Minimize Your Credit Card Transactions - Process ACH Transactions for Your Business Instead

What types of payments does your business currently accept? You?re probably saying cash, checks and credit cards ? why what else is there? Well have you heard of or though about accepting ACH transactions? If you?re wondering what ACH is and how to do it, continue reading this article and you will learn how processing ACH transactions will save your company time, money and simplify your business.

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) is an electronic network for financial transactions. ACH processes large volumes of both credit and debit transactions which are originated in batches. Some of the most popular ACH payments include:

• Direct Deposit of payroll, Social Security and other government benefits, and tax refunds
• Direct Payment of consumer bills such as mortgages, loans, utility bills, insurance premiums, and other forms of online bills
• Business-to-business payments
• e-checks
• e-commerce payments
• Federal, state and local tax payments

Businesses are also increasingly using ACH to collect online payments from their customers, rather than accepting credit or debit cards. Now is the time to think about doing the same for your business. Over the next few years, ACH will become a popular method for businesses to accept payments from customers or make payments to vendors because it is much cheaper than the standard credit card transaction fees. As an example, let?s say you?re currently paying 2.5% and 15 cents per transaction to your credit card processing company. If your average ticket cost is $100, you would pay approximately $2.60 per each sale.

Now let?s say that you?ve implemented ACH for your business and you now accept e-checks and/or direct deposits from your customers. On the same $100 ticket item, you would pay anywhere from 20 ? 50 cents depending on your ACH processing company. That?s a cost savings of $2.10 per sale!

It gets even better than that ? let?s say your average transaction was $1000, surprisingly you would still pay the same 20 ? 50 cent fee. That?s the beauty of ACH - they do not care how large your transactions are.

You can also easily make payments to your vendors using your ACH solution. Simply add your vendors bank account/routing number, enter the payment amount, submit your batch and whalah? your vendor is paid. And it?s even cheaper and easier then sending a check in the mail!

There are many companies that offer ACH payment solutions but most are manual processes. If you?re looking for a fully automated ACH payment solution, Hudson Horizons has can integrate an ACH solution into your website or application in a matter of days. They can have you accepting real-time ACH transactions and saving your company time, money and streamlining your business. Their costs are extremely reasonable and the solution is fully automated. The last I heard, their costs are $15 per month and 39 cents per transaction.

So as you can see, ACH is definitely the way to go. You can potentially save your business hundreds, if not thousands of dollars every single month by integrating an ACH payment solution for your business.

At Hudson Horizons, we provide website design, development, content management, e-commerce integration, RSS content distribution, search engine optimization, e-marketing services and the development of custom applications such as blogs, newsletter systems, online ACH payment solutions and any other Web application that may be needed to help simplify your business.

Hudson Horizons is an e-business product, solution and marketing company specializing in creating highly sophisticated customized websites, web-based software applications and providing e-marketing and SEO services for small and mid-sized businesses.

Our vision and ultimate ambition as a company is to always strive to be "The New Light for e-Business." By offering new, innovative and extremely competitive products and solutions to our clients, we provide better ways to run and operate a business online.

Credit Card Processing - Credit Card Factoring Solutions

Credit card processing is frequently one of the most problematic and overlooked issues for a business owner. An effective credit card factoring program can reduce many credit card processing problems by implementing appropriate cost-reduction strategies. Credit card factoring improvements can produce dual business benefits by both eliminating credit card processing problems and providing improved cash flow by enhanced management of business cash advance programs.

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING AND CREDIT CARD FACTORING SOLUTIONS: Reduce Credit Card Processing Costs Via the Credit Card Factoring and Business Cash Advance Process

As I noted in an earlier business loan article, for any business that accepts credit cards as a method of payment, a business cash advance (obtained through credit card factoring) is a critical working capital financing tool that is often overlooked. Even thriving businesses frequently need more working capital than they can borrow from a bank. However, what is typically even more overlooked by many business owners is the opportunity to reduce their credit card processing costs at the same time that they obtain a business cash advance via credit card factoring.

