Merchant Services and Credit Card Processing

2012-01-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

6 Steps in Applying for a Merchant Account http://ping.fm/M4h5u

2012-01-13T12:05:00.001-07:00

Merchant Account Pricing | What to focus on http://ping.fm/ySdZn

2012-01-11T12:01:00.001-07:00

Third party credit card processing | Allowed or Not? http://ping.fm/Rn0ZA

2012-01-06T15:31:00.001-07:00

CostCo Credit Card Processing | What to consider http://ping.fm/KWKsW

2012-01-04T16:01:00.001-07:00

Terminated Merchant File | What it is and how to avoid it http://ping.fm/cYIUP

2011-12-13T13:51:00.001-07:00

6 Considerations for a Merchant Account Processing Limits Increase http://ping.fm/WlChf

2011-12-06T14:52:00.001-07:00

Merchant Cash Advance | An easy way to get capital for your business http://ping.fm/FoHZu

2011-12-01T16:01:00.001-07:00

Merchant Account Fraud – 3 ways to protect your business http://ping.fm/F0Q7n

2011-11-29T13:02:00.001-07:00

Credit Card Re-bill Without Storing the Customer’s Credit Card Number http://ping.fm/VhMWV

2011-11-22T10:21:00.001-07:00

QuickBooks Merchant Account Solutions http://ping.fm/nf3dn

2011-11-16T14:11:00.001-07:00

Affordable Credit Card Processing | We have you covered http://ping.fm/lN8nJ

2011-11-08T16:11:00.001-07:00

Bankcard Deposit Reconciliation | Top 4 Difficulties Explained http://ping.fm/pPMi9

2011-10-25T14:01:00.001-06:00

Electronic Invoicing and Payment | Make it easy to get paid http://ping.fm/6p4f1

2011-10-21T08:31:00.001-06:00

Chargeback Compliance | Part 2 of 2 http://ping.fm/dUbRP

2011-10-18T13:01:00.001-06:00

Chargeback Overview | Part 1 of 2 http://ping.fm/hy6TR

2011-10-14T16:01:00.001-06:00

SwIPe – A New Lightweight Wireless Point-Of-Sale System http://ping.fm/UBZBJ

2011-10-04T14:41:00.001-06:00

Improve your business function with an electronic payment system http://ping.fm/rLmSj

2011-09-27T12:41:00.001-06:00

What is interchange? An Explanation. http://ping.fm/vNGhz

2011-09-13T13:16:00.001-06:00

Merchant account effective rate: what you pay to process credit cards http://ping.fm/5Bq6k

2011-09-08T13:22:00.001-06:00

Reducing ChargeBacks with Credit Card Best Practices http://ping.fm/LqHKe

2011-09-06T14:21:00.001-06:00

3 Ways the Durbin Amendment Can Help Your Business http://ping.fm/QBUk1

2011-08-19T15:45:00.005-06:00

5 Credit Card Processing Pitfalls Merchants Should Look For http://ping.fm/r2yc6

2011-08-19T15:45:00.003-06:00

iPhone Charge Card Processing for Small Businesses http://ping.fm/IfBqq

2011-08-19T15:45:00.001-06:00

Merchant Account Discount Rate and What it Means to You http://ping.fm/trHJT

Merchant account early termination fees | How they work

2011-08-16T13:33:00.001-06:00

Merchant account early termination fees | How they work: "

Merchant account early termination fees | How they work

Most every merchant account contract will include an early termination fee. The early termination fee is charged to the business if the business closes the account before the end of the contracted term. It is important to understand what the early termination fee is before accepting the terms of service from your merchant service provider. The early termination fee will be spelled out in the service agreement so be sure to review the contract before signing.

Important things to know about early termination fees:

It can be negotiated

It can be calculated multiple ways

Be careful with refusal to pay

Negotiating your early termination fee

Some merchant service providers will allow for the early termination fee to be negotiated. Typically if you select an Independent Service Organization (ISO) to set up your merchant account the early termination fee is at the discretion of the sales representative. For example, if the business goes “out of business” it is reasonable to expect that the early termination fee to be waived. Make sure to have this conversation up front and get the agreed terms in writing.

Early termination calculation

The early termination fee can be a set amount, a prorated amount based on the remaining contract term or a combination of both. As an example we will use the following to illustrate how the early termination fee is calculated.

3 year contract term with the early termination fee equal to the greater of $250, or $35 multiplied by the number of months remaining in the then-current term.

Contract approved 01/01/2011

Termination on 04/01/2011

Early termination fee = $1,155 (33 months remaining X $35)

Be careful if you decide not to pay

It can be frustrating if you are charged an early termination fee for terminating a contract with a merchant service provider for a justified reason. It can seem unfair and unjust especially if you feel the service you were provided was unacceptable and you terminated to end a bad experience. It is commonly thought that a simple solution is to close the account for which the termination fee will be deducted from. I caution this approach as it allows for your provider to add your business to the terminated merchant file (TMF). The TMF is a file that represents businesses that have been banned by the industry. Once a business has been added to the TMF it is very difficult to get it retracted. Additionally, it makes it next to impossible to get a new merchant account set up.

QuickBooks Merchant Account Plug-In

2011-08-16T13:33:00.000-06:00

QuickBooks Merchant Account Plug-In: "

QuickBooks Merchant Account Plug-In

Does your business use QuickBooks and would you like an integrated payment processing platform that lets you accept credit cards and ACH payments? The Maxx QuickBooks Merchant Account Plug-In is extremely easy to use and makes it very simple for any business using QuickBooks to easily process electronic transactions without ever leaving your QuickBooks environment.

The Maxx QuickBooks Merchant Account Plug-In installs directly into QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise edition software applications and provides a direct interface within QuickBooks to apply electronic payments. Payments can be applied to specific invoices, against open invoices or against a new sales receipt. Additionally, multiple payments can be applied to a single open invoice at the touch of a button.

