Merchant Account Checklist

The following are some important points to consider when choosing or switching payment processors.

  1. Flexible Payment Options for Terminals

  • Are you locked into long-term rental contracts? Or does the processor provide you with options to buy or lease-to-own terminals?

  1. Future-Proof Terminals

  • Are the terminals designed to accept chip technology? Or will you be forced to upgrade at a considerable expense in the future?

  1. Meet or Beat Pricing

  • Is the processor flexible in providing you the best available rate for your business? Can you get the best rate without having to go through a lot of red-tape or meeting very strict conditions?

  1. Quick Access to Cash

  • Does the processor provide flexible financing to help grow your business? Are there restrictions or interest charges placed on loans, or can you get a loan that is free from fixed payments, timeframes and interest?

  1. Ease of Integration

  • Do you need to change your existing setup? Does the processor integrate with your existing system or customized setup? Can you easily import/export your existing customer database files?

  1. Real-time Reporting

  • Can you follow your business performance anytime, from anywhere? Can you export business reports in your preferred file formats (XML, Excel, PDF, etc.)?

  1. Security and PCI Compliance

  • Does the processor use sophisticated fraud and security tools to protect your business and your clients? Do they meet all PCI standards, allowing your business to benefit from additional reliability?

  1. Gateway with Recurring Billing, Re-billing and Customizable User Access Levels

  • Can you manage recurring payments to avoid potential errors? Can you immediately process transactions from repeat customers, without re-entering customer information?

  1. Dedicated Merchant Support

  • Can the processor help you deal with any issue, including chargeback resolution, risk monitoring, etc.? Are they available 365 days/year?

  1. Guaranteed Rates

  • Does the processor guarantee absolutely no rate increases in your processing fees?