6 Essential Questions About Merchant Account

It may seem apparent to get your Merchant Account through your business bank, but it is frequently wise to compare prices with several online payment service providers. In most cases, they have connections with a variety of acquiring banking partners that they can use to their advantage to negotiate more affordable rates.

Choosing a merchant account can sometimes be a daunting task. Here are six questions that you should ask to make sure you are getting the best possible price if you are new to online businesses.

What are your acquiring rates and charges?

Pricing and rate-related queries are the most logical ones to make. You will often have to pay a monthly fee to an acquiring bank for your Merchant ID. A basic authorisation cost per transaction as well as an acquisition fee, calculated as a percentage of the transaction value, will also be charged. Refunds and chargebacks may incur additional expenses. Credit and debit cards may have different fee schedules.

When will you be reviewing my acquisition rate?

Your acquiring rates may be higher if you are a start-up, have little trading experience, or if the nature of your business is thought to be high-risk. If this is the case, request a rate review from your merchant account provider at a 6, 12, or 18-month point. If your company is doing well, they might be more willing to offer you more appealing terms.

What terms & conditions do you have?

Merchant accounts have different terms and limitations. The length of your contract, how frequently you use the service, and even the content of your website can all be impacted by this. If unsure, get advice from the merchant account provider.

What are the supporting documents needed to apply for your merchant account?

In order to confirm that your business complies with its requirements, the merchant account provider will need to view a number of documents, including your business registration documents, proof of domain ownership, and any supplier agreements. To expedite the application process, request that the acquiring bank email you a list of the necessary documentation so that you can gather it.

What are the details of the settlement?

The frequency of payments being transferred from your merchant account to your business bank account depends on the settlement terms. Terms of settlement might range from three days to four weeks. Finding out how settlement terms will impact your business model before you apply is important because acquiring banks frequently retain funds in your merchant account for a while after a transaction has been completed if there is a risk of chargeback.

What security guidelines are applicable?

The heightened potential risk of fraud associated with an online transaction is one of the reasons why getting a Merchant Account might be challenging. You should be able to get the most recent security recommendations and minimal criteria for your e-commerce website from card schemes like Visa and Mastercard. Your payment network must be compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) in order to meet one of the technical requirements of the Visa and Mastercard card schemes. 

The sanctions that card schemes can impose on a non-compliant merchant are significant if you are not PCI compliant. Then, if you encounter a security breach on your own systems (where you are managing your own payment sites), you risk daily penalties as well as the loss of your ability to accept credit card payments.

We at Radiant Pay can assist in reducing your credit card processing costs. To negotiate cheaper rates, we'll speak with your acquiring bank on your behalf. We can arrange the best price for you because of our expertise.

This might result in annual savings of tens of thousands of dollars, depending on your processing volume. For a risk-free audit and assessment, get in touch with us immediately.

Continue to visit our blogs. This resource is updated frequently with details on bank fees, credit card fees, card networks, and a wealth of other helpful information pertaining to credit card processing.