The plug-in is completely PCI-DSS compliant as all credit card and ACH account numbers are encrypted and masked within the application. The plug-in also has built-in functionality that allows for customer credit card and ACH account numbers to be recalled for subsequent transactions.

Both card present swiped transactions and card not present keyed transactions are supported within the plug-in. For swiped card present transactions, customer credit card information is loaded directly into the plug-in for processing. All customer data is loaded from the customer record from within QuickBooks.

The Maxx QuickBooks Merchant Account Plug-In adds integrated payment processing directly to your QuickBooks installation for easy payment application. Please give us a call at (800)917-8026 to learn more.

Top 7 benefits of accepting credit cards for your business

2011-08-16T13:32:00.001-06:00

Top 7 benefits of accepting credit cards for your business: "

Top 7 benefits of accepting credit cards for your business

Credit cards are one of the most accepted payment systems for the purchase of goods and services that add ease and convenience for both buyers and sellers. You can view all the pros and cons of using credit cards by visiting Oak view law group. However, let look at how businesses can benefit by accepting credit cards as a mode of payment.

According to the researchers on consumer’s habit, people using credit cards to make purchases are mostly impulsive by nature. The average credit card user buys 2.5 times more than people who use other forms of payment. The obvious conclusion, any business that offers the convenience of credit cards as a form of payment can increase their revenue.

When you accept credit cards as a way of transacting payment, it creates a sense of security in the mind of your customers. If the product does not live up to the standards for which it was advertised, there is a dispute process in which the customer can get their money back.

It has been proven that credit cards help to enlarge the sales of a business by embracing a wider customer base. The ease and convenience of using a credit card to pay, plays a significant role in generating greater sales.

Companies that offer an online purchase option from their websites enable greater hours of operation. Credit card payment from the website allows for business automation that results in greater sales with less expense.

International sales become easy with an international merchant account. An off shore international account allow for sales to be completed in native currency with deposits linked to a single account in any desired country.

Credit card transactions are processed in real time. So settlement is quick and easy without the need for complicated account receivable management.

Setting up a credit card merchant account takes less than 24 hours.

Credit card processing, a bad experience

2011-08-16T13:32:00.000-06:00

Credit card processing, a bad experience: "

Credit card processing, a bad experience

Like many things in life, individual experience with credit card processing shapes an opinion of the industry. More often than not, that experience is greatly influenced by the sales representative that was hired to complete the account set up. If your business has had a bad experience with a credit card processing account, the rep was most likely the reason!

Why was the rep the reason for a bad experience?

Within the credit card processing industry the vast majority of companies setting up accounts are referred to as Independent Sales Organizations (ISO), with the actual underwriting and functions of the account being handled by a credit card processor. The relationship between the ISO and the credit card processor is outlined in a contract between the two entities. The contract spells out the agreement and terms for which the ISO is able to sell credit card processing.

Each ISO negotiates their contract with the credit card processor individually to determine the specifics of the service the ISO is able to sell. Things like the commission payout, price, quota, and restrictions are all specific to each ISO’s contract. What this means is that a sales representative for one ISO may be able to waive the monthly minimum fee and annual fee on a credit card processing account while another representative, working for the same processor, can not.

Another major aspect of a perceived bad experience with credit card processing has to do with the price. Again, it’s important to understand that the price is a function of the contract in place with the processor. The sales representative your business works with has clearly defined pricing established with their processor. In order for the sales representative to make money they must “mark-up” the resale rate offered to your business. Therefore, if you feel like you have been taken advantage of, it is likely that the sales representative you are/were using had poorly negotiated contract pricing, or they are/were greedy.

Therefore, it is exceedingly important to select am ISO and sales representative that is able to set their own pricing. A good organization will be able to work directly with your business to customize a pricing structure that meets your businesses specific needs.

Another important item for consideration when selecting an ISO and sales representative is how they conduct their business. Your sale representative shouldn’t disappear once the credit card processing account has been approved and set up. Your sales rep should be available to consult your business on best practices, issue resolution, account maintenance and general support. Your credit card processing account should be a health relationship built on trust and responsiveness for as long as the account is active.

The credit card processing account agent you select functions as your ambassador and advocate for the life of your account. Selecting the right one can completely alter your experience and ultimately change your perception of the industry.

As a wholesale ISO, Maxx Merchants has established themselves as a leader in the credit card processing industry with exceptional pricing and the industries best customer service. Allow me the opportunity to set up your account and I guarantee your expectations will be exceeded. Contact me directly at (800)917-8026.

WordPress shopping cart, ecommerce made easy

2011-08-16T13:31:00.001-06:00

WordPress shopping cart, ecommerce made easy: "

WordPress shopping cart, ecommerce made easy

Do you have a WordPress website for your business and are you looking to add a shopping cart to facilitate online sales or ecommerce? Adding a WordPress shopping cart has never been easier thanks to the Shopp plugin for WordPress.

Shopp lets you add a full blown shopping experience to your website with the simple installation of their plugin. Shopp installs just like any other plugin and once installed the application walks you through your product catalog set up. Setup has been simplified and streamlined to get your products configured with ease.

Shopp has been developed with ease-of-use as the primary objective. It is ready to go out-of-the-box and enables you to get your online store up and running in very short time.

What’s involved?

The Shopp WordPress shopping cart is available at their website http://shopplugin.net/store/. When you make the purchase you must also select a payment gateway to accompany the plugin. The payment gateway is the software that encrypts your customer’s credit card information and sends it to your merchant account. The merchant account then performs the authorization of the sale at the customer’s bank. The authorization is a reserve of funds to then be deposited into your bank account as payment for the products purchased.

If you are unsure which payment gateway to select I recommend Authorize.net. They have reasonable pricing and easy integration options to get your store connected with a merchant account.

Once you have made a gateway decision and completed the purchase of the plugins, simply install the plugin through your WordPress administration dashboard. Once installed follow the easy set up instructions to add your products to the shopping cart. You are able to test the layout and organization of the products as you go. Once you are satisfied with the operation you will need to configure your gateway and merchant account.