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING AND CREDIT CARD FACTORING SOLUTIONS: Key Problems to Avoid with Credit Card Factoring and Credit Card Processing

Credit card factoring is an important option to consider when a business is seeking short-term commercial loans, unsecured business loans and improved approaches to credit card processing services. Unfortunately there are a number of problems to be avoided with credit card processing and credit card factoring programs. As with any successful business financing strategy, there will typically be only a small number of commercial lenders who are effective at implementing the joint tasks of credit card processing and credit card factoring strategies properly.

Because of this, the prudent choice of an appropriate provider of credit card processing and credit card factoring is extremely important to any business owner that accepts credit cards. To help demonstrate which providers of credit card processing and credit card factoring to avoid, I have written an article which identifies ten key problems which should be avoided with credit card factoring and credit card processing.

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING AND CREDIT CARD FACTORING SOLUTIONS: How to Obtain The Best and Lowest-Cost Credit Card Processing Services

For business owners either unhappy with their current credit card processing services or simply wondering if cost improvements are viable, a credit card factoring program which eliminates all of the ten key problems noted above should be considered. One of the primary reasons for evaluating credit card processing and credit card factoring in this coordinated fashion is that the low-cost producers of the best business cash advance programs will almost certainly be using the best and lowest-cost producers of credit card processing services. In many cases, the best and lowest-cost providers of credit card processing are simply not available to the average business owner other than as part of a working capital management plan encompassing both credit card factoring and credit card processing.

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING AND CREDIT CARD FACTORING SOLUTIONS: Cost Reduction and Improved Cash Flow for Successful Working Capital Management

Business owners should not lose sight of the substantial total benefits which might accrue to their business by effectively combining credit card processing and credit card factoring services. As noted above, cost reduction and improved cash flow are primary goals of successful working capital management, and the proper coordination of credit card factoring and credit card processing should accomplish both of these difficult goals simultaneously.

Stephen Bush is the CEO of AEX Commercial Financing Group, LLC. Steve provides working capital loan and church financing assistance throughout the United States. Information about free online Business Financing Reports and a free online Commercial Real Estate Financing Course is available at select AEX Commercial Financing Group, LLC websites.

Third Party Credit Card Processors Facts and Figures

Doing business with a third party credit card processor can be a great alternative for anyone who is having trouble obtaining a merchant account or is considered a relatively small business. A Third Party Credit Card Processor has a merchant account and through agreement with him one can process credit cards through his account.

The Advantages of Using a Third Party Credit Card Processor

Third party credit card processors can let you start processing credit cards within 24 hours as to a standard Ecommerce merchant account where approval might take several weeks. If you need an offshore merchant account approval can take longer and not in all cases you are guaranteed to get approved. Third party credit card processors are a great alternative for a high risk merchant account due to the fact that they are much easier to obtain.

Rates and Fees Third Party Credit Card Processors Will Charge You

In most cases third party credit card processors will charge you a bit higher than the standard fees since they take all the risk. This might be a minor disadvantage however, if you didn't manage to get a merchant account I would think it is well worth while. Most third party processors will charge you anywhere from 3% - 9% commission on every credit card transaction obviously this depends on the type transactions you will be processing. The higher your volume will be the lower rates you will be getting naturally this is opened for negotiation and will be in effect only after your business has proven it's capabilities.

For more related information see our offshore merchant account page.

At Adjustcrcedit.com you can find all the information you need whether looking for a suitable merchant account provider for your business. Our web site also contains high risk merchant account related information for educational and research purposes

A Good Credit Card Processing Service?

It's hard to determine which credit card processing solution is best for your business with so many choices available. Below are the criteria Top Ten Reviews used to rank credit card processing services:

Average Approval Rating - This criterion, usually evaluated by percentage of approved applicants, refers to its approval rate, the processing speed and the fee to apply. An accommodating service will have a high approval rate and process your application quickly and without a fee.

