Merchant account services enable businesses and individuals to process credit card payments from their customers. Its a special account tied to a credit card processor that works with their customers bank to help route payments into the bank account. Not all small businesses are able to qualify for a merchant account so there are alternatives. In the following few paragraphs I will break down what some of those alternatives are.

One way to accept credit cards online is to use an online payment processor for a percentage and or a per transaction fee. Here are a few for you to look into:

Here are some merchant account programs and services to look into:

1. http://www.PayPal.com
2. http://www.StormPay.com
3. http://www.995merchantaccounts.com/
4. http://www.authorize.net/
5. http://www.cybercash.com/
6. https://www.verisign.com
7. http://www.2checkout.com/

Internet Merchant Accounts fees can vary from upfront application fees, per transaction fees and also a percentage of the transaction. Others charge you a flat rate amount per month and a flat rate per transaction fee in the neighborhood of around $1.50 to $3.00. In your research please choose wisely.

Some of the above named merchant accounts are free and others charge a one-time setup fee. Be sure to read the fine print for the percentage they charge you because you better believe that the merchant account service companies are in the business to make money too. They are allowing you the business owner, online business owner to utilize their merchant account services for a small cut. For most people and small businesses this will do but as your business begins to grow and you can justify the cost I would look into obtaining your own merchant account where you can negotiate the fees based on the volume of business you are bringing through that merchant account services company.