I would suggest contacting a merchant service provider to help you set up you gateway and merchant account. Once the gateway and merchant account have been integrated you are ready to sell you products on-line 24 hours a day, 7 day a week.

Here at Maxx Merchants we are WordPress specialists and can help with all aspects of getting your WordPress shopping cart up and running. For additional help and pricing please provide us with your Name and Email and an account specialist with get in-touch immediately.

Best practice account set up for international credit card processing

2011-08-16T13:31:00.000-06:00

Best practice account set up for international credit card processing: "

Best practice account set up for international credit card processing

Does your business sell products internationally? Are you looking to establish a solution that is compliant with association regulations and sustainable?

Visa / Master Card association regulations state that a business should have only one Merchant ID (MID) per product line. However, there are exceptions to this rule, a merchant is permitted to have multiple accounts for a product line if the intention is to acquire greater volume limits. Multiple accounts are also permitted to route international transactions to an appropriate account for processing. NOTE: It is strictly prohibited for a merchant to acquire multiple merchant accounts in order to spread charge back volume and occurrence.

I order to achieve the best possible rate for processing international credit card transactions, it is important to route the transaction to a specific account for processing. This is achieved through the set up of multiple merchant accounts in addition to deployment of software that determines the IP address of the computer initiating the order. Once the origination of the order is determined the transaction can be routed to the appropriate merchant account for processing.

All United Stated originated sales should be routed to a US based merchant account. In order to establish a US based merchant account the requirements are as follows:

Incorporation in the United States

United States Bank Account

United States based credit history

United States identification

With a US based merchant account you will have a 5% - 10% limit on international transactions. There for any non-US originated sales need to be routed to an international or off-shore merchant account for processing.

International merchant accounts can be set up in numerous countries. Most merchant account providers offering international / off-shore merchant accounts will handle the entire account set up. Set up typically requires incorporation in the selected country as well as establishment of a domestic bank account. Again, the incorporation and bank account set up are offered as a service of the merchant account provider. Once complete, all international transactions (with the exception of the US based transactions if you are able to establish a US based account) should be routed to this account.

Lastly, all domestically originated transactions (relative to the businesses home country) should be routed domestically.

This merchant account solution set up ensures your international sales are routed to the account where you receive the best possible rate for processing.

For more information pertaining to merchant account set up for international sale please contact us at (800)917-8026.

2011-08-15T14:32:00.001-06:00

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What are credit card interchange fees?

2010-11-09T13:40:00.004-07:00

What are credit card interchange fees?

This is a very good question and is important to understand if your business accepts credit cards or would like to. When thinking about interchange fees, it helps to think of it as a toll way.

Interchange is, in effect, a toll road that must be driven in order to access the card holders (your customer) account information at the card issuing bank. The interchange fee is the toll for accessing that information.

The interchange fee is paid by you (the merchant) to the card issuing bank. The issuing bank collects the fee to recoup the cost associated with enabling consumers with the ability to pay with a piece of plastic.

Another item to be aware of is the assessment fee. The assessment fee is charged directly by Visa and MasterCard to cover their operating costs. The Visa assessment fee is currently .0925% and the MasterCard assessment fee is currently .0950%. Both Visa and MasterCard regularity adjust these fees and typically do so in April and October. The assessment fee is always applied as a percentage the total purchase price of the product or service sold.

What are the current credit card interchange fees?
There are currently 315 different levels of interchange fees. The reason for so many different levels and fees is due to a few factors.

The industry of the merchant. The industry of the merchant will be one of the initial factors considered when the interchange fee is applied. Some of the industry specifications include supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, passenger transport, etc.

The means in which the card is transacted. The means in which the card is transacted refers to whether the card is present at the time of the transaction and swiped through a terminal or the card is keyed into the terminal for processing.

The type of card that is transacted. The type of card that is transacted refers to the type a card presented by the customer. Typical card types include debit cards, check cards, reward cards, international cards and corporate cards.

What are some ways in which to reduce the interchange fees that are charged?

Swipe the card through a terminal rather than key the card data into the terminal.

Use an address verification service (AVS) when transactions are keyed into the terminal. This service helps to reduce fraud.

Run your batch process daily.

Through adhering to these three scenarios you give yourself the best chance at qualifying for the lowest interchange fees. The goal is to avoid being downgraded. You will downgrade (pay a higher interchange fee) when criteria for the lower fee are not met. Every time the transaction moves further away from the required criteria, more risk is associated with the transaction and it will cost more to transact.

Interchange fees for a retail purchase of $100

Example	Visa Interchange Rates	Interchange Charged to You
The card is swiped through a terminal; the transactions are settled an a daily basis	1.68 % + $0.10	$1.78
Transaction is keyed into the terminal, AVS is used; All transactions are settled on a daily basis	1.85 %+ $0.10	$1.95
Transaction is keyed into the terminal, AVS is not used; All transactions are settled on a daily basis	2.39 % + $0.10	$2.49
The card is swiped through a terminal; The transactions are settled on a monthly basis	2.80 % + $0.10	$2.90

I hope this article is helps you and your business understand credit card interchange fees. If you would like additional guidance in avoiding mistakes when opening a merchant account please download our whitepaper.

Automated Payment Processing

2010-11-09T13:35:00.002-07:00

Automated Payment Processing

Are you looking for and automated payment processing account for your business? The addition of an automated payment processing solution is an easy way to enable your customers to purchase products without direct assistance. Automation allows you to focus on other areas of your business rather than order placement.

Here are the areas of automated payment processing that we can help with:

Recurring & Non-Recurring Receivables

Electronic Check Acceptance

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway

POS (Point Of Sale) systems

With any business the first step is determining the area of the business that would benefit most from an automated payment processing solution. Once a need is determined the next step to consult with a payment processing provider to determine the very best solution available. Once a solution is identified the next step is to determine the costs. Please refer to affordable credit card processing for a detailed explanation of the cost associated with an automated payment processing system.

