Merchant Account Blog & Credit Card Processing Blog

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Saving Money On Your Merchant Account Fee’s !!!!!!!!!!

Saving money on your merchant account & credit card processing fee’s has never been more simple. We have put together a program to save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in fees, depending on your current monthly volume. Perfect solution for any business owner looking to cut cost’s.

INTERCHANGE PLUS PRICING - Start Saving Today !!!!!

In the past, this program has been reserved for High Volume Chains, such as Wal-Mart or McDonalds. We have opened the flood gates for any business size to profit from the savings. For those of you who are not familiar with the term “Interchange”, interchange is the cost passed on by Visa & Mastercard which accounts for the majority of your transaction cost’s. Interchange consists of several hundred catagorys which any transaction could fall under. Here and links to the most recent Interchange Schedule’s for Visa and Mastercard, as you will see this is quite complicated.

To simplify matters, most merchant account’s are on a “Tiered System”, consisting of Qualified, Non-Qualified, and maybe Mid-Qualified rate. These tier’s cover any downgrades by Visa or Mastercard in which certain transactions may fall. This simplifies “Interchange”, but alway’s cost’s more in credit card processing fee’s to a merchant on the Tiered System.

BOTTOM LINE - SAVING MONEY LIKE THE BIG BOY’S !!!!!!

We are now offering “Interchange Plus Pricing” to merchants of any size. Previously reserved for large corporations, this pricing schedule will saving you money on your credit card processing fee’s and is available to any merchant account, regardless of size.

Call us immediately for a cost analysis and began saving like the big boy’s.

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Merchant accounts processing with 1st National Processing can put there fears aside with becomming PCI Compliant with the complicated standards recently set-forth by Visa & Mastercard. We have simplified the process, making it quite simple for our merchants who process with us.

First, we have painless online survey which will walk you through each step of completing your Self Assessment Questionaire, required for PCI Compliance. Once the “SAQ” is completed, you will receive an email if you need to perform a “Quarterly PCI Scan” of your website or network. You will then receive instructions by mail for performing any required PCI Scans.

Lastly, if you are required to perform PCI Scans the cost is included in our Annual PCI Compliance Fee of only $30.00. This minimal fee is cheap when compared to other processors, who charge $79-$99 and expect you to become PCI Compliant on your own.

If you are looking for more information on PCI Compliance, here’s a great 10 Minute Video that will educate you on the subject.

1st National Processing Customers can begin the PCI Compliance Process by clicking here.

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

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GIFT CARD PROGRAM - INCREASE SALES !!!!!!!

Well the holiday season is upon us and adding a gift card program to your merchant account can be a great opportunity to increase your bottom line profits. Gift cards offer merchants many benefits which can equal more customers and greater profits.

First, a gift card sale is like a cash advance on a potential sale in the future which may never happen, as many times gift cards are never redeemed. This is called “Breakage” and will occur about 10%-15% of the time. Keep in mind this is pure profit.

Secondly, most gift cards are not redeemed at the Full Value, increasing your profit’s by 5%-10%. For those who do redeem the cards at 100% Face-Value, they usually tend to over spend the value, thus increasing your per ticket sale amount, thus increasing your profits.

Lastly, gift card sales will become Free Advertising for your business. Many folks who receive a gift card will be first-time customers to your business, increasing your customer base. Many of those folks will become loyal customers, who return again.

100 FREE GIFT CARDS - WITH CREDIT CARD PROCESSING

We are offering 100 Free Gift Cards with our JumpStart Program. This flat-fee program has no transaction fee’s and is a great way to get started selling gift cards this holiday season. Credit card processing merchant account is required.

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

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Merchant Account Rates - Credit Card Processing Rates

Merchant account rates and fees can vary from processor to processor. Unerstanding rates are key to finding the best overall merchant account rate for your business. We will look at each variable when searching for the best credit card processing rates.

Swiped Credit Card Rates: Credit card transactions which are “Swiped” through a credit card machine are usually fall around 1.69% - 1.79% depending on the processor. These levels usually bundel both Signatute Debt Transactions and Credit Card Transactions branded with either Visa or Mastercard Logos.

Keyed Credit Card Rates: Transactions where the customers card is not present and the card number is “Keyed” into credit card processing software or ecommerce merchant account where the customer manually inputs credit card information, the rate usually falls around 2.39% - 2.49% keyed.

Mid Qualified Rates: These rates are assessments by Visa & Mastercard and will vary by processors. Usually this tier is for Rewards Cards, branded either Visa or Mastercard.

Non-Quailified Rates: Again, these are assessments by Visa & Mastercard and do vary bt processor. This tier is for International Cards, Business Cards, Corporate Cards, Government Cards, and any keyed transaction that is un-qualified or lacks AVS Fraud Controls. Discount rate tier regulations.

Pin-Based Debt Transactions: These retail transactions require a Pin Number Authorization and usually price at $0.35 + 0.75% of the dollar amount. A PCI-Compliant pin-pad is required and is not
available for phone-order or ecommerce transactions.

Split Signature Debt / Credit Card Rates:  These rates are split into two catagories, seperating Signature Debit and Credit Card transactions. Usually priced at 1.39% Signature Debit and 1.89% Credit Card. Be careful here, as if your business accepts mostly credit cards, you will pay more.

Transaction Fee: Transaction fee’s cover the transmission cost and usually price between $0.20 and $0.30 depending on your processor and transaction processing methood. May include end-of-day batching of the day’s transactions for payment to your account.

Statement Fee: Each month you receive a monthly merchant account statement of transactions forr the previous month and usually prices between $10-$12 per month.

Minimum Fee: This fee is charged to Low-Volume Business doing less than $25 Month in discount rates fees. Often used to off-set free equipment placements to low-volume businesses.

Annual Fee: Merchant’s are usually charged a annual fee on the aniversry of their account. Fee will vary and can usually be waived.

Chargeback Fee: Customer disputes that result in a Chargeback are charged between $25-$35 per instance. Chargeback Prevention is needed as your merchant account can be “Closed” for excessive chargebacks.

Application Fee: This fee has pretty much disappeared, industry-wide.

If you are looking to SAVE MONEY on your credit card processing, please give me a call imediately.

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

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Their has never been a better time to apply to accept credit cards with a credit card merchant account. Credit card merchant account rates are currently stable and most companies are offering incredible incentives to switch merchant account providers or to open a new account. The business has become very competitive with many different incentives for your business.

Getting the best rate on a credit card merchant account will require some time in shopping around. You should also look for a company that you feel will provide great customer service. Many problems can arise like broken equipment, out-dated software, new rules, risk issues, etc. You need a company that is there to help you in a crisis. Customer service should be available 24 hours a day.

Understand your contract before signing it. Be sure to use a company that will take time to go over the contract and explain the details. Most credit card merchant account contracts have a 12-24 Month term, very similar to a cell phone contract. Understand the terms of any free equipment provided by the credit card processing company. Most free equipment must be returned when you close your account.

If you have any questions on getting a credit card merchant account, please feel free to give me a call.

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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