If you want to accept credit card payments directly on your website, I recommend using a real-time gateway like Authorize.net. Authorize.net is the number one payment gateway available on the market, and is pre-integrated with most every shopping cart. Authorize.net provides all your processing needs - you do not need a separate transaction terminal or processing software.
The best place I have found is Merchant Express. You can accept all major credit cards - Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. There is no set up fee and they offer a 30-day risk-free trial. And right now they have a No Commitment/No Cancellation policy which means you are not bound to a 36 month/3 year commitment. Please make sure you ask about this when you sign up!
I personally use Merchant Express and have been completely satisfied. If you compare you will find their merchant account rates to be the lowest available anywhere.
You may choose to set up your account differently, but here's a breakdown of my monthly fees:
- Authorize.net Gateway $19.95
- Customer Service/Monthly Statement $9.95
- Transaction Charges are approximately 2.33%, plus $0.29 per transaction
I am set up for Visa, Mastercard and American Express. I process transactions online only. I do not have a terminal, imprinter or any additional software.
If this sounds good to you, please use the link below to get started with Merchant Express.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