Once you understand the costs you are now in a position to make the best decision for your business.

As always please contact us if you would like assistance determining the best solution for your business. (800)917.8026

Automated Payment Processing

2010-11-09T13:27:00.002-07:00

Automated Payment Processing

Here are the areas of automated payment processing that we can help with:

Recurring & Non-Recurring Receivables

Electronic Check Acceptance

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway

POS (Point Of Sale) systems

Once you understand the costs you are now in a position to make the best decision for your business.

As always please contact us if you would like assistance determining the best solution for your business. (800)917.8026

7 items to consider when looking for affordable credit card processing

2010-11-09T13:19:00.004-07:00

7 items to consider when looking for affordable credit card processing

The term affordable credit card processing is thrown around a lot and can mean different things to different businesses. For the purposes of this article we will discuss the affordability of credit card processing in terms of the rates and fees that are charged for the service.

I have broken out the major rates and fees charged for credit card processing. Please keep in mind that there will always be other miscellaneous fees, so be sure to read your merchant contract carefully to understand all that apply and when.

Discount/Percentage Rate (interchange): This is the largest total expense for the account and is typically negotiable with your processor. There are typically three discount rates associated to the account (this example is for a retail location). The three discounts rates are referred to as the qualified, mid-qualified and non-qualified rates. The qualified rate is reserved for card present / person present transactions. The mid-qualified rate is reserved for keyed in transactions and certain rewards cards. The non-qualified rate is reserved for corporate and international cards. Some rewards cards will also downgrade to the non-qualified rate. When looking for affordable credit card processing you want to achieve the following for each discount rate:

Qualified Rate: Between 1.59% and 1.69%

Mid-Qualified Rate: Between 2.29% and 2.39%

Non-Qualified Rate: Between 2.99% and 3.09%

Per-Transaction Rate: In addition to the discount rate you will also be charged a per-transaction rate. The per-transaction rate is charged for each transaction that is run through the account. It is important to note that some processors will set up the account to authorize and capture as separate processes, effectively doubling the transaction costs per month. Make sure your processor is authorizing and capturing as one transaction. When looking for affordable credit card processing as a function of the per-transaction rate you want to be between $0.10 and $0.20 per-transaction.

Monthly Service Fee: This is the amount you are charged per month for customer service, account access, statement preparation etc. For an affordable credit card processing account you need to be between $9.95 and $14.95.

Batch Fee: The batch process is responsible for converting the credit card authorizations (promise to pay) into deposit of funds into your business account. The batch process is typically run on all days where authorizations are processed. For an affordable credit card processing account you want establish a rate between $0.15 and $0.25 per batch process.

Monthly Minimum: The monthly minimum is the amount that is charged if the account is not used or used minimally. An affordable credit card processing account will typically have a monthly minimum of $0.00 to $9.99.

Annual Fee: The annual fee is a fee that your business is charged once a year for maintenance of your merchant account. You are best served to negotiate this rate to $0.00.

Termination Fee: This is the fee you are charged if you would like to end your contract early. This fee varies greatly form one processor to the next. Make sure you understand the contract term and termination fee.

If you are looking to set up an affordable credit card processing account we can certainly help. Please contact us directly for a no obligation quote. (800)917-8026. Mention prom code affordable for additional discounts.

Do you need and inexpensive merchant account?

2010-04-06T13:06:00.007-06:00

Do you need and inexpensive merchant account?

Do you need and inexpensive merchant account for your business? What defines an inexpensive merchant account? Is the account an inexpensive merchant account if the rates and fees associated with the account are as the lowest they can be? I certainly believe that is one factor. What about customer service and reliability? How does the reliability of the account and available support factor into the “cost” of the merchant account?

When growing your business it’s important to analyze the costs and benefits associated with any strategy intended to increase your bottom line. The addition of an inexpensive merchant account or the substitution of your current account with an inexpensive merchant account can be a very effective way to increase sales while keeping overhead low. Some of the benefits of an inexpensive merchant account include:

Convenience and immediacy – Taking your products and services to the internet allows your customers to acquire your offerings at all hours of the day or night.
Options and value - All things equal if you are selling the same products as a competitor and provide more options for payment your store is perceived to offer more value.
Higher average ticket – According to Dun and Bradstreet it is estimated that customers spend 12% to 18% more when using a credit card for payment.
Minimize bad debt – Reduce the instance of bad debt through offering credit card processing. You know the customer has the funds to complete the sale as the authorization tells you before the customer leaves the store.
Increased sales – Dun and Bradstreet estimate that the average business can increase sales anywhere between 12% and 35% thought offering credit to patrons.

Now that we have established some of the benefits to establishing an inexpensive merchant account let’s discuss the costs. With a typical merchant account there will be rates and fees associated with the various functions of the account. Some of these rates and fees include:

The discount rate
The transaction fee
The batch fee (settlement fee)
AVS fee (address verification)

Customer service fee
Monthly minimum fee
Termination fee
Online account access fee
Etc

The costs associated with running or establishing a merchant account should be thought of in terms of recurring costs verses prospective (future) costs. The recurring cost of the account can be boiled down to a percentage of total volume processed and is known as the effective rate (ER). The effective rate of an inexpensive merchant account are the fixed monthly costs incurred to attain the benefit of offering credit. These costs are usually the main focus of a business when selecting a merchant services provider. I believe it is important to point out the potential larger prospective (future) costs that can result from selecting the wrong provider.

For most businesses, the revenue from credit card sales represents a significant cash flow source. If this revenue source is interrupted it can put substantial strain on the business operations and can represent significant costs to the business.

Possible interruptions can result from any number of network issues very common in the processing industry. Interruptions are inevitable and the true costs associated with the interruption are determined by how long it takes to correct the problem.

