Merchant Account and Gateway for new startup.

[Greyeye]

I am part of a new company that has a completed shrink wrap product we want to sell on the web. We completed our website with the intention of using Pay Pal Website Payments Pro. However, after wrangling with them for four weeks after being turned down with no explanation, we have decided to look for another solution. We would like to use Authorize.net combined with a merchant account. I need some advice on what merchant account to select. So far I have ruled out Card Services and Wells Fargo. Does anybody have any suggestions? I have looked at Merchant Warehouse and they look like a professional company with reasonable rates but they are internet only so that makes me a tad bit nervous. Thanks for your assistance...

Greyeye

[The Contractor]

Too many to even talk about (although the actual card processors/clearing houses are few). Try your local bank whom you already have a relationship with. When choosing a gateway like Authorize.net etcetera, stay with the big names for cart integration purposes.

Here is a link for research purposes. There are multiple places to look from here [dmoz.org...]

[Corey Bryant]

Keep in mind that Authorize.net is only an electronic payment gateway (like LinkPoint / Payflow).

Chase / Paymentech is the largest.

-Corey

[edited by: lorax at 1:22 am (utc) on Feb. 16, 2007]

[riscit]

Authorize.net also provides for merchant accounts if you don't already have one. It's an optional part of the sign up the process. I would link to the PDF application form, but I don't want someone to think I'm trying to promote anything.

I will say that if you are going to go with Authorize.net (which I personally recommend from experience developing back end APIs for it and based on my client's experiences with it) then be sure to find a reseller to do it with. You save $50 off of the set up fee that way. ($150 through a reseller vs $200 direct from Authorize.net).