More Reasons to Accept Credit Cards for Business Online
As if you needed more reasons to accept credit cards for business online, 2010 makes credit cards safer and easier to use.
If you don't already accept credit cards for business you do online, you're in a small minority, and it's time to change! While it's true that not all online business involves credit cards, the vast majority of consumers are no longer willing to incur the trouble and expense of sending checks and money orders. By all means, keep these payment options -- but if you want to succeed, you really must start accepting credit cards.
Why accept credit cards for business?
We live in a world of instant gratifications, and people don't like to wait around. Think of the increased turnaround time involved in using non-instant methods of payment. For example, if your customer pays with a check, you have to wait for the check to reach you, then wait for it to clear. You've added at least a week and more likely three or four to the time before you can ship your customer's goods.
With a credit card, everything is instantaneous. The customer pays, you send. You get your money, they get their products. Everything is great.
In addition, as you probably know, people tend to have more respect for companies who accept credit cards for business. It looks more professional and gives the sense that you're an established company, not a kid who set up a shop in Mom's basement!
How to get started
The quickest and easiest way to accept credit cards for business you do online is through PayPal. PayPal allows you to accept cards without going through a bank or getting any personal information from your customers, which not only makes life easier but makes customers feel more secure. It allows you to bank on PayPal's name, which people generally trust.
PayPal does charge fees, but so does a merchant account, which will allow you to accept credit cards directly through your bank. This is certainly a viable option, but keep in mind that it does make for a slightly more complicated process.
At any rate, I hope it's clear that to have any success with online business, you must be able to accommodate your customers' needs. In the twenty first century's second decade, that means you need to accept credit cards for business you do online.
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