Merchant Account Blog & Credit Card Processing Blog

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The Up Comming Recession - Get Prepared !!!!!!!!!

Although it looks like the credit markets may be stablizing, the Federal Reserve lowered the rates on Wednesday, and have pumped billions into the banks to lend, the bottom line in the consumer is not spending. The official “Recession” has not been called yet, but the GDP is down to levels not seen since 2001 and short of any more bank failures, the next big scare will be the Official Recession.

Christmas spending is projected to be light and the news should be filled with lay-offs and job cuts. The seasonal economic slow down in January/February 2009 will also make things rather hard to swallow.

Saving money on credit card processing rates and fee’s has never been more important. Business owners are currently rushing to cut-cost and prepare for the slow months ahead. Your merchant account statements are a great place to look for savings. Many times these statements are simply filed away and never looked at. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars, if not thousands on your credit card processing costs. Why pay more ????

We can beat any rate on credit card processing. We currently have a special program for merchants processing over $30,000 per month. This program will allow special pricing that in the past was only offered to large corporations, like Wal-Mart. Regardless of the size of your business, we can help.

Please grab your statements immediately and give me a call.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Accepting checks over the telephone or internet can really increase your sales. Customers have become accustum to using their “Routing Number” and “Account Number” to place an order or make a payment. Increase your customer loyalty and repeat sales.

Our E-Check Solution will allow you to take a check payments over the phone or via the intenet. Perfect solution for accounts receivables, as customers can take action immediately. Your funds are electronically deposited into your business account. No trips to the bank.

For more information on our E-Check, please give me a call to discuss your payment solution needs.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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We found a great site that offers merchant account services for small business to accept credit cards. Looks like they offer a good rate with free terminals, software, or ecommerce solution. Merchant account services provides credit card processing with a merchant account for any business type, including retail storefront, home-based business, and ecommerce web merchants.

Amazing online application process, with online signature and no paperwork for fax. Merchant account services offers fast sameday approval’s with most any business type accepted. They offer free shipping and deployment of credit card processing equipment and no upfront cost to accept credit cards.

They offer long term no contract for merchant account service, which is the largest benefit, as most free terminal offers include a service contract. No cancellation fee is another large benefit, as you can cancel your merchant services at any time, without penalty.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Business Survival In A Slowing Economy

The key to survival in this slowing economy is to cut your cost’s. Reduction’s in your overhead will stabilize your bottom line profit’s and allow you to ride out this storm. Slowing top-line sales are sure to be felt by most small business, as consumer spending slow’s.

Credit Card Processing Rates

The first place merchants can cut-cost’s is in their credit card transaction costs. Merchant account fee’s can vary from merchant to merchant and saving’s can usually be found for any merchant. Our model has always been to save the merchant money, while providing superior service. Currently we are prepared to beat any rate you are currently paying on an existing merchant account, guaranteed. We also offer an incentive program for high volume merchant accounts to save thousands.

Grab your current processing statements and give me a call to discuss your needs.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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HIGH RISK MERCHANT ACCOUNT - Online Pharmaceutical

We now offer a solution for Online Pharmaceutical Sales to accept credit cards. As you probally know, these fall under the catagory of a high risk merchant account. Merchant selling Online Pharmaceuticals have historically fund it almost impossible to find credit card processing for these ecommerce sales.

Please feel free to give me a call to discuss your needs.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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HIGH RISK MERCHANT ACCOUNT

We now have a solution for online tobacco sales, such as ecommerce cigar sales. As you know online tobacco sales requires a High Risk Merchant Account. Several issues including state tobacco taxes and sale of tobacco to minors are the main reason for the high risk classification. Many merchants have spent alot of money to design a tobacco website, only to find out that they cannot get credit card processing for their ecommerce website.

We are adding high risk payment solutions to assist merchants who have been declined elsewhere. Our solutions will very based on the business types and amount of business history. Certain solutions may require more paperwork, set-up fees, higher rates, and rolling reserve accounts, but keep in mind that we can get you approved to accept credit cards with a high risk merchant account.

In summary, if you have been declined by other processors, we are confident that we can get you approved. Give me a call to discuss your credit card processing needs.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Pizza restaurants accepting credit cards are usually paying more in fees than necessary. Pizzeria’s have special needs that are often overlooked when they set-up their merchant account. First problem, is the fact that most inner-city pizzeria’s do free delivery to the customers door. Some businesses do 30%-40% in deliveries where the customer’s credit card is not “Swiped” at the point os sale. These transactions are “Keyed” in at a later point. If this merchant is set-up as a “Retail” business, all of their delivery business credit card sales are being surcharged at a “Non Qualified Rate” which can run as high as 4 Percent.

One solution to this problem would be to add a Wireless Terminal, so the credit card can be “Swiped” at the customers door, so that the transaction would be a Qualified “Swiped” Transaction. Another solution would be to set-up the merchant as a “Phone-Order” business, so the merchant is Quailfied To Key Transactions. Keep in mind the qualified rate would be slightly higher that the retail rate.

A fast audit of your credit card processing statements can determine the best route to save you money. If you have any questions, please grab your current statements and give me a call. I’m confident that we can save you money on your credit card processing fees.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Convenience Store Merchant Account

Accepting credit cards at a convenience store is a must in today’s marketplace. Getting the best rate is equally important to be competitive in your business. We offer special pricing for C-Stores with good monthly sales volumes. Now, convenience store owners can receive special pricing, once only reserved for corporations like WalMart. Saving money on your credit card processing rates & fees has never been more important for convenience store merchant account owners, as we move into a slowing economy.

OTHER C-STORE PRODUCTS:

Convenience store owners looking to reduce their expenses should grab their current statements and give me a call to immediately cut their current credit card processing costs. We look forward to working with you.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Moments ago the US House Of Representatives passed the bail-out package. As this is an necessary evil, I’m confident that we’ve diverted an immediate crisis in the credit markets. I do feel that the damage to consumer confedence will linger in the comming months and an economic slow down is inevidable.

Hopefully the consumer’s will suprise the markets, as we move forward into the Holiday Season.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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PIN-BASED DEBIT CARD TRANSACTIONS  ( “Online Debit” )

Pin-based debit card transactions can only be performed at the point-of-sale, as they require the customer to enter their pin number, into a pci-compliant pin-pad. These are also referred to as “Online Debit Transactions”, as the pin-number is verified through the appropriate pin network.

The pin number is verified by the Pin Network and the funds are pulled from the customers checking account. There are several different networks, including Star, InterLink, NYCE, Maestro, each of which charges a different interchange fee.

Recent increases in the Pin-Network fees, have forced a Percentage to be added to the merchant account fees paid by merchants that accept pin-based debit trransaction. Fees average $0.35 per transaction, plus a percentage rate of 0.75% of the transaction amount. In most cases, pin-based debit is still the cheapest transaction methood for retail businesss.

SIGNATURE BASED DEBIT TRANSACTIONS ( “Off-Line Debit” )

Debit cards “Branded” by Visa or Mastercard will pass through as a “Signature Based” transaction and require a signature, at the point-of-sale. These transactions are subject to Visa Interchange or Mastercard Interchange, depending on their branding. Merchants will be assessed the appropiate rate, very similar too a credit card transaction. These card types are also the only Debit Card types that can be used on the internet or over the telephone, as a pin number is not required.

Inconclussion, retail merchants can save money on their credit card processing fees by adding a pin-pad and signing up pin-based debit. The higher your average ticket, greater the savings.

Give me a call to discuss how much money you can save by accepting pin-based debit transactions.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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