Some of you may be wondering just how those other online computer repair companies are accepting credits cards from their clients. Truth is there are many different ways you 
can go about accepting credit cards and to be honest, it really is not that hard. First things first, you must decide whether you will be physically charging the credit card or obtaining the information from your client. Meaning will you have the credit card in hand or will you need the client to relay the information to you from their card over the phone or computer.
Before you can accept credit cards you must obtain a merchant account. There are many merchants out there; personally I like the ease of QuickBooks. They allow you to use them as a merchant and also a processing center. It’s so much easier than logging into two separate interfaces. You may need to go online and do some research as to which merchant best meets your needs. Another tip to keep in mind is merchants will be charging you a processing fee for each charge you make through them. In addition, obtaining a merchant account can be a little tricky if your credit is not so great.
Ok so now you have chosen a Merchant, it’s time for you to then find a processing center to process the charges you are looking to put through the account. Something to keep in mind is that many Merchant companies have processing centers of their own and they may want you to use their processing center. In addition, some may have processing centers they prefer to work with and may recommend them to you as well. You can also do a little online research and find which company has the best rates or which one will work best for your Computer Company. Again this processing will come at a charge just like the merchant account, so be weary of the fees.
You must also have a business bank account to which you will be dumping the funds into. Obtaining a business account is easy and you should contact your local bank for the details you need in order to open such an account.
Now that you have chosen a Merchant and a Processing center it is time to decide how you will process your funds. One way is online through an online shopping cart. These types of sites work well for those of you who sell a product or products to your clients. For those of you who are more into the hardware side of computers, this allows you to sell parts to your clients and all you do is ship the item to them.
If your Computer Company is more of a hands on computer Repair Company, meaning you go out to clients homes as well as perform work over the internet you have two types of ways to process cards. The simplest way is to obtain a card reader from your processing company. This device connects to your cell phone, while using an app provided to you through your processing center. You will simply swipe the client’s credit card and enter the amount you are looking to charge. The client looks at the amount and signs their name as long as they agree to the amount. This way makes it the easiest for not only you but your clients as well. However, you must have the credit card physically present in order to charge the card.
If you are strictly an online company you must find an online processing center that has a virtual terminal. Again I love Quick Books, all of your clients data is at the click of a button. It is fast and secure as well as organized. You are able to create receipts and charge your client at the same time with just one little click of a button. You don’t have to use Quick Books Online, I am just telling you from experience how much easier it is not having to log into two different interfaces, one to charge the card and then another to input and record information.
I mentioned above about the little devices that are usually provided by your processing company in order for you to charge your clients cards. Most of the time these devices come for free when you obtain their service, but on occasion there may be a fee to purchase their device. Personally I think it shows professionalism to your clients if you go out into a home setting with a card reader in hand. In addition try to keep in mind that if you own a storefront, these little devices are much cheaper to use than those keypad versions you see at the major department stores. If you have Pay Pal they have introduced a new little device that is easier to use than their previous version. I addition Pay Pal also offers Merchant services, so for those of you with a Pay Pal account that might be the route to go.
Throughout my article I have mentioned a few of my favorite merchants that I have used in the past, but I know finding a merchant as well as a processing center can be a bit of a challenge. So here is a list of a few of the better-known companies that provide both merchant and processing services.
• Quick Books Online (My personal Favorite)
• Pay Pal
• Bank Of America (Global Merchant if you are processing out of the country)
• Peach Tree
• Square
Once you have made your choice you will be able to charge cards for your company’s services either on the go or in your shop. Be careful and do your homework when picking a merchant and processing center, as I said above they all carry fees with each charge of a card. They have competitive rates, so make sure to find the best rate that works for your business.
Author, Heather Deprey
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