What type of credit card machine do I need?

After finding the right merchant service provider you will need to determine the type of machine to process transactions. There are many to choose from.

Most retail store front businesses will need a machine with a printer either integrated or separate printer; this provides the merchant and customer with a receipt of the sale.

At your business are you going to have a land line telephone line? Most machines require a land line telephone line for the machine to dial out and get an authorization; if not there are machines that allow you to use an Ethernet IP connection. The Ethernet connection allows for a faster transaction.

There are also multi-merchant machines; these types of machines can have multiple merchant ID's programmed into them. These machines are ideal for hair salons that rent out their chairs to the stylist and each stylist can have their own merchant account.

Eagle Merchant Services offers all of these types of credit card machines; if you have any questions please give us a call at 800.255.0898.



© Eagle Merchant Services is a Chicago merchant services area merchant account provider offering merchant accounts and credit card machines.

How Online Transactions Are Processed

The process in which a credit card transaction goes through is a complicated process that only takes a few seconds. Here is what a online transaction goes through:

1. The customer goes to the CHECK OUT with the items they placed in their shopping cart from the merchants website.
   
   
2. The customer selects credit as the method of payment.
   
   
3. The web browser then connects to the website's host's secure server and brings up the secure payment form.
   
   
4. This is when the customer enters in their credit card information and authorizes the transaction by hitting the COMPLETE ORDER button.
   
   
5. The information gathered goes to the website host's secure server using SSL encryption.
   
   
6. The secure sever connects to the merchant's processing bank through a Secured Payment Gateway.
   
   
7. The processor polls the card network i.e.(Visa and MasterCard)and availability of the funds is confirmed.
   
   
8. If the transaction gets an approval an authorization code is returned to the processor or to the SECURED PAYMENT GATEWAY from the processor.
   
   
9. The authorization is encrypted by the Payment Gateway or processor and is transmitted in an encrypted form to the web server of the merchant, which triggers fulfillment of the order.
   
   
10. The merchants web server then sends the customers browser a confirmation receipt via email.
    
    
11. The amount due is moved from the card holder's issuing bank to the merchant's processing bank. From here the processing bank will deposit the funds to the merchant's checking account within 2-3 business days.
    

Eagle Merchant Services offers online processing for merchants.



© Eagle Merchant Services is a Chicago merchant services area merchant account provider offering online processing for merchants.

Touch Tone Payment Processing

An alternative method to wireless credit card processing is Touch Tone Payment Processing; this is a low cost effective way for lower volume merchants to accept credit cards.

Here is how it works, from a telephone the merchant dials a toll free phone number, enters their merchant ID number and then the card information. Once approved, the credit card transaction is captured and held for settlement which automatically occurs each night. The funds are electronically transmitted via the Federal Reserve's ACH system to your business checking account at your local bank within 48 to 72 hours.

There are no sales slips to mail or time consuming trips to the bank to deposit the credit card slips.

Touch Tone Payment Processing is perfect for these merchant types:

• Firework Stands
  
• Craft Show Merchants
  
• Trade Show Merchants
  
• Christmas Tree Farms
  
• And many more business types
  

© Eagle Merchant Services is a Chicago merchant services area merchant account provider offering touch tone payment processing solutions.

2008 Holiday Season Internet Sales Prediction

Retail sales for the 2008 holiday season are predicted to increase by 4.7% in dollar gain for the traditional holiday season during the months of November through December over the same period in 2007 according to Nielsen. This gain amounts to U.S. shoppers spending $98 billion.

Online retailers may definitely have an advantage over brick and mortar stores this holiday season. The Internet is a vast arena providing customers with the convenience of price comparison while saving money on gas from the comfort of their computers as they pursue value. Research indicates holiday shopping is driven by convenience and not price (Source: Nielsen Online, October 9, 2008).

Ken Cassar, VP Industry Insights for Nielsen Online stated, "We expect the 2008 holiday season to a healthy one for online sales as consumers use comparison shopping sites to locate bargains and competitive prices during a tough economic climate.”

A company that is contemplating the benefits of an online store should strongly consider offering products online during the holiday season and in the future. The Internet is a continuing growing market for the online retailer to tap for the holidays and beyond.

Internet Merchant Accounts

An Internet merchant account is required to accept credit cards online. Eagle Merchant Services provides Internet merchant accounts for credit card processing to enable merchants to accept credit cards through a website. With over 11 years of experience, the company provides an unprecedented lowest cost guarantee.

An e-commerce payment gateway is also required to process credit cards on the Internet. A For a limited time, Eagle Merchant Services is offering:

• Exclusive offer: Free setup of an Authorize.net payment gateway for new Internet Merchant Accounts.

If you have questions, please visit: Internet merchant accounts or call Eagle Merchant Services today. Our professional staff will be happy to answer all your questions and concerns. Call today: 1-800-255-0898

© Eagle Merchant Services is a Chicago merchant services area merchant account provider offering services throughout the U.S. at lowest costs - guaranteed!

Processing Credit Cards with a Wireless Credit Card Machine

Wireless credit card machines have been available for some time now and it’s a great way for merchants who do not have a physical store front location or for contractors to obtain a secured transaction.

Benefits for wireless merchants:

• Retail swiping rates

• Secured transaction with approval

• Signature capture is also available (Nurit 8020 wireless credit card machine)

• Reduces risk of fraudulent transactions and chargebacks

Merchant types who benefit from wireless credit card processing:

• Art and craft show vendors

• Contractors and carpenters

• Carpet cleaning businesses

• Taxi and limo drivers

• Restaurants that offer deliveries (ie pizza)

• All other business types where a phone line may not exist

Eagle Merchant Services offers their merchants all wireless merchant solutions. For more, please see: wireless merchant accounts.

© Eagle Merchant Services is a Chicago merchant accounts area provider offering merchant services throughout the U.S. at lowest costs - guaranteed!

Which Credit Card Processing Solution is Right for Your Business?

When you have decided to accept credit cards at your business you will need to know what type of merchant account you are going to need. Which credit card processing solution is right for your business? The following will help you determine the right merchant account to enable you to accept credit cards.

Retail (Swipe) Terminal
A retail merchant account is ideal for retail storefront merchants that see their customers face to face and can swipe the credit cards right there. This type of account has the lowest processing fees since you can swipe the customer’s card and obtain a signature.

Mail Order Telephone Order (MOTO) Account
A mail order or telephone merchant account solution is for merchants who are not face to face with their customers but have customers that call in for the merchants goods or service and manually enter the transactions into a credit card machine or a virtual terminal.

Real Time Processing Account
An Internet merchant account is for merchants who conduct business through the Internet. The real time processing processes the transaction automatically and the merchant is notified via email that an order has been placed from their website.

Virtual Terminal Account
Utilized by merchants that are MOTO or Internet based merchants; the virtual terminal lets a merchant login and enter in card and customer information and run a transaction from their computer. Most real time processing software has the virtual terminal option.

If you need help determining the right credit card processing solution for your business, call Eagle Merchant Services at 800-255-0898. Our merchant account specialist will be happy to help.

What is Required for a Merchant Account

When you are applying for a merchant account there is a lot of information that you need in order to complete the paperwork and obtain your merchant account.

• Business Checking Account or if a Sole Proprietorship a personal checking account
  
• Copy of a voided check
  
• Articles of Incorporation or business/reseller's license, this is good to show underwriting that you have a legitimate business
  
• Copy of your refund or return policy
  
• Trade References
  
• Copy of your most recent tax returns, this may be needed depending upon your type of business and monthly volume
  
• Copy of your drivers license
  

The above list is what most merchants need to establish a merchant account; some may vary depending on the processing bank.