Accept Credit Cards

You want to accept credit cards (and debit cards) as payment from your customers. They expect you to do so as a matter of shopping convenience and also for the consumer protection they receive by being able to dispute any transaction.

Accepting Credit Cards

When setting your business up to accept credit card payments, you will need to do the following:

First, you will need a "Business Tax ID number." The bank will require this from any business. Uncle Sam will too. Also, this is how the credit card processing company will recognize you.
Second, you will need a connection to your credit card processor. This can be via the internet or by a phone line.
Third, since processing merchants charge different fees per transaction depending on a number of variables, you will have to estimate how many transactions per month you are expecting, and the average transaction amount.
Fourth, do your homework. Shop around. Compare prices from the different merchant account options. They each offer different rates, have varying monthly banking fees, will include a "per transaction fee" plus have credit card terminal rental fees.