Merchant Services in 2022
Merchant services are a crucial component of any business’s financial ecosystem, as we move into 2022. Accepting payments through the secure channels with your customers is one way you can keep them coming back for more! If you are a seasoned business owner, then it is likely that you have heard about merchant services. However, there are many terms associated with credit card processing that often even the seasoned merchants find confusing. Merchant services is generally considered an alternate term for credit card processing. But it is more than that, and you should certainly familiarize yourself with merchant services to ensure business success. Understanding merchant services is also important because it helps you choose the right provider for your business.
What is Merchant Services?
The term “merchant services” may seem confusing to many as it refers to a wide range of financial processes and services. Generally, it is referred to accepting and processing credit card payments. However, with time, the definition of merchant services has expanded to include the various payment processing methods and tools used in your business. The financial industry is a competitive, fast-paced field that requires strong communication skills to succeed in. Merchant Services refers specifically the process of accepting payments through credit cards or debit cards at your business’s Point Of Sale (POS) system with an encrypted channel for secure transactions using NFC/RFID enabled devices among others things!
Before the internet became mainstream, merchant services depended on countertop terminals to process services, input card payments, etc. In 2022, it’s much more complex because of the rapid growth of the ecommerce industry. Software products like payment gateways let customers pay directly online, while online reporting and inventory management services provide merchants with the ability to track basically all aspects of a business on a computer. Companies that offer these products and services are called merchant service providers. In the past, merchant services were dependent on countertop terminals to process payments. These days it’s much more complex due ecommerce industry growth which led software products like payment gateways that let customers pay directly online while also providing business owners with tracking information for their inventory management needs.
Why Are Merchant Services Necessary in 2022?
Merchant services are the most crucial part of the payment transaction process between customers and businesses. Merchant services allow you to maintain your business in the most efficient way possible without having to spend a lot of your valuable time at the banks. These days, they have become a necessity in the business industry as more and more people have started to join the online business agenda and they will be even more invaluable in 2022 as the ecommerce industry grows.
Merchants and payment processing services have always been a crucial part of any business transaction. Therefore it’s so important to use the most efficient means possible, without having wait around at banks for long periods or spend hours doing things you can easily automate with an app! These days everyone in this industry uses some form online sales; if your company isn’t already taking advantage then they soon will be because more people than ever before are joining forces together – all driven by technology like mobile wallets (which doesn’t require cash).
Building an online business requires a lot of consideration and the ability to accept card payments is one of the necessary aspects. Payments from customers are going to let you continue your business operations and work on growing your business. But if there is a lack of payment options, your customers won’t be able to use your services. That’s where payment gateways play their part. They allow you to accept a wide variety of debit and credit cards on your website and transfer your money into your merchant account. Merchant services are necessary if you want to integrate a payment gateway onto your site.
What Are Fair Merchant Service Fees in 2022?
In simple terms, merchant service fees are the fees that you pay to your payment processor or bank in order to process your transaction payments. This fee is calculated as a fixed fee or percentage of every transaction where a customer taps, inserts, or swipes their card at your terminal.
In terms of fair merchant service fees, the deciding factor is your effective rate i.e. the ratio of all processing costs to your total sales volume, shown as a percentage. Considering this, following are some things you should look for in a fair merchant service pricing quote:
- Monthly billing without any long-term contract.
- No equipment leasing fees.
- Membership, interchange-plus, or flat-rate pricing, depending on your sales volume.
- Low recurring fees that the processor discloses before you sign up.
- No early termination fee if you close your account early.
If you are a regular business, then your effective rate should be no higher than about 3-4%, ( Current Interchange, plus fees and assessments ). On the other hand, you can expect to pay much more in fees and rates if you are a high-risk merchant. If you are already accepting debit and credit card payments, you can determine your effective rate by assessing your most recent card processing statements.
How Do You Get Approved for Merchant Service?
Merchant service providers can be held liable for refunding customers if merchants accept payments but fail to deliver the product or service they advertise. That’s why merchant service providers look at various factors before approving a merchant account. These factors include the following:
- The industry the business belongs to.
- The average size of business’s transactions.
- How much credit card volume the business accepts
- The delay between when a customer makes a payment and when they receive their product/service.
Generally, a merchant service provider will also perform a personal credit check on the business owner or ask for the financial statements of their business to ensure that it can support potential chargebacks and refunds. So, if you want to increase your chances of approval for merchant services, you will need to consider all the above-listed aspects, e.g. having financial statements ready, a cover letter, good processing history, etc. Furthermore, you should also take a step further and explain to the merchant service provider why you should be approved for merchant services and why you are not high of a risk for them.
What if We Get Declined for Merchant Services?
Getting declined for merchant services is similar to why you might get declined for a loan from the bank – you don’t have enough history. So, if you are a startup or new business, the merchant service provider cannot assess what you have done before, so they will consider you as a risky investment. In such a scenario, waiting and developing a more extensive financial history really helps.
However, if you are a seasoned business and you still got declined for merchant services, then it is recommended that you talk to the merchant service provider. Ask them to see what’s wrong. Find out if there is anything that you can do as a business to alter their decision. Such an approach might also help you clear up anything questionable from your business’s financial history and once you do that, the provider will be convinced to change their decision.
And if all your efforts fail, then you can always try a different merchant service provider, particularly the one that is willing to take on high-risk merchant services. However, keep in mind that partnering with a high-risk merchant processor means you are willing to pay higher fee that usually accompanies a high-risk merchant account provider.
In conclusion, merchant services are crucial for the success of a business nowadays. And while merchant services industry is complex and extensive, that doesn’t mean you cannot find the right solution that suits your business. By breaking down your merchant service preferences and needs and carefully exploring the features and pricing of each provider, there is no doubt you will be able to find the best solution for your business.
About The Author:
Mark Sands, the co-founder of High Risk Merchant Account LLC, a high-risk merchant processor, that specializes in high risk merchant accounts for small businesses, throughout the United States. The founder is an authoritative expert in the high-risk merchant account space. Mark has decades of experience in the payment industry & enjoys writing on industry-related topics. Mark Sands is always available to assist new business owners with solutions to start-up pain.