What is a Payment Gateway?
A payment gateway is a software that allows you to accept payments via credit cards, debit cards, etc. Generally a shopping cart is connected to a merchant account using a payment gateway, and usually all 3 are required to accept credit cards online. A payment gateway such as Authorize.net or NMI allows you to transmit and store sensitive credit card information in a secure environment.
What is the Difference between a Payment Gateway and a Merchant Account?
A payment gateway is highly sophisticated software that integrates with an online shopping cart or software system and transmits the transaction to your merchant account or processor. Just as the little black terminal on the counter of your favorite sandwich shop transmits your card holder data when the clerk swipes your credit card through it, a payment gateway transmits your customers data in a similar way, albeit with many more features and security measures in place. The merchant account is your business relationship that underwrites your account, and actually deposits the funds into your business bank account. It can get confusing, and we are happy to go over it with you in detail so please feel free to use the contact us form, or call us any time with questions.
Do I Need Both a Merchant Account AND a Gateway?
Generally to process cards online you need payment gateway software such as Authorize.net or NMI and a merchant account which is the relationship that actually processes the cards and deposits the funds into your bank account. I strongly suggest you use the same provider for your credit card processing and your gateway whether it be through us, or another provider (of course we hope you’ll choose us!). Getting your merchant account through one vendor, and your gateway through another can create “he said she said” issues, additionally it adds layers of fees than can be avoided by using one vendor.
I have been told I am “high risk” and am having a hard time getting a gateway and a merchant account. Can you help me?
We have over 9 years experience, and know all the major players in the domestic credit card processing industry. Simply fill out the “contact us” page with a description of your product, and the challenges you have had in the past and we will get right back to you with recommendations. Our processing partners work with merchants who sell firearms, ammunition, weight loss products, time shares, travel packages, fantasy sports leagues, electronic cigarettes / even e-cigarettes with nicotine, Biz-ops / business opportunity products, nutraceuticals such as male vitality, enhancement, DR / direct response merchants, Online and retail FFL Dealers, weight loss, HCG / human chorionic gonadotropin, pre-paid phone cards, online dating, novelties, and MLM / multi level marketing companies! Call or contact us, we are happy to help!
How Do I Choose a Payment Gateway and a Reseller?
When it comes to selecting the right payment gateway and reseller, you want to work with someone who will take the time and explain things, someone who is trying to actually help you rather than just make a sale. We enjoy taking the time with both our new clients and potential clients. We are happy to help even if you are just checking things out, don’t know where to start, or are with someone else and not quite ready to switch. We often earn our customers business months or years after we first speak. Contact us anytime, we are always happy to help.
Do I need a shopping cart?
Depending on what kind of transactions you are looking at processing through your website, a shopping cart may or may not be necessary. For people selling one item, taking donations, or selling tickets, using Authorize.net and a simple checkout “buy now” button will do what you need and save you time, money, and effort that would normally go into configuring and maintaining a shopping cart solution. On the other hand, for a more complex online retail experience where you will have several items with varying price points, a shopping cart is probably a good choice.
Some popular ecommerce shopping cart and CRM software solutions are Drupal, WHMCS, OSCommerce, Evoplanning, Shopify, Infusionsoft, AspDotNetStorefront, Cube Cart, Magento, Open Cart, Virtue Mart, Wazala, WP E-Commerce, & Zen Cart. As always, we’re happy to take your questions, so give us a call or email us and we can help you make the right decision for your business.
We are always here to help. If you have questions, please feel free to call us at (207) 772-8737 or visit our contact us page. Even if you are not ready yet. Even if you are with another provider and you are not interested in switching yet.I regularly earn clients' business years after we first speak.
All the Best,
Tasker Payment Gateways is a Maine-based payment gateway reseller that strives to help whether you are a small business who knows nothing of online shopping carts, or a well-seasoned internet guru simply looking for the best Authorize.net gateway reseller. We pride ourselves on being the only place you need to be when looking for a way to take credit cards online, and offer the most popular payment gateways, pre-configured and fully integrated with all credit card types so you can be up and running day quickly, and inexpensively.
We offer the some of the cheapest authorize.net payment gateway rates anywhere and also offer Network Merchant Inc's NMI gateway and the USA ePay.
Tasker Payment Gateways services merchants nationwide, from coast-to-coast, and even in Canada!
Call Matt with any questions, or use the contact us page and he will be more than happy to help.