Cost per Month - A low monthly cost helps keep overhead costs down. A competitive credit card processing company will require a low monthly fee with clear communication about ongoing fees and costs. Our ratings are based on 500 transactions per month with one statement, charge back and gateway fee.

Start-Up Cost - Credit card processing companies shouldn't charge you too much to set up a merchant account and a payment gateway.

Account Setup Time - A competent service will expedite your application and get you in business as quickly as possible, some can approve the application and set-up an account within a days time.

Customer Service - Accessible customer service answers inquires 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service should offer many avenues of contact including telephone, email or instant messaging and help should be quick to respond and provide useful information. Internet Based Features - Most companies offer more than one type of virtual terminal as well as an online merchant account and payment gateway.

POS/ Swipers Features - A variety of Point of Sale options and swipers (card readers) should be available through the service. This is especially important if you are a retail business or operate from remote sales locations.

With a good credit card processing service, you can increase your sales and flexibility and give your customers many payment options

Wireless Credit Card Processing

New credit card processing options are available to telephone and mail order merchants that make it easy to do credit card processing by phone. A wireless credit card reader makes it easier for mobile merchants to obtain authorizations from remote locations than ever before. In most cases wireless credit card processing is even faster than for traditional landline transactions. Dedicated networks have been developed for wireless credit card processors of all types, which can transmit and receive data faster than most cell phone networks. Wireless credit card processing increases sales, saves time, and reduces operating expenses.

* Wireless is small, lightweight, and portable. Can carry in your pocket!
* Can accept cards where it previously was impossible (in a parking lot, outside a sports event, etc.)
* No second phone line needed and no need to rent phone lines at tradeshows.
* By swiping credit cards you get lower rates. This one feature alone can save you hundreds of dollars per month.
* Reduces risk. Swiping reduces chance of fraudulent or stolen card being used.
* Increased security. Wireless processing reduces the amount of cash you and your staff handle.

How a wireless credit card processing works?

1. The merchant slides the customer's card through the wireless credit card machine and enters the sale amount. Using a technology similar to a cell phone, the terminal will connect to a radio tower and send the credit card information and amount of the purchase.
2. The transaction information will be routed to Merchant account's processor.
3. Merchant account's processor will pass that information onto the bank that issued the credit card. The issuing bank will check to see if the card is valid and if the amount requested is available on the card, and set aside the amount of the purchase for the merchant.
4. The issuing bank will send back an approval number or a decline message to Merchant account's processor.
5. The information will be passed back to the mobile credit card machine, which will print a receipt for the customer to sign if the card is approved. It will take approximately 8-12 seconds to complete steps 1-5.

At the end of the day the merchant may manually "settle" their terminal which will begin the final process of the transaction. In most cases Merchant account's processor can automatically settle the transactions at a specified time each day. Once the settlement process is initiated the funds will be transferred from the card issuing bank and Merchant account's processor will electronically deposit them into the merchant's checking account. It typically takes two business days from the time of the original transaction for the funds to reach the merchant's checking account.

Online Credit Card Processing Services - Why Your Business Needs It

Payment processing is the major reason for any e-commerce business to get a merchant account. Merchant accounts enable your business to receive credit card payments online and become capable of providing your customers with several payment processing options.

Online credit card processing not only enables you to boost sales but also saves you a lot of hassle along with offering you many other benefits.

Reliable and secure credit card processing services allow your business to flourish and increase sales by leaps and bounds. Merchant account providers who offer international payment processing understand your business needs and that is why they offer major benefits like various payment processing options worldwide.

Online credit card processing allows you to accept all forms of payments from anywhere in the world at any time at all. This allows businesses to accept all kinds of various major credit and debit cards online and saves the merchants and customers the hassle of going to the bank.

With international credit card processing services you become capable of accepting payments from anywhere at all. Doesn’t matter whether you are in the US or the UK or in any other corner of the world, a good merchant account provider will offer you payment processing services that will allow you global transaction facility. All kinds of businesses whether big or small, high risk or low risk become capable of increasing their sales and revenue with online credit card processing.