It is very important to select a processor that has a support staff that is available and knowledgeable in order to ensure merchant processing down-time is kept to a minimum. At Maxx Merchants our dedicated in‐house approach to the entire merchant service process is our mission. Our commitment to merchant customer support is of the utmost importance, leading to our industry high merchant retention rate. We are one of very few payment processors offering dedicated 24/7 technical support staff that are employees and not subcontractors.

At Maxx Merchants we are able to offer you the ultimate inexpensive merchant account as your recurring costs (ER) will be very low and your prospective (future) costs are minimized with the best support in the industry. What does that translate for you? Increased profits!!

Please call us directly to get started (800)917-8026.

Starting an eCommerce website?

2010-03-23T16:18:00.008-06:00

Starting an ecommerce website

Are you at the point where you need to start an ecommerce website to begin the process of offering your products and services online? If the answer is yes then I have a handy little guide to help get you started.

The process of starting an ecommerce website begins with the website itself. It is always best to select a website that gives you the ability to update your content, products, prices, etc., on your own rather than relying on the developer. Some popular CMS (content management systems) include Wordpress, Drupal and Joomla. You will want to select the platform that work best with your shopping cart. We talk about that in just a bit.

The next consideration when starting an ecommerce website is selection of a shopping cart. The shopping cart software allows you to set up your products and services for sale on the Internet. There are many commercially available shopping carts available to choose from. You will want to select the cart that offers the functionality you are looking for. You will want to look for a cart that offers merchant tools, supports many payment options, offers configuration for shipping and taxes, offers real-time statistics and reporting, and has the appropriate security. You will also want to select a shopping cart that is compatible with your payment gateway. This will illuminate the cost associated with integrating your shopping cart and merchant account. Maxx Merchants is compatible with over 25 commercially available shopping carts.

Your next step when starting an ecommerce website is the hosting service. The hosting service provides a home for your website on the Internet and allows your customers to reach you. You will want to select a hosting service that offers the appropriate functionality for your site and shopping cart. Most services offer various packages for a monthly service fee. I like doteasy.com as the hosting is free and they let you upgrade as necessary for any functionality you might require.

So you have your website, your hosting service and your shopping cart all dialed in but the most important part of starting an ecommerce website is accepting payment.

There are 2 pieces that need to be considered when starting an ecommerce website; The Payment Gateway and the Merchant Account.

The payment gateway is the application that connects your website shopping cart to your merchant account. The job of the payment gateway is to collect the credit card information from the customer, encrypt it and sent it to the merchant account for processing. When selecting a payment gateway you want to select one that is compatible with your shopping cart, offers good pricing, has the ability to facility all payment functions (payments, voids, refunds, etc), offers robust fraud protection, is PCI compliant and has an interface for you to run reports on your sales. The Maxx Payment Gateway offers all these features giving you complete control over your transactions.

Next is selection of a merchant account. The merchant account’s job is to authorize the card that is being used for payment and then deposit those authorized transactions into your bank account. It’s important to choose a merchant account that offers good rates on processing, has 24 hour turn around on settled transactions, offers live customer support, has high approval rates and low merchant attrition. You want a processor that stands behind your account and consults you as to the very best way to set up your ecommerce website. Maxx Merchants can provide you the level of service you expect for your merchant account.

The last piece of the puzzle in starting an ecommerce website is your marketing. All of your efforts are wasted if no one knows your site exists. Make sure you design your site with all the current search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. You will also want to post your new site on all the most popular social networking sites.

Good luck and if you need any assistance I am here to help and you can contact me directly. Alex Neir – (800)917-8026, alex@maxxmerchants.com, www.maxxmerchantservices.com

Maxx Merchants announces a partnership with a POS system for the medical marijuana industry, Denver

2010-03-17T09:45:00.005-06:00

Maxx Merchants announces a partnership with a POS system for the medical marijuana industry, Denver

Maxx Merchants is proud to announce or partnership with MJ Consulting and Support to provide POS systems for the medical marijuana industry in Denver. Maxx Merchants has achieved very high approval rates for Medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver. Now with their affiliation with MJ Consulting they are able to offer an industry specific POS system for the medical marijuana industry. This industry specific POS system for the medical marijuana industry is called Keystroke POS and it offers a number of very powerful, distinct functions for the medical marijuana industry.

Some of these functions include:

A Gram scale interface

Security camera interface

Automated tiered discounts and pricing based on member type and quantity purchased

Customer tracking – ability to store red card and other picture information

Ability to monitor inventory shrinkage with real time access to inventory

Assignment of medicinal properties for each strain carried

Integrated Credit Card Processing

As a medical marijuana dispensary owner you want to service your patients in the very best way while keeping tight control over your business. That is why the Keystroke POS system for the medical marijuana industry is the very best choice.

It starts with the management of all your patients information including copies of their red card and drivers license. This information is brought up easily on your monitor when the patient checks in. Once your patient makes their selection you easily control inventory with your integrated gram scale and bar code scanner. When scanned, the medical properties are displayed to staff members to coach the patient to select the proper medicine for their specific ailment. If the patient selects multiple strains the Keystroke POS allows you to apply discounts across the entire purchase and not just by product. When the correct medicine is selected, and purchased the receipt reflects the medical properties of each strain so that your patients can evaluate the effectiveness of the medicine. At the same time the inventory level for the strains purchased is updated to reflect the sale amount.

Tight control over your business functions is critical for success. In addition, providing a higher level of customer service ensures loyalty. Take your business to the next level with Maxx Merchants and our industry specific POS system for the medical marijuana industry.

To schedule a demonstration please call (800)917-8026.

Redlands Country Club selects Maxx Merchants for their credit card processing.

2010-02-18T11:57:00.007-07:00

Redlands Country Club selects Maxx Merchants for their credit card processing.

