Merchant credit card processing is the name for the service provided by banks and others to let you accept credit cards at your business. Accepting credit cards is becoming increasingly important for all types of businesses.  While it's true that there is a cost associated with accepting credit cards, those costs have gone down significantly in recent years and pale in comparison to having to deal with a bounced check for a large order.

Setting up your business to accept credit cards has also become much easier.  Merchant credit card service providers can set your online business up with software tools and shopping cart software to integrate into your website.  For your physical stores or telephone orders, vendors can provide you with point of sale terminals.  They can also provide fraud protection to help ensure that your money is protected.  In almost all cases, funds are deposited directly into your bank account.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a vendor.  Be sure to take into account the upfront or setup costs, monthly fees, and the per-transaction fee, usually expressed as a percent of the sale.  Be sure to also ask if there any minimum monthly fees and the duration of their agreements. The availability of telephone support and online reports should also be considered.