Good merchant account providers will offer you safe and reliable credit card processing services with scam and fraud protection along with SSL encrypted servers that guarantees secure transactions. This in turn will help protect your transactions against fraudulent cases.

More info on Credit Card Processing at Instabill.com

Online Credit Card Processing - How to Accept Credit Cards - Ecommerce 101

Back in 1998 (through 2000 or so), I worked for a small company (called PaymentNet / then Signio) that handled online transactions. Verisign later purchased this company, and the product team I led integrated the "client" - the portion that took the credit card information and sent it to our servers for processing. The product name is Payflow Pro - maybe you've heard of it?

I'm going to limit this discussion to Visa / MasterCard credit cards -- Amex and others operate slightly differently.

First, there is the bank that the consumer’s credit card is attached to. That bank is called the "acquiring institution" ... it handles the "credit" you have on your credit card.

Then, there is the merchant bank. That's where the business opens up a "merchant account" to be able to accept various forms of credit cards.

The merchant account is connected to another company called a "processor". This "hidden" layer is the company that actually moves the funds from the acquiring institution to the merchant account (that process is called "settlement"). The processor also handles talking to the acquiring institution to make sure that the customer has the funds available (a process known as authorization).

Some well-known credit card processors are First Data Merchant Services (FDMS), Nova and PaymentTech.

Sitting on top of the processor is one of two primary systems either a swipe-card terminal (like those you see in Wal-Mart) or a "gateway" company that does basically the same thing, but over the Internet - that's what Verisign Payment Services and Authorize.Net do.

Note that the waters are even muddier in many cases, for example, Wells Fargo can act as every piece of the puzzle in some circumstances.

So, what actually happens when you purchase something at Wal-Mart using a credit card?

a) You place your items from your "basket" onto the counter and scan them. the checkout system provides a total.

b) You swipe your card through a "terminal", which reads the # off the magnetic stripe.

c) Wal-Mart dials their processor, and asks if you have the funds available on your credit card. The processor talks to your bank (the acquiring institution). If funds are available on the card, they are marked as "held" in your account (an authorization) - if not, the transaction is declined (yuk). Authorizations that are never settled tie up your credit card funds for a period of time, usually 10 days or so.

d) At the end of the day, Wal-Mart marks all the transactions they want to receive funds for, and submits them to their processor in a "batch". The processor then contacts the acquiring institutions and transfers the funds to your merchant bank - which may make the funds available instantly (in a day or two), or may hold them for a while, or may hold the funds in a "rolling reserve" (keeping some funds held back in case a consumer fights the transaction, called a chargeback).

In the online world, replace the cash-register with an online shopping cart, and the electronic credit-card with terminal with called a "gateway" such as Payflow or Authorize.Net. the process is basically the same, with slightly more complexity.

Be careful going "a-la-carte" with ecommerce credit-card services: if the gateway you chose can't talk to the processor your bank uses, or your software can't talk to the gateway, you're hosed. That situation was MUCH more common (things not working together) back in the mid/late 90's than it is today. However, most "brick and mortar" banks (like your local branch) still don’t have a clue about online credit-card processing … if they attempt to sell you a "leased terminal", it’s best to run the other way and find a solution from reputable online source.

As an online merchant looking to accept credit cards, all you really need to know is that all services purchased through a single solution will usually work together seemlessly.

Nick Temple is a former engineer for what is now Verisign Payment Services. He can be reached at his website, http://www.nicktemple.com. He is part-owner of the CommerceStore.com; complete online credit card ecommerce solution.

My site, CommerceStore.com handles the entire "shopping cart" and storefront process, including talking to the gateway. It knows how to talk to every major gateway (online credit card terminal) available. In addition, we have direct relationships with various banks that can help you open a merchant account in the US or in Canada, and the system works with PayPal. There's a whole lot more, including AutoResponders, built-in affiliate system, etc.