Total Merchant Services

If you want to be a successful business, you have to accept credit cards. Or, at least you do if you want to expand on a larger scale. While some small, local merchants in some areas can get away with accepting only cash (few even accept checks anymore), if you aim to expand to a regional or global company, you need to be able to accept credit card payments. In order to accept credit card payments, a merchant account is necessary.

A merchant account is one that helps you process transactions. You sign up for a merchant account, and the provider makes sure that you are connected to the payment processing network, and that you can get access to your customers’ accounts, via their credit and debit cards. The entire process is handled electronically, and by a merchant account provider. Without being able to hook into the payment processing infrastructure, you will be unable to accept that credit card issued by a bank on the other side of the country.

A merchant account can also help with online transactions. Most merchant accounts also provide Internet payment gateways. These gateways are what facilitate online communication between your Web site and the bank or credit card issuer of your customer. You will have to pay fees, however. Each time a transaction is processed, a portion of that goes to the merchant account provider. When you look for a merchant account provider, it is a good idea to look for one that can also help you with online payments. Total Merchant Services is such a company.

Total Merchant Services

Total Merchant Services is aimed at providing low cost payment processing solutions. In some cases, the company can be cheaper than other merchant account providers. Here are some of the products and features offered by Total Merchant Services:

• Accept debit and credit cards on site. Physical point of sale transactions can be accomplished through Total Merchant Services. The company even claims that it will send you free equipment.
• Internet payment transactions. Total Merchant Services offers payment gateway services through Authorize.net. You can also use this system to accept eChecks, as well as credit and debit cards online.
• Check conversion. It is possible now to convert paper checks into electronic transactions. You do not have to take a check to the bank in order to receive payment on it. Now there is a process by which the bank account number on the check, along with the check number, is sent in for approval. The process is very similar to the way credit cards receive their approval.
• Gift card and loyalty cards. If you want to issue gift cards or set up a loyalty or points program, you can do so with Total Merchant Services. It is possible to create these cards, and then accept them at your place of business with relative ease.

Before you decide on a merchant account provider, it is a good idea to do some research. You need to consider, cost, quality, service and available services and features. Then you need to evaluate which company will best fulfill your needs as a business.