Redlands Country Club has selected Maxx Merchants for all their credit card processing needs. Maxx Merchants was selected based on careful analysis of Maxx’s ability to facilitate the needs of the country club. Redlands Country Club needed a solution that enabled credit card processing for multiple functions within the club. Redlands needed a credit card processing solution for their restaurant, pro-shop, back office and snack bar. Maxx Merchants suggested and approved two merchant accounts for the country club. One merchant account was set up for merchandise sales, membership dues and back office credit card processing needs. The second merchant account was set up for the restaurant and snack bar. Separate merchant ID’s (MID’s) were set up to facilitate easy reporting and enabled the country club to accept tips in the restaurant and snack bar.

Redlands Country Club elected to utilize Maxx Merchants virtual terminal with an associated external card reader. The association of the external card reader in conjunction with the virtual terminal ensures the club receives a card present transactional rate. This solution was implemented in the restaurant, pro-shop and back office. The snack bar was set up with a Nurit 2085 as there was only a telephone line available at the counter.

Maxx Merchants operates out of Denver, Colorado but we are able to help businesses all over the US and the world. If you are looking for a credit card processing solution for your country club than we can help. We can set up your merchant account quickly and at very competitive rates. In addition to our outstanding solutions and rates we are one of the only credit card processors that offer support staff employed by our company that are accessible 24/7. We do not subcontract our customer support. This ensures that all merchants speak to a live person on each and every call, leading to our industry low merchant attrition rate. Let us prove to you that we have the right combination of service and solutions to make your credit card processing a success.

For direct inquiry please dial (800)917.8026.

High Approval Rates on a Merchant Accounts for a Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Denver, Colorado

2010-02-06T20:18:00.007-07:00

High Approval Rates on a Merchant Accounts for a Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Denver, Colorado

Maxx Merchants is your source for merchant accounts for a medical marijuana dispensary in Denver. We have a detailed understanding of the business and can provide the tools necessary to offer your patients the payment options they expect. Many other Colorado banks such as Wells Fargo are turning away businesses looking for merchant accounts for a medical marijuana dispensary. Not Maxx, we have relationships with many financial intuitions across the country and have successful opened numerous merchant accounts for medical marijuana dispensaries.

The medical marijuana dispensary industry has traditionally been a cash based business but with increased competition it becomes important to offer convenience to patients. As with any business it is not reasonable to expect patients to visit the ATM before patronage at the dispensary. Through the addition of a merchant account for your medical marijuana dispensary you are making it easy for your patient to shop with you and return.

Our merchant accounts are easy to set up and facilitate 24-hour turn around on settled charges. All that is needed to set up the merchant account for a medical marijuana dispensary is a state issued business license that indicates the business is a dispensary, a US bank account tied to the business, driver’s license and application.

The merchant account can be set up with a physical terminal that allows for card to be swiped. We recommend the Nurit 2085 as it is a reliable, cheap terminal with printer.

If you have a computer system we recommend the Maxx Merchants virtual terminal. The Virtual Terminal allows for you to capture the transaction through terminal running on your computer. A nice feature with the virtual terminal is the robust reporting it offers. You can run detailed reports on the spending habits of your patients and offer promotions for classes, new services or medicines etc. Again, the idea is to create a more sticky relationship with your patients so they realize the value of your dispensary over the hundreds of others opening every day.

Let Maxx Merchants help you set up a merchant account for a medical marijuana dispensary. A merchant account for your business makes it convenient for your patients to shop with you. Maxx Merchant also offers additional products that help you connect with your patients and offer additional value that you competition is not able to match.

Please contact us directly if you are interested in getting an account set up. (800)917-8026

Maxx Merchants named the preferred merchant service provider for Big Frog custom t-shits and more, Denver, Colorado

2009-12-08T15:32:00.008-07:00

Maxx Merchants named the preferred merchant service provider for Big Frog custom t-shits and more, Denver Colorado.

Maxx Merchants is proud to announce that we have been named the preferred merchant service provider for Big Frog custom t-shits and more. Maxx Merchants was named the preferred merchant service provider because of our low rates, superior level of merchant support and ease of account creation. Big Frog came to Maxx in an effort to simplify the process of establishing new franchise locations. With each new location a merchant account is needed. Maxx Merchants was brought in to streamline the merchant account creation process.

Our dedicated sales and support staff are readily available to help Big Frog’s franchisees understand the details of their new merchant account. This process entails going over the process flow for how a transaction is completed. We also like to discuss interchange and the role it plays in the fees the merchant is charged. We discuss our connection with the Point of Sales (POS) system. Lastly we fully disclose all rate and fees charged for service.

Once the franchisee understands the process we complete the application and submit their package to underwriting for approval. Approval of the account is complete in 1 to 3 business days. Once approved Maxx Merchants contacts the POS vendor on behalf of the merchant and ensures their POS is configured correctly. At that point the Big Frog Franchise Point of Sale system is shipped to the franchisee ready to accept payments.

As the preferred merchant service provider for Big Frog, Maxx Merchants continues our commitment to provide the very best possible merchant experience for our customers. As a preferred merchant service provider we offer a dedicated a supports staff comprised of employees of the company and not subcontractors. This attention to customer service ensures that merchant issues are resolved on the first contact and helps us maintain one of the lowest merchant attrition rates in the industry.

Our success is based solely on the success of our merchants and we take that very seriously!

Maxx Merchants partners with LoveMyCharity.com

2009-10-20T12:05:00.005-06:00

Maxx Merchants is proud to announce our partnership with LoveMyCharity.com to facilitate charitable donations. Love My Charity needed a merchant services provider that could easily and inexpensively integrate a donation function into their website. The Maxx Merchants Payment Gateway was the solution. The Maxx Payment Gateway is designed to easily communicate with a non-profit’s existing merchant account or a new Maxx merchant account making it easy for new non-profit organizations to join the Love My Charity website in a quick and straight forward manner.

LoveMyCharity.com is a 100% fee-free online auction service for buyers, sellers, and non-profit organizations. LoveMyCharity.com’s goal is to help non-profits easily gain donations through a unique and safe fundraising opportunity.

