal does a good job at handling the credit card transactions. You might want to consider a minimum purchase amount for credit card usage. Ours is $100.
Reply:Just about anyone can use the credit card services, We are a small dog breeder and get offers to use their services.


Stop by any local Wall*Mart store and talk to the store manager about who to contact in your area to get started.


But, be aware, you can be opening a can of worms.....


Credit cards can be a hassle when people call and cancel payment on you. They can wind you up in court over work you did. If they aren't happy, you can be the looser. AND even though you can run it through a couple of times, you can get banned by the cc company. (****CARE-FULL***)
Reply:Have you checked it out?





Not having a credit card portal doesn't mean that you're a goner. It's just one of many ways to accept payments. Obviously, as you have experienced firsthand, it's wise to have multiple options available, especially since I believe you're thinking of expanding in the future.





Give them or any other local banks a call, I'm sure there are packages for small business like yours.





The problems is not that they will look over you. They will NEVER look over you if you're a small company. It is how they charge you for using their credit card services. From what I understand, visa/master charges 3%, amex more than 4%, etc. I believe some also have minimum volume or volume based charges while some have flat subscription fees on top of their percentage charges.





Who knows, even paypal might be a possible option, depending on the situation.





Like I said, the best is to simply give them a call coz they're the ones providing the package.