A newbi Question

Newbi question about Payment Gateway, Merchant account

[wantfieldh]

Hi Guys,

Base on my understanding, in order to process sales online of anything (in my case services), we need a merchant account and a payment gateway. Plus it would be good to get a SSL certificate?

So the following is my questions:

1) Is there a merchant solution out there that has combined payment gateway and merchant account? if so, will that be two companies or one?

2) Can someone suggest a good an cost effective company for me? for merchant account and payment process? I will be selling cheap listings of "$2" of pop, so its a little annoying having to pay 2CO/credit card company or something with 45cent of transaction fee each time...

3) I am having someone build my website for me. Including shopping card and gateway integration. Is there a security issue here?

4) Can someone explain to me if SSL certificate is important? : ) Isn't it covered by payment gateway already?

I sincerely appreicate people's help : )

[Corey Bryant]

Assumptions - you are a US citizen:
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Most MAPs (merchant account providers) will provide an electronic gateway for you. Usually this gateway might cost you a certain amount a month and it might even cost you for for each transaction. But yes, it is two companies, separate, it can be but not necessarily.

You might consider charge $10 for 6 listings. You are going to have a transaction fee usually ranging from about $.30-$.50. And then if the gateway charges something as well, yes more charges.

Usually not. I would try to go thru the code to make sure that they have not added an email address to collect personal information

Most gateways will provide their own secure page to capture CC data, but you might consider using an API to integrate into your website. This will help to maintain the consistency of your site

-Corey

[otc_cmnn]

For small payments I suggest you speak with jatar k

moderator of the PHP forum. He is very knowledgable about micro payment processing.

[webmasterworld.com...]
sticky him
[webmasterworld.com...]

[wantfieldh]

Thanks! appreciate everyone's help.

Oh so payment gateway already include a secure page for information inputing?

[gany]

Here is the answers to your questions:

1. most merchant accounts (online) come with a payment gateway and a merchant account.

2. if you tell me your monthly volume, I could recommend someone to you.

3. there is always a security issue but if you use the a secure gateway with 128 ssl encription you should not have a problem.

4. SSL encription is very important, this is a requirement by the card associations. Not to mention the recent breach of security by Card Systems.

Gany

[wantfieldh]

As regards to my volumn, I have not specific idea yet, as the website is prelaunch.

I would say approximatly 200 $2 postings and about 100 larger fees of about $20-$100 seems a reasonable estimate.. after 6 months that is.