The idea is simple and very effective. Through eliminating all the fees associated with selling to a nationwide audience everyone involved in the transaction wins. Here is how it works.

Jane decides to sell her laptop computer.
Jane uses LoveMyCharity.com to sell her laptop and wants to donate 10% of the proceeds from the sale to her favorite non-profit.
John visits LoveMyCharity.com and decides to buy Jane’s laptop.
John pays Jane for the Laptop and 10% of the proceeds are automatically donated to the selected non-profit. (Automation facilitated through the Maxx Gateway)
John gets his laptop while Jane earns a tax write-off for her donation and everyone feels great about the exchange.

The LoveMyCharity.com website is simple and easy to use making it a fun and safe place to buy and sell!

EZGO select Maxx Merchants for their direct to consumer on-line retail store.

2009-08-28T14:01:00.005-06:00

E-Z-GO (A division of The Textron Company) selects Maxx Merchants as the merchant service provider for their official site for genuine E-Z-GO parts & accessories for golf gars & utility vehicles. http://www.shopezgo.com/

Maxx Merchants was chosen for our speed to market, robust reporting platform, integration simplicity and PCI compliance.

E-Z-GO had a very tight schedule to get http://www.shopezgo.com/ live and operational. Maxx Merchants was given 3 weeks to satisfy requirements, gather required documents, underwrite the account and get the solution live. Maxx met the deadline and the solution is live.

Another key requirement for E-Z-GO was a reporting system that enables their treasury department to reconcile all orders taken on the website. The Maxx Merchants Payment Gateway was able to satisfy all E-Z-GO’s requirements with our robust reporting platform that enables clients to capture and report on up to 20 merchant defined fields that can be implemented without custom code.

Given E-Z-GO’s timeframe to have their site up, it was critical for the Maxx Merchants Payment Gateway to integrate quickly with their custom shopping cart. Precis E-Business Platform has developed a turn key integration with the Maxx Gateway for easy integration and deployment.

It was extremely important for the new http://www.shopezgo.com/ website to be completely PCI Compliant to ensure that all customer credit card numbers are managed appropriately. The Maxx Payment Gateway and Maxx Merchant account are 100% PCI compliant and secure.

Delight.com chooses Maxx Merchants for their eCommerce business

2009-08-28T13:28:00.003-06:00

Delight.com needed an alternative to PayPal’s merchant services for their online gift store. As Delight’s business grows it has become increasingly important for Delight.com to have their own MID (Merchant Identification) number. This ensures that Delight.com has control over the account and access to funds. Maxx Merchants was able to quickly setup a merchant account and payment gateway in order to meet Delight.com’s transition deadline. Maxx was able to roll out a solution in a short amount of time given the fact that the Maxx Payment Gateway is pre-configured to work with the 25 most common shopping carts currently available. In addition to the ease of integration Delight.com needed a solution with top quality customer service. It is important to speak to an actual person when calling in for support and with Maxx Merchants customer support that is exactly what they get – a live person available 27 hours a day 7 days a week to help with any questions or concerns that arise with the account.

L.V. Appraisal Services chooses Maxx Merchants for their simplicity

2009-06-23T15:47:00.003-06:00

L.V. Appraisal Services needed an easy credit card processing solution to complete payments for real estate appraisals. Maxx Merchants was able to set them up with the virtual terminal in which payments can be transacted from any internet connected device. This makes it very easy for L.V. Appraisals to capture payment for appraisals before the appraisal is rendered. Most of the time the appraisal is paid for at closing as a line item on the HUD – 1. If the property does not close the appraiser is stuck trying to collect from the lender or the client. With a merchant account in place L.V. Appraisals can now concentrate on the appraisal and not on getting paid.

Next View Business Technology selects Maxx Merchants for their ease of use.

2009-06-23T15:32:00.003-06:00

Next View Inc. required a merchant account be set up quickly that enabled mobility in credit card processing. Maxx Merchants was able to get a new account set up for Next View in 3 business days. In addition Next View choose to go with the free iPhone credit card terminal offered through Maxx Merchant Services. Enter referral code RSM03 when requesting an account. The iPhone credit Card terminal turns any iPhone into a mobile credit card processing terminal, perfect for business that conduct payment processing on the clients site.

Maxx Merchant Service Free iPhone Credit Card Terminal

2009-05-28T16:08:00.005-06:00

Accept credit cards anywhere, anyplace, anytime on your internet connected iPhone. Never pass on a charge only opportunity or sale again!

FREE Mobile Processing Solution IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

Maxx Merchant Services mobile credit card terminal is your FREE application for mobile processing and accepting credit card payments both in and out of the office. Swap meets, street fairs, antique shows, mobile detailing, on-site consultants, taxi cab drivers, tour guides.. the list is endless on who could benefit by offering the convenience of accepting credit cards on the spot and the peace of mind getting immediate authorization for the charges.

Extensive Coverage Area
WiFi, 3G or Edge

Wherever there is an internet connection available, your iPhone or iTouch is ready to process charge card transactions. Maxx Mobile works through the Maxx Merchant Services gateway. Not currently a Maxx Merchant user? NO PROBLEM! A special gateway request form has been incorported into the software. You can easily and conveniently request your Maxx Merchant Services gateway account and start processing mobile transactions in no time at all!

Larimer Supper Club selects Maxx Merchant Services

2009-05-28T15:24:00.005-06:00

Larimer Supper Club choose Maxx Merchant Services for their easy to implement payment processing solutions. Maxx was able to get a payment system up and running in 3 business days. By expanding their payment options, the Larimer Supper Club is able to turn more tables and increase their bottom line.

The Larimer Supper Club went with the Maxx Merchant Services virtual terminal as their point of sale solution. A MagTek external card reader was implemented at the register to ensure the merchant receives the best available qualified rate. The Maxx Merchant Services virtual terminal also offers the flexibility of a mobile solution for the catering department.

