how do I get a merchant account so I can 
accept credit cards online?

real-time processing

authorize.net / cybercash.com

credit card processing

internet merchant bank

online catalog

electronic shopping cart

add to or delete items before checkout 

security on the web

convert existing merchant bank account

large inventory database

So you know you want to sell goods and services over the Web - electronic commerce. But you are not sure what that means. Well electronic commerce, or e-commerce, means different things to different people. We use the term broadly to describe how a company goes about presenting information and selling goods and services through a Web site.

Your e-commerce approach can be as simple as posting a product image or list and a sales e-mail address next to it, or it can be as complex as a fully integrated solution with back-end transaction processing. And there are all types of intermediate steps. If you decide that an automated form of electronic commerce is for you, you need to be sure to select a Web hosting service that has well-defined services in place and the knowledge and resources to make setting up your site easy.

Without getting into excruciating detail, here are some questions you will want to consider if you decide electronic commerce is for you.
 

•	How do I get a merchant account so I can accept credit cards online? To start an application for a merchant account with real-time credit card processing, click here.  You will be contacted by one of our friendly customer service representatives. There's no cost and no obligation to learn more about this exciting opportunity. It's practically impossible to do business over the internet without the ability to accept credit cards. Establishing a Merchant Account with a reputable card processor is what's necessary to obtain this capability. Searching for the right merchant account provider can be even more frustrating than searching for the right domain host. There are hundreds of providers and thousands of resellers in the market, all clamoring for your attention, your business, and, most importantly, your cash. Only a few of the merchant account providers allow for real-time online processing of your credit card orders. With the others, you'll be required to receive e-mail notification of the order, then manually process the payment. top
•	What is real-time processing? Only a few of the merchant account providers allow for real-time online processing of your credit card orders. With the others, you'll be required to receive e-mail notification of the order, then manually process.  With real-time processing, the merchant provider validates the customer's card, processes the payment, and forwards the order to you only after the payment is verified. Authorize.net and Cybercash.com are currently the most popular methods for real-time processing. top
•	What options are available to accept payments through my Web Site (such as "Authorize.net" or "Cybercash")? Authorize.Net is a server-based transaction processing system that enables businesses to authorize, process, and manage credit card and electronic check transactions in a real-time, online environment from any computer with an Internet connection and a Web browser.  CyberCash links your storefront with your credit card processor providing authorizations in real time at the time of purchase.  CyberCash provides the broadest connectivity in the business with connections to over 95% of acquiring banks through the following processors: First Data Corporation, Paymentech, NDCeCommerce, Vital, Checkfree, Wells, NOVA, NPC and Sligos (European). If your company chooses to use real-time processing as a means of securing payment, you will need Miva Merchant.   If you do not need real-time processing integrated into your web site, the AlaCart shopping cart system will be quite sufficient. Apollo Hosting has teamed with Miva Merchant and our servers are equipped with the Miva Engine.  top
•	How does an Internet Credit Card Processing Service work and what kinds of fees should I expect to pay? Some Internet payment processors and leading Web hosts don't charge you anything directly. They make their money by taking a percentage of the fees your merchant bank collects. Other processors will charge you a one-time set-up fee plus a fee per transaction with some minimum amount per month. The more advanced Web hosts will have taken the guess work out selecting an Internet payment processor by referring you to one or two banks that specialize in serving Internet merchants. top
•	How do I convert my existing merchant bank account into an Internet account that can handle real time credit card authorization and delayed settlement processing? The first thing you want to do is to find out what Internet payment processor's your Web host supports. Then check with your bank to see if it offers an Internet payment option that works with the Internet payment processor your Web host supports. If your bank offers this type of account, you may need to provide additional information to prove eligibility. Not all banks offer this type of account, so it may be necessary to open an account with a bank that does. Usually, your Web host will have a relationship with one or two acquiring banks that specialize in these types of accounts. top
•	How do I create an online catalog that I can easily modify or update? Recently, hosting services have started offering easy-to-use software tools that are available over the Web. These tools allow you to build and manage your online catalog by using only a Web browser. The better services offer merchants pre-formatted store designs into which merchants can load products - allowing the merchant to build an online catalog in minutes. There are plenty of additional software tools and services available to help you create an online catalog. Web developers tend to use more complex catalog design software packages requiring specialized programming skills and experience. Although difficult to learn up front, these software packages allow a great deal of flexibility in designing how your catalog will look and the sophistication of the shopping experience. Less expensive software packages are usually targeted at the merchant - you. Although they are easier to learn, they tend to lack the flexibility of the more expensive catalog design software packages. Take advantage of the engineering know-how at the top Web hosting providers and start by taking a look at what they have to offer. You will probably find that you can do it yourself with an online tool a hosting service provides and save thousands.  (Tools such as aLaCarte and Miva Merchant are two of the best online tools available for setting up your storefront) top
•	What is an electronic shopping cart? An electronic shopping cart works the same way a shopping cart does in the physical world. As you browse through an online store, you can place products in your virtual shopping cart, which keeps track of the products you have placed in it. When you're ready to leave the store, you click a "check out" link which shows you what you've placed in your virtual shopping cart. You can usually remove items that you're no longer interested in purchasing and then enter your shipping and payment information to process your order. top
•	Will my Web host provide me with the shopping cart software that allows my customers to select items and store them in the virtual shopping cart and then view, add to or delete items before proceeding to final checkout? Many Web hosts say they offer a free shopping cart, but be careful. Usually, these "free" applications are limited in functionality, difficult to install, and poorly supported. You'll do better to look for Web hosts that offer shopping cart functionality as part of a complete online commerce service. top
•	I know that more and more Web sites accept credit cards online, but just how secure is the Web? Internet technology has matured a great deal in the last few years. It's probably safe to say that, with the proper precautions, you have as much of a chance getting your credit card number stolen online as you do in the physical world. How many times have you given your credit card to someone in a restaurant, only to have them return a few minutes later with your receipt? The reality of the situation is that we all incur a slight risk when we give out our credit card - whether we're at a restaurant or online buying a book. We take the risk with the convenience using a credit card provides. If your credit card number is somehow stolen (on- or offline), your bank will usually limit your liability to under US $100.  top
•	What kind of services and fee structures can I expect from my Internet merchant bank? Fee structures vary from one bank to the next, so it pays to shop around. They usually charge a set-up fee when you establish the account and a combination of a flat fee every month, a percentage of the total sales and/or a fee per transaction. Volume discounts may also be available. top
•	What if my company needs a complete database to maintain our large inventory? Thousands of categories and products can be maintained in Miva Merchant without sacrificing performance.  Merchants who need a complete e-commerce system use Miva Merchant to build and manage their storefront. Apollo Hosting has teamed with Miva Merchant and our servers are equipped with the Miva Engine. top