The Money Side of e-Commerce

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Online Merchant Accounts

For an online business, merchant accounts are a basic necessity. The ability to process customer credit card information on the web can dramatically increase your online sales!
For Major Businesses
The best bet is to get an online merchant account with the major bank you use for business banking. However, those are subject to business credit review and usually can cost more per online transaction than with other forms of online merchant accounts.
For home-based and small online businesses
we recommend the use of an online merchant account.
Some examples of Online accounts are:-


Electronic Transfer has some of the lowest rates of any online merchant account on the Internet. With a transaction fee of only $.30 and a 2.25% discount fee, Electronic Transfer charges no startup fees of any kind. While most merchant accounts have application fees or a site inspection fee attached to them, you won't have to pay those costs to get started with Electronic Transfer, Inc.
Also, with many online merchant account providers, you will still have to get approved for American Express and Discover on your own. When you sign up for Electronic Transfer, you get setup for
Visa
MC
AMEX
Discover!
Electronic Transfer also provides a free shopping cart with each account, the ability to setup recurring billing, and the ability to accept Internet checks. And 98% of applicants are approved, including home-based businesses. Even if you have questionable credit or you have been turned down elsewhere, ETI can help you get an online merchant account.



PayPal is often overlooked as an online merchant account, but they offer a very affordable means for accepting credit cards with no startup costs & no monthly fees. PayPal also has low transaction fees as compared to the average online merchant account. All you have to do is setup your free PayPal business or premier account.
Just add one of PayPal's Website Payment buttons to your website. Your customer clicks on the button and then pays you with a credit card or bank checking account in one simple step. The payment is sent directly to your business or premier account, and your customer is returned to your website -- it's that easy!
Details taken from www.adamssite.com

Cheques and postal orders
Alternatively and more traditionally a trader can use good old fashioned cheques and postal orders and rely on the post to receive their payments!