Transactions for catering engagements can now be charged on site with a Blackberry or iPhone.

The virtual terminal allows for a credit card to be transacted from any internet enabled device. This convenience helps the Larimer Supper Club simplify the payment process while adding an additional level of security for their customers. Credit card numbers are no longer captured in a hard copy format to be entered at a later time. The credit card it transacted upon completion of the service and the number is not stored.

Image Wraps selects Maxx Merchant Services to decrease deposit funding time

2009-05-06T17:18:00.004-06:00

Maxx Merchant Services drastically reduced the turn around associated with converting customer purchases into cash deposits for Image Wraps. Image Wraps came to MAXX with a common problem in which their cash flow was held up by a slow merchant processor. The merchant processor was taking 96 hours to complete funding for Image Wraps and subsequently handcuffing them from using their working capital.

Maxx Merchant Services was able to transfer Image wraps onto another front end network and reduce the funding time from 96 hours to 36 hours. In addition to increasing the funding turnaround MAXX was able to streamline Image Wraps payment processing through implementation of the Maxx Merchant Virtual Terminal. The Virtual Terminal allows Image Wraps to quickly and easily complete customer payment from any location with an internet connection or internet enabled mobile device including the iPhone and Blackberrry.

Maxx Merchant Services selected as the preferred Merchant services provider for ReSource Inc.

2009-04-21T14:12:00.004-06:00

Maxx Merchant Services is very excited to be selected as the preferred payment processing services provider for ReSource Inc. ReSource provides enhanced Point of Sale software systems which includes custom package estimation, shipping, POS, inventory and mailbox solutions. Maxx Merchants has partnered with ReSource to ensure the very best rates for electronic payments made through ReSource POS systems. Additionally, Maxx Merchants brings their world class customer service and account maintenance to all ReSource deployments.

Jo Martucci, senior sales manager “ReSource has been in the POS industry for over 20 years. After evaluating several credit card servicing companies, we chose Maxx Merchants, Alex Neir. Alex has a great knowledge of the industry, a professional and courteous approach while offering very competitive rates. Our vendors are a representation of ReSource as a company so we partner with companies who have high standards, are reliable, knowledgeable and professional. Maxx Merchants is all of that. We are very pleased with the service Alex and Maxx Merchants provide our customers and look forward to a long working relationship.”

Strategic partnership with Precis E-Business Agency

2009-04-21T13:10:00.004-06:00

Maxx Merchant Services is very pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Precis E-Business Agency. MAXX sees Precis as a leader in the E-business and Ecommerce industry with their best-in-class E-business platform™. Maxx Merchants has committed to provide Precis clients everything they need to accept payments via credit card, online check and ACH at the very best rates available. Additionally, our commitment to client customer support is paramount, leading to our industry low annual attrition rate. We are one of the few payment processors today that offer a dedicated 24/7 help desk staffed by MAXX employees and not subcontracted to a third‐party or network vendor. By committing our products and resources to a partnership with Precis, we are ensuring your success in E-Business and electronic payment processing!

Colorado Deckscapes selects Maxx Merchants

2009-02-10T13:01:00.004-07:00

Colorado Deckscapes selects Maxx Merchant Services to increase business through the use of the Maxx Merchants Virtual Terminal.

Colorado Deckscapes specializes in creative outdoor living projects that include decks, fencing, trellises, pergolas, retaining walls, fire pits, built-in grills, interior/exterior tile work and much more.

Colorado Deckscapes wanted the ability to quickly and professionally complete customer billing at the job site once the project was complete. The process was cumbersome as the owner needed to cart around a credit card terminal and hope the job site had a phone line to connect to. If the job site did not have a phone line the owner would need to write down the credit card information to process later. In addition to paying a higher rate for keying the card into the terminal there was additional risk by carrying a hard copy of the credit card information.

Maxx Merchant Services was able to streamline Colorado Desckscapes business process with the introduction of the Maxx Virtual Terminal. Now the owner carries his internet enabled laptop, iPhone or Blackberry to the jobsite for credit card processing. The owner prefers to bring up the virtual terminal via his laptop. With the addition of a USB connected Mini Magnetic Card Swipe reader he is able to swipe the clients card capturing all the credit card information safely and quickly. Once the transaction completes the owner can email a copy of the receipt to the client.

Colorado Deckscapes business process is improved in a number of ways. The interaction with the client is much more professional. The rate the owner is charged for the transaction is as low as possible as the transaction qualifies as a swiped, card present transaction. All the transactions run for the business can be exported to Quickbooks for easy accounting.

Maxx Merchant Services strives to understand merchant business needs to help design a payment solution to help increase efficiency, professionalism and ease of use.

Paper Ware of Colorado selects Maxx Merchant Services for their credit card processing

2009-02-10T12:13:00.005-07:00

Maxx Merchant Services was able to save Paper Wares approximately $270 a month on their credit card processing. This savings is a direct result of detailed analysis of Paper Wares credit cards processing statement in addition to understanding how the Paper Wares is currently conducting business.

Paper Wares offers Wedding invitations, announcements and Wedding accessories including guest books, flower girl baskets, ring pillows, unity candles, napkins and much more! Custom invitations and papers for rehearsal dinners, showers, save-the-dates and programs.

With each new merchant interaction we try to assume a consultants role. First we need to understand the merchants business and processing requirements. Next we conduct a detailed analysis of the merchants processing statements to determine how they are being priced and what fees they are being charged.

We like to go over the statement with the merchant to make sure they understand how the pricing is set up. This is a critical step because more often than not the statements are very complex and often confusing.

Once we have a good understanding of their current pricing we introduce the cost analysis we have prepared. The Maxx Merchant Services cost analysis is a side by side comparison of the fees and rates the merchant is currently charged compared to the rates Maxx can provide. Often the savings are substantial.

Through a combination of expert service and low rates Maxx Merchant Services is able to save merchants money and become a merchant partner rather than just a processor.