Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a merchant account?

A merchant account is simply the ability to take credit or debit cards in person, through the Internet, over the phone, by mail or even by fax.
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2. Why should I open a merchant account?

A merchant account is a proven way to attract clients and win new business. You could be turning clients away. Studies have shown that opening a merchant account can increase your sales by 50% especially if you promote credit acceptance in your marketing materials. Accepting credit cards is a courtesy and a convenience for your clients providing your business with credibility. Not accepting credit cards could result in missed opportunities and lower revenue.
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3. How do I begin accepting credit cards?

Give us a call at 866-376-0950 or complete the form on the Contact Us page.

During an initial consultation we ask a few questions to help clarify and identify your business needs. We then customize a payment solution for your business.
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4. What credit cards can I accept?

All major credit cards are accepted Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
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5. What kind of information do you need from me?

Our straightforward application asks for relevant business and personal information such as your DBA, Federal Tax Id, business address, names of all business owners as well as a voided business check. A voided check tells us exactly where to deposit your funds.

The application does require a signature, however there is no contract! Our agreement with you is month to month, so we have to earn your business everyday.
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6. How long does it take to begin accepting charges?

It takes anywhere from 2 – 4 business days once you have submitted your application.
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7. How much does it cost to begin?

There are no application or start-up fees. Even better there are no minimum processing requirements!

Depending on the type of merchant account you open, you may need to purchase new equipment or software. Other than that, there is a small monthly statement fee that covers account management and support, as well as the cost to generate and provide you with a monthly statement.
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8. How quickly do I get paid?

From the date of the transaction or sale, it can take 24 – 48 hours for the funds to post to your account.
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9. Can I keep my existing bank account?

Absolutely - providing it has been established as a Demand Deposit (DDA) account; not a savings account.
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10. What if I already accept credit cards: can you reprogram my credit card terminal?

We can reprogram the majority of models over the phone in about 15 minutes and you can begin accepting charges immediately with no down time.
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11. How do I keep track of my transactions?

You receive a monthly statement with a detailed listing of all transaction and deposit activity occurring for the previous month. You can select a paper copy or receive a statement online through the Internet.
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12. What is the processing fee?

The processing fee or Discount Rate is the percentage that is deducted or “discounted” from the amount of the transaction. The Discount Rate covers the cost to move money electronically through the global processing network from the cardholder, their credit card company and finally as payment to you.
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13. Why am I charged a transaction fee?

When a charge is run the terminal or software “dials into” a global processing network to access the cardholder’s information and receive authorization for the charge. The authorization lets you know that funds are available in the amount you need. There is a small fee to access the network.
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14. What is a credit?

A credit is a refund issued by you, the merchant, to a customer due to a return, data entry error or cancellation of a sale. You should perform a credit when a customer returns product or cancels a sale and requests a refund on the amount of the return.
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15. What is a chargeback?

A chargeback is the reversal of a sale or transaction. It occurs when a customer tells their credit card company that they did not authorize a payment that appears on their month-end statement and you can not provide adequate proof that the transaction is valid.
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