This is a Guest Post by David Rodwell. David is experienced in e-commerce, retail and online business. You can find more of his articles located at CreditCardProcessing.net.

Just as there are different types of businesses, there are a variety of credit card processing companies designed to meet the needs of business owners in the different industries. Small business owners know that finding the right credit card processor can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars in fees each year. One of the biggest mistakes a small business owner makes when selecting a credit card processing company is to simply pick the first one they come across instead of doing their research. So then how do you find the right credit card processing company for your small business?

ere are four important considerations when comparing different credit card processing companies for your small business processing needs:


Security of Customer Information

As a business accepting credit cards, you must take responsibility for the safety of your customers’ credit card details and identity. When comparing different credit card processors, it's necessary to research their history and whether or not they are providing security to the credit cards they process. As a business owner, you make sure your own staff is trained properly to handle customer credit card data so that it's secure from the moment you take the card for payment until the time the payment is physically processed electronically.


Able to Meet Your Card Processing Demands

A credit card processing company you choose must be able to meet the demands of your business.  Online retailers have different needs than a retail store; restaurants process a different volume of cards than the local gas station. Think about how your own business operates, how many credit cards you are likely to process daily, and review credit card processing companies to find one that can match your volume.

Affordable Processing Fees

When you have an idea for the volume of credit card orders you will be processing, you can begin comparing credit card processing company fees. If you have a high risk business, such as an online company or one that deals with gambling, you will pay higher processing fees than more traditional businesses. Regardless of the industry your small business falls into, you want to select a processing company that offers straight forward pricing and fees. Make sure there are no “hidden fees” or unexplained costs associated with accepting credit cards. When you evaluate different fees from several different credit card companies, also take a moment to review their service contracts. Will you be locked into the credit card processor for a specific length of time or face an early termination fee if you decide to switch processing companies?


Company Customer Service

Finally, once you've considered whether a credit card processing company can meet your credit card transaction volume needs, offers a secure environment for your customer's personal information, and charges affordable and straight forward fees – you want to consider the customer service the company offers. You will probably have to work with your processing provider at times, and you want to be sure you can call and talk to a representative to get your questions answered quickly and efficiently.

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