| There are many options for collecting payment online | | | | Popular online payment services like PayPal, Google |
| for your products or services. | | | | checkout, and RME combine a gateway and payment |
| You will need three puzzle pieces working together | | | | processor into one and allow you to link to their |
| to sell online: | | | | website where the payment details are entered by |
| * your website | | | | your shopper, then the payment service credits your |
| * a secure shopping cart | | | | account with their payment. The customer's billing |
| * a payment processor (this may include both a | | | | statement will show the name of the online |
| gateway and merchant account) | | | | processor (sometimes in combination with your |
| Note: Many solutions and providers offer several of | | | | business name) and you do have to comply with the |
| these things bundled together. For example, PayPal | | | | payment service's additional rules. |
| can be your shopping cart, gateway and merchant | | | | The simplest way to securely accept payment is |
| account. It enables you to setup an account and | | | | through You'll need a premier or business account and |
| send and receive secure payments easily online and is | | | | it will charge a small fee for each sale it processes |
| a very common way for small businesses to accept | | | | but it allows you a simple way to accept Visa, |
| payments. | | | | Mastercard, Discover, American Express, e-checks, |
| First, you'll need a website so you can put up your | | | | and PayPal funds online. The funds are credited to |
| sales page with info about your product. Weebly and | | | | your "PayPal Account" when a customer purchases |
| WordPress are two easy ways to create a website | | | | and then you can either transfer the funds to your |
| or sales page. This post is more focused on parts 2 | | | | bank, use the funds to shop online, or request a |
| & 3 to accept payments. | | | | debit card from PayPal that allows you easy access |
| Second, you need a secure shopping cart to collect | | | | to the funds. |
| the order information. This is like a shopping cart in | | | | Another option is Google checkout which is similar |
| the store, it's what lets your website visitor "grab" | | | | and allows you to accept credit cards through their |
| that item from your website and indicate that they | | | | system. Google checkout deposits into a checking |
| want to purchase it. The cart will collect the items | | | | account (instead of holding your payments in an |
| the visitor wants to purchase, total them, add | | | | online account like PayPal). |
| shipping, and gather the shopper's contact | | | | Option 2: Merchant Account and Gateway - a good |
| information. | | | | option for a growing business |
| Consider these options for a shopping cart: | | | | The other option is to accept credit cards through |
| * Mal's E-Commerce (free and premium versions, | | | | your own merchant account. This process is more |
| recommended for physical products) | | | | involved because it requires an application process, |
| * E-Junkie (small monthly fee, fantastic for virtual | | | | and then once approved you need to setup a |
| downloadable products) | | | | gateway to connect your store to your merchant |
| * PayPal Buttons (this option combines your cart and | | | | account and you'll have additional security |
| payment processor in one, good if you're only | | | | requirements for your website. It's not the best way |
| planning to accept PayPal) | | | | to "get started" because the fees are significantly |
| * ClickBank (requires setup fee, but allows you to | | | | higher and only make sense when you're processing |
| reach a wide market of affiliate sellers) | | | | a good volume of transactions. |
| * 1ShoppingCart (more expensive for full functionality | | | | * Authorize.net is a popular gateway and also offers |
| but includes cart, affiliate program, and newsletter | | | | options to make security requirements easier to fulfill. |
| options) | | | | * Quantum Gateway is another popular option and is |
| * Infusion Soft (complete contact management, | | | | included free with merchant accounts through CDG |
| online sales, etc - great for bigger online businesses) | | | | Commerce. |
| Depending on your planned business model you may | | | | * ProPay is popular with small business online and |
| also check into an option like AMember or WishList | | | | allows you to process the customer's card number |
| for sales if you're doing a mix of products that | | | | yourself. |
| includes a monthly membership option. | | | | You might also check with your shopping cart for |
| Third, you need a payment processor for the | | | | recommendations on gateways and merchant |
| shopping cart to send the shopper to so they can | | | | accounts. Not all shopping carts work with all |
| submit payment securely to you. | | | | gateways and not all merchant accounts work with |
| Option 1: Online Payment Services - the easiest way | | | | all gateways. So it's one of those situations where |
| to get started and keep it simple | | | | you want to be sure you do your research. |