Merchant Account for my Photography Business

[jcon]

After hearing my customers voice their frustration over me not having online ordering or accepting credit cards(Yea I know, Im still in the stone age, LOL) I have decided to open up to the idea. My problem is, I dont know where to begin. My online store is taken care of, I just dont know where to turn for the wireless terminals, processing and everything else thats needed. When I first started my business, I was flooded with mail that advertised Merchant Accounts, but I just dont know who/what to trust. So, my question is this.. anyone here have personal experience with stuff like this that could lend some input into my situation and offer suggestions?

Thank you for any help!

[Jrb350z]

I would check with your local bank as they could probably do that for you. I work at a bank and we offer that service, that is why I'm suggesting it. Also, if you go with a local bank and you have a problem you know where to go to get help.

[cdifoto]

If you already have credit card processing for your website (assuming it's not PayPal), talk to that provider. No sense opening multiple accounts when you can just get a terminal and activate that through the provider you already use. Terminals can be purchased on eBay by the way. It's just a matter of getting it set up with your current processor.

If you're using PayPal on the website and need to start from scratch, I'm using a company called National Merchant BanCard via Authorize.net. It's probably not the best value around but it's pretty good for me since I'm low-volume.

[Rhys]

Can I also suggest GPay or WorldPay?

I prefer cash payments but take cheques (under duress). No way, no how am I going to bother with credit cards - unless it's through a 3rd party website such as Smugmug.

[cdifoto]

Can I also suggest GPay or WorldPay?

I prefer cash payments but take cheques (under duress). No way, no how am I going to bother with credit cards - unless it's through a 3rd party website such as Smugmug.
You're not a business man. You should stop trying to give business advice.

[Rhys]

You're not a business man. You should stop trying to give business advice.

I've been in business longer than you've been alive. I have never ever taken credit cards and never ever will.

[cdifoto]

I've been in business longer than you've been alive. I have never ever taken credit cards and never ever will.
It doesn't matter how long you've been doing something if you've sucked at it the entire time.

Quality beats quantity when you're a small business.

[Rhys]

There's more to business than simply existing. Everything you do and all the "advice" you give is counter to current trends.

I'm in business to make money - period.

"in God we trust, others pay cash". I take cash only for bookings up to the day before the event. I take cheques up to a month before the event. I do not take credit cards as so many are fraudulent and I'm not in business to take a loss from a crook.

[cdifoto]

I'm in business to make money - period.

"in God we trust, others pay cash". I take cash only for bookings up to the day before the event. I take cheques up to a month before the event. I do not take credit cards as so many are fraudulent and I'm not in business to take a loss from a crook.
The odds of someone using a stolen credit card for their wedding photography are very very slim.

[Rhys]

The odds of someone using a stolen credit card for their wedding photography are very very slim.

LOL.

And you're willing to lose a $2,500 wedding income to fraud?

[jcon]

Thanks for the input everyone. Authorize.net sounds familiar, I think they came up in a search I did last night.

I think I might also contact my local bank to see what they offer.

As for the credit card "issue", a photographer that has been in business for 30 years here told me he has had only ONE issue with a credit card the entire 30 years.. not bad if you ask me!

Also, are terminals all the same or are some better than the other?

Thanks for all the help guys, it really is appreciated!

[cdifoto]

LOL.

And you're willing to lose a $2,500 wedding income to fraud?
Am I willing to lose $2500 to fraud? No, of course not.

Am I willing to risk losing $2500 to fraud because it means the potential to make $1,000,000+ more over my lifetime because I'm providing a convenient method of payment? Of course!

[cdifoto]

Thanks for the input everyone. Authorize.net sounds familiar, I think they came up in a search I did last night.

I think I might also contact my local bank to see what they offer.

As for the credit card "issue", a photographer that has been in business for 30 years here told me he has had only ONE issue with a credit card the entire 30 years.. not bad if you ask me!

Also, are terminals all the same or are some better than the other?

Thanks for all the help guys, it really is appreciated!
Authorize.net is a huge and popular gateway. They've been around for quite awhile.

I do suggest find out what your bank can offer. They might be able to give you better rates and benefits.

I'm not sure about terminals. I don't have a retail/studio location so I didn't get one. I use my laptop and internet connection to take credit cards in person and/or over the phone.

[Csae]

So wait, if someone paid me money through paypal with a stolen credit card... i'd incurr the loss ?

: O

I like being small time and not worry about these kind of things : o

[cdifoto]

Well you do have to take reasonable measures like checking to see if the address provided matches that of the credit card. The administration side of PayPal, authorize.net, etc will tell you things like that. If they don't match, don't ship the item or provide the service. Refund the money.

Most fraudsters don't know the address associated with the card they stole.

Also, not many people will pay face-to-face with a stolen card. Especially for photography services. The chances are greater that they'll be trying to buy your camera with a stolen card rather than your time.

[cdifoto]

For the record I sell quite a bit of product online and I offer PayPal, checks, and credit cards direct as payment options. Yes I've lost some money (probably $200-300 or so at most in 6 years), but I made MUCH more than that in profits. You build some loss into the cost of doing business. That's just how it goes, especially dealing with anonymous customers over the internet. But I wouldn't have made probably one percent of the sales I made if I said cash only.

Person-to-person sales of low-risk services/items is MUCH less risky no matter what payment methods you accept.

[cdifoto]

Keep in mind too that very few people carry cash anymore. I know I seldom do and I was annoyed (as was a client of mine) when we met at a coffee shop and found out they didn't take credit or debit cards. We didn't order anything because we didn't have cash on us so the shop lost out. We still discussed business there though. ;)

And that was just coffee. Wedding photographers are thousands of dollars. Who carries that much cash around? I know I don't. I also wouldn't pay thousands of dollars in cash to a vendor of any description. There's no protection for the consumer when they pay with cash.

If you accept credit cards, people will buy more from you too, since they can just charge it. People are likely backing off of that mentality a LITTLE more these days since that's what got us into this mess in the first place, but it's still going to mean they'll probably spend more than they normally would if they had to use what they actually had in the bank or carry it around in paper form.

[jcon]

Keep in mind too that very few people carry cash anymore. I know I seldom do and I was annoyed (as was a client of mine) when we met at a coffee shop and found out they didn't take credit or debit cards. We didn't order anything because we didn't have cash on us so the shop lost out.

Thats exactly why I decided to open up to credit/debit cards. My customers have been pushing for awhile now.

Thanks again for your first hand suggestions!

[rmbrewer1]

I work at a bank and can give you a great company to work with. You don't have to have your account with us, you can use your existing bank accounts. I'll try to get you the number tomorrow if you would like it. They are very competitive with rates and equipment rentals or purchases. They also do check guarantee and several other programs. It would not hurt for you to call them.

The only merchant processing companies that I have seen beat their prices are the "fly by night" type that quote extremely low rates for the first couple of months if you get them at all. Then once you have signed and they have all your info, you're screwed.

[jcon]

Any avenues for this would help, so pass along any info that you are willing to share! Its all greatly appreciated! If you dont want to post the info here, you are welcomed to PM me. Thanks!