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What is a Merchant Account?

A Merchant Account is an agreement between a merchant (you) and an acquiring bank.

This allows the merchant to accept and process electronic payments via credit and debit cards.

If your card machine accepts contactless payments then you will also be able to accept and process payments from phones and other smart devices.

Search and see if you could save on the very best merchant account, simply complete our 2 minute form by clicking the "Start Free Quote" button below.

We look forward to helping you.

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1. Answer a few quick questions.

Complete our simple assessment form (takes less than 2 minutes).

2. Receive your quote.

We search services from America's leading merchant account providers (all for free and with no obligation).

3. Compare providers.

Compare a range of quotes and see how much you could save.

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Is a Merchant Account a Bank Account?

Although a Merchant Account is a bank account it isn’t a conventional one and is only available to businesses.

Think of it as a secure holding pen where the funds sit whilst the customer has their bank account checked to make sure that they have enough money to pay for the transaction.

Once this is all confirmed, the Merchant Account receives the money and then forwards it to your bank account.

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Do I Need a Merchant Account?

All modern businesses should be equipped with a Merchant Account if they are wanting to be successful.

Almost 60% of US consumers prefer using card payments over using cash and only 16% of Americans always carry cash.

Debit cards alone accounted for 28% of all payments in 2020, with the pandemic causing cash to become even less popular than before.

In a nutshell, yes, you need a Merchant Account.

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How Does a Merchant Account Work?

The customer uses their credit/debit card at your specific terminal. This can be physically at your premises or with a payment gateway online.

The details of the transaction are then passed to the customer's card via your specific Merchant Account provider.

The card issuer then checks the details of the payment and either approves or rejects the transaction.

Once the card issuer approves the transaction, the Merchant Account begins the transfer into your account.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Merchant Account Provider

Although the process of how a Merchant Account works is fairly straightforward, there are a few things that you will want to consider when choosing your provider and if they’re the best choice for your business.

Fees

This will be how much you will pay your Merchant Account provider to use their service.

There is a more in-depth look at the different types of fees available later on, which can be found here.

Contract length

Some people like having longer contracts so they don’t have to worry about constantly renewing them and as the old mantra goes, ‘if it ain't broken, don’t fix it.’

Others however prefer shorter-term deals where it could be possible to switch providers on a semi-regular basis and potentially get a better deal.

Customer service

If there are technical issues how quickly will they be resolved and will you be compensated for any downtime?

If you’ve been underpaid how quickly can you get the money into your account?

If you need to speak to someone directly, are they easily contactable and are they based in America?

You may have thought you had found your ideal provider but if their customer service is terrible then it may be worth finding someone else.

Hidden fees

Everything may seem perfect on paper but then all of a sudden you’re faced with hidden fees that don’t make that great deal seem so appealing anymore.

Common hidden fees include things such as set up & exit fees or terminal rental costs that may not be stated in the initial chats with providers.

Ease of use

You want things to be as easy as possible and don’t want to waste your time trying to figure out an overly complicated card reader.

Sometimes you just need an app on your phone and a card reader and you’re ready to start taking payments.

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How much does a Merchant Account cost?

There is no one set answer to this question as there are many factors that come into play.

Sometimes you may get more favourable rates if you are a larger business and process more payments.

The most prevalent factor however is the type of pricing model you decide to select. Below is a brief description of these models:

Inter-charge plus

Also known as cost-plus pricing or pass-through pricing.

This breaks pricing down into two elements

The interchange	The cost from the issuing bank to you via your Merchant Account provider.
The plus	The fees your Merchant Account provider charge.

If the issuing bank changes their rates then your inter-charge plus costs will also change to reflect the increase or decrease of the rates.

Payment processing by membership

Charges a flat rate for payment processing each month instead of by transaction.

Think of it as bulk buying at a wholesale price instead of buying items individually at retail price.

For some businesses, this could be the most cost-effective pricing, but for others, it may not so this is something worth taking into account when selecting a provider.

Flat rate pricing

Your rates are charged at a percentage of each transaction you make or the cost of said transaction.

Some may charge you a flat rate regardless of the cost & what card is used whilst others may have varying rates.

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How can I get a Merchant Account?

As we’ve said a Merchant Account is essential to any business looking to be a success in the modern day and you might be asking yourself how you can get one for yourself.

Luckily it couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is click "Start Free Quote" below, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll receive a selection of quotes from some of the country’s leading providers.

Which provider you think is best for your business is entirely up to you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Are We?

We are Commercial Experts and we are dedicated to helping American businesses like yourself by comparing essential products and services allowing you to grow and beat your competition.

We do this by working with industry leaders to provide you with quotes tailored to you and your unique business needs.
Why Do You Need My Information?

Each business is different and we understand that. The needs of a small food truck are vastly different to that of a large-scale factory.

This is why we take your information and tailor your quotes specifically to you.
Do I need a Merchant Account?

Without a Merchant Account, you won’t be able to take or process electronic payments. With cash on the decline in favour of electronic payments any modern business with the ambitions of being successful will need this ability.
Is a Merchant Account a bank account?

Technically, yes, but not in the traditional sense.

Think of it more as a holding pen for the money that sits there when a payment is made and all of the checks are made before the money is sent to your bank account.