Things to Look for When Choosing a Merchant Account Provider

Summary: If you are looking for a merchant account provider for your business, read below for some things to consider before making a purchase.

Running a small business can be challenging. Unlike a larger, more established company, a small business in its early stages can be much more limited, whether that be with employees, space for operations, or money. If you want to start accepting credit card transactions, you will want to set up a merchant account.

There simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for choosing a provider, so you will want to figure out what sort of needs you have when looking around. Continue reading for some things to consider when shopping for a merchant account provider.

Online and Offline

Depending on the kind of business you want to run, you will have to choose if you want to have a physical store, an online store, or a combination of the two. It is possible you may want to initially start with a physical store and decide to open up an online shopping portal with an ecommerce merchant account later on, or vice-versa. The last thing you would want to do is have to switch account providers or open up an additional one if your current provider is unable to meet your operational needs. To avoid this, look for a merchant account provider that is capable of handling both kinds of transactions.

Customer Support

If you run into an issue with your company’s transactions, you will want to be able to get a hold of someone immediately. Look for a merchant account provider that offers solid customer support and is easy to contact. Charge.com, for example, offers 24/7 phone and email support. Some providers even offer live chat support, for added convenience. If a potential provider has odd contact hours and will not be available to handle any questions or concerns whenever they might arise, it may be worth it to take your business elsewhere.