How Rates are Determined for Merchant Accounts

At America Merchant Accounts, you can get help with setting up four different types of merchant accounts.  These include:

• Retail
• Internet
• Offshore
• High Risk

Each of these types of accounts has its own unique characteristics and needs – and we are happy to be able to help you meet your needs, regardless of the type of account you need to set up!

Card Swipe/Terminals

If you hope to be successful as a retail merchant, the ability to accept credit cards is almost a necessity. After all, the average customer is looking for high quality, low prices, and convenience. If you do not accept credit or debit cards, your potential customer may very well move on to a merchant that does. As a business owner, you can’t risk losing a customer simply because you are unable to process these types of transactions. Retail Establishments should expect to pay the lowest transaction rates. Transaction rates for retal establishments for example a grocery store usually start at 1.6% and up. It would be unrealistic and unfair to give you an exact rate or "teaser" rate without getting more information about your company.

As a brick and mortar retail establishment, you need to have a merchant account as well as a Point of Sale (POS) terminal solution. The POS terminal is the machine your customers will use to swipe their cards. If you aren’t careful, you can find yourself paying high fees for these devices as well as for the processing service. America Merchant Services is dedicated to helping you make your business prosper by making it possible for you to accept cards without costing too much.

In addition to finding the right processor and the appropriate swiping equipment, you also need to determine where the equipment will be placed. If you will be accepting debit cards, for example, you need to make sure your customers have access to the terminal so they can enter their PIN after swiping their card. In addition, keep in mind that the terminals need to be located near to a telephone jack so they can be properly connected for processing credit card information.

Internet

Setting up an Internet merchant account is different from a retail account, primarily because your customers will not actually be swiping their cards. Rather, they will need to input information into an online form. As a result, special steps need to be taken in order to protect your customers’ financial information as well as to keep you protected from fraudulent purchases. Transaction fees for Telephone / Mail Order (MOTO) usually are available for rates as low as 2% and up.  Average rates are 2-3.5% again depening on risk, average ticket, largest purchase amounts and monthly volume. We cannot quote you a rate until we know your business history and business profile. Please fill out this application form to get started.

Internet businesses are growing at a rapid rate. If you hope to remain competitive against the other online businesses, you need to make the purchase process as simple as possible for your customers. At the same time, your customers need to feel safe and secure when making purchases with your store online. If they do not feel proper security measures are in place, most customers will steer clear of making a purchase with your store.

With our help, your customers will be able to easily and securely make purchases online. We will also make it possible for you to set up automatic billing with your customers and or you to accept checks online. In addition, we will provide you with fraud and risk management technology that will help to minimize your risks.

Offshore

If you are a shrewd business person, or even if you are someone that is just starting a business, you might be interested in setting up an offshore merchant account. For some business owners, setting up a domestic account can be problematic because the business hasn’t been in operation long enough or because the card processor requires a security deposit that is more than the business owner can afford. With an offshore account, you can avoid these inconveniences.  International merchant accounts will typically find rates at 5% and up. If domestic banks are not willing to underwite your business because the risk is to high, it will become necessary for you to go overseas.  Apply now for an international merchant account.

In many cases, setting up an offshore account can be beneficial to your business because you can find better deals than what is available domestically. This is largely because banks around the world are hoping to get your business, which means they are willing to offer great deals. In addition, there are potential tax benefits to setting up an offshore account rather than a domestic account.

Our knowledgeable representatives will help you determine if an offshore account is right for you. If you do decide to go this route, we will be happy to help you find the processor that is best for you and your business.

High Risk

If you have a business that falls in a high risk category, you may be finding it difficult to find a credit card processor to help you conduct your business. Businesses that are typically considered to be high risk include:

• Adult (XXX) websites and videos, book stores and sex toy shops,
• Automobile rentals and sales, Car Dealers
  
• Real Estate, Cleaning Services
  
• Insurance, Financial Companies, Banks
• Prepaid Cell phone stores, phone cards, voip billing
  
• Check cashing companies,Collection Agencies,credit repair
  
• Coin dealers, jewelry stores, collectibles
  
• Downloadable software, online websites, ebooks
  
• Educational institutions, training schools, universities, college
  
• Escort services - Phone Sex
  
• Financial services, such as foreign payment services, investment services, lotteries and jackpots, and mortgage services
• Gun & firearm businesses
• High end Jewelry stores
• Internet dating services - Personals, wedding services
  
• Mail Order eCigarettes and Cigars, tobacco accessories retail stores
  
• Pawn shops, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, bars, liquor stores
  
• Online Pharmacy Credit Card Processors, Drug Stores
  
• Small Business, Home Business
  
• Telemarketing, mail order telephone, moto payment gateways
  
• Time shares, vacation rentals, lease to own
  
• Travel services and agents
• Printers, Designers, Website Design, Ecommerce Companies
• Doctor & Dentist offices, Attorneys, Lawyer Merchant, Law Firm Credit Card Processor
  

If you offer any of these services or products, you might have been turned down by many credit card processing services.  At America Merchant Accounts, we are pleased to be able to help you find a credit processor even if you are in a high risk category.  In fact, we specialize in helping merchants that have been turned down before.  After all, your business deserves to have the opportunity to grow just like any other business – and we are happy to help!

Rates for High Risk will vary again depending on if you are getting a signature, if you are processing over the internet/telephone or if you are with an offshore bank.

Getting Started Steps