So you are starting up a new business and you have decided to accept card payments. This is truly a smart business decision as all business establishments today rely heavily on credit card purchases. It will significantly increase your customer base and at the same time boost your sales too.
Here are some of the important steps that you need to complete before you can accept credit cards -
Open a merchant account
This is the first step you need to take up before you can accept credit cards payments. Merchant accounts can be obtained from any local bank or from your business federations. So, like this the funds from your customers’ credit cards will be deposited to your merchant account.
Get a credit card processing service
A credit card processing service is a must to accept credit cards payments. There are various credit card processing companies who offer this service. They do the work of a third party vendor in the credit card transaction process between you and the card holder. They ensure that the customer has enough funds to pay for the credit card transactions, withdraw the amount from the customer’s bank and deposit the money into your account.
Install card reader equipment
When a customer gives you his credit card at the time of payment, you must swipe it into a machine called card reader or scanner. This machine “reads” the information, encrypts it, and then send the data to a processing center. It also records additional card information about the customer.
Learn the necessary procedure pertaining to card processing
As soon as you sign a contract with your preferred processor, they will immediately train you or your staff regarding the procedure of credit card processing. This includes learning proper method of swiping the cards into the machine to obtain card information, storage of card data in your computers, and securing such sensitive records.
Learn to identify fraudulent credit cards
Don’t get fooled and don’t assume that your customers will always give you genuine credit cards. A few thieves will try to sneak in fake credit cards. Though your credit card processing service protects you, to a certain extent, against fraudulent credit cards, it is always your duty to spot and detect these fakes.