5 Secure Payment Methods: Learn How To Accept Credit Cards At Your Business

Credit cards continue to be an important payment for both consumers and businesses. Especially, when they conduct transactions in a physical location, online, or through a mobile device.

As a business owner, one of the many challenges is that you want to be able to offer credit card acceptance. This way, you will be able to attract as many customers as possible who may prefer this payment method. However, you should be aware of the growing environment for fraud and increasing chargebacks. It’s critical that you know the most secure way to accept credit cards while also finding a solution that helps you get paid quickly.

Here are five secure methods of payment to consider:

#1 Merchant Account

A merchant account will let you accept credit cards online, in-store, and mobile, offering a way to help your business if you have an omnichannel presence. The merchant account services providers are essentially the middlemen. They take care of the entire process, offering the tools, equipment, and software necessary to handle credit card transactions. The equipment includes items for in-person credit card processing like POS terminals, PIN-pad terminals, wireless terminals, EVM acceptance, etc. This assistance typically includes numerous security features, which vary between merchant account providers. Thus, it’s important to know what is available and what each one offers you. Make sure you partner with a company that gives you the most security features. Plus, they should provide you with a way to stay PCI-compliant and EMV-compliant.

The advantages are that a merchant account can cover all aspects of your credit card acceptance needs as an all-in-one solution. So, you don’t have to pay exorbitant fees to get all that. You just have to do thorough research and shop around.

#2 Mobile Payment Processor

This method for credit card acceptance is a secure way to process cards anytime, anywhere. It works for brick-and-mortar stores, street vendors, and food trucks. So, if your business doesn’t rely on a cash register or other equipment, this could be your ideal solution. Similar to a merchant account provider, a mobile payment processor creates a merchant account to receive credit card payments but does so wirelessly. Equipment includes a smartphone or tablet along with a card reader that can plug into a mobile device. Security is very similar to a merchant account provider in terms of PCI compliance as well as encryption keys, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and other measures. They are all designed to kick in when a device used to process the credit cards is lost or stolen.

The benefit is using a secure credit card payment method that travels with you no matter where you are. Still, it is important to review mobile processing companies. You should assess which one offers the most competitive fee plan and a list of features.

#3 Point-of-Sale System

Also known as a POS system, this option for securely accepting credit cards combines a merchant account with software and equipment with a way to manage customers and inventory, generate sales reports, and cover many operational aspects of the business. It can be a stationary or mobile system. Mostly, it is ideal for retailers, restaurants, and service companies that have a physical location. To use this method, you will again most likely be required to have a merchant account. However, some POS system providers are known as payment aggregators. They process payments through gateways and deposit the funds directly into your bank account. Equipment and fees come with this credit card acceptance method. Still, security is assured through PCI compliance, encryption, SSL, password protection, data backups, and remote wiping for when and if any of the devices or equipment is stolen.

The main benefit of this method is that it is an all-in-one solution that covers so many aspects of your business beyond just processing payments. However, some cons include the time it takes for equipment set-up and training. Plus, POS systems come with long-term contracts and significant fees unless you can negotiate harder.

#4 Online Payment Gateway

Any business that wants to do business on the Internet, whether they have a physical location or not, can use this method for processing credit cards. This is a fitting method, particularly for businesses that don’t have high credit card volume or are considered high-risk. Costs to use this service seem to vary significantly from company to company. So, it’s good to do research on what is charged and whether any of the fees are negotiable. Because it’s strictly an online credit card processing method, security typically is maxed out, using multiple layers to stop hacking and data breaches. There is no need to get merchant services approval to use an online payment gateway and is easy to set up and use. However, it can be expensive, especially in a high-risk business.

#5 Software and Payment APIs

There is the case that, you prefer that you have a software package and more control over the payment process. Thankfully, there are available solutions that you can purchase to enable credit card payments. However, you will still have to form some type of relationship with your bank to do the actual processing. Additionally, there are APIs. They are tools for developers that provide a way to customize any type of payment processing method for your online credit card processing. This includes having the payment platform integrate with other software that runs different aspects of your business or that enables a greater level of personalization and security. Both these options are recommended for a business that has some technical prowess or a team of experts on board to assist with this process. Otherwise, it’s best for you to go with one of the other options on this list.

In conclusion…

..to decide which type of secure method for processing credit cards is right for your business, you need to determine the needs of your business.

Do you need a solution that integrates and syncs all your data together? For instance customer relationship management, inventory, sales, payroll, and payment information in one place? Do you want a solution that you can work on no matter where you are? Or do you need a payment processing system just within a physical store location?

These are decisions you will need to make. This way will ensure that you have a trustworthy credit card processing partner that keeps your business and customer information safe.

About the Author:

John Rampton is an entrepreneur, investor, online marketing guru, and startup enthusiast. He is the founder of the online invoicing company Due. John is best known as an entrepreneur and connector. He was recently named #2 on the Top 50 Online Influencers in the World by Entrepreneur Magazine and a Blogging Expert by Time. He currently advises several companies in the San Francisco Bay area.