Merchant account basics.

[RoadRash]

What are the basics needed to setup a merchant account?

Do i need a business checking account? business license?

Right now I am looking at charge.com, anyone use them, any good recommendations?

[Perplexed]

I would also like to know if anyone has used charge.com. Their rates seem VERY competitive.....

[crystalkey]

I use charge.com for merchant account.
Fees are very competitive too.

I think charge.com is reseller of ipayment.
[ipaymentinc.com...]

Once you open account with charge.com, you don't work with them. You will work with ipayment system and support.
I'd say they have good customer support.

[bcc1234]

I think charge.com resells for authorize.net. I might be mistaken - it's been a while since I done shopping for gateways and merchant accounts.

Anyway, if charge.com is in fact a reseller of authorize.net, then you should go to wells fargo and get a merchant account with them.

Authorize.net, charge.com ... whatever... provide gateway services - like a card scanner device in the brick and mortar world. And then, in turn, resell for the banks (who in fact are the ones to offer merchant services).

So if you go about it from the other end, and contact the bank (such as wells fargo) - they will also hook you up with a gateway, but for a much lower cost, since they (the banks) are truly in charge of the whole thing).

1) Order gateway services from authorize.net - and they will get you a merchant account at wells fargo.
2) Order a merchant account from wells fargo - and they will get you a gateway from authorize.net.

#2 is two times cheaper than #1.

<added>
Oh yeah, and I got everything set up 2 days after I've filled a form online. And paid at the end of the first billing cycle.

[RoadRash]

I printed out charge.com's fees, and they appear to be cheaper then wellfargo's charges...

Anyone have a clue about my first two questions?

[pshea]

Road: certainly you are doing the right thing here with posting your question and I would suggest that you even bump your post every couple of days for a week or ten days. If you don't get much response, it is because the folks here are not using charge.com and that does not necessarily mean that charge.com is not a good or cost efficient service.

When you choose a payment interface, you make a programming commitment as your site then has to create the code that makes the whole money exchange happen. If, after six months with one re-seller, you realize there are flaws in your choice, you have to change and re-search and re-code. I have done this.

My 200+ product site is now Wells Fargo/Authorize.net and let me tell you, these guys don't fool around. I am extremely happy with their services. Don't sweat a half a point percentage or two; continue your search for rock-solid and long-term. If the people here aren't responding, re-think.

[Alpicat]

Hi

I know of quite a few people using charge.com as a reseller of authorize.net and it's always come recommended. I believe they will pay you $100 if you find something cheaper.

Wells Fargo also seems to work well and you don't need a business account with them.

(I don't work for any of the above companies by the way)

Cheers
Andy

[RoadRash]

Thanks for the replies everyone! The software I am using already has authorize.net's code built in, so i need to use an authorize.net partner.

I'm sure i'll have a few more questions soon! :)