What is a Merchant Account?

All merchants, from the smallest on-line storefront to a large "brick and mortar" retailer, who accept and process credit cards need a Merchant Account. A merchant account enables merchants to accept and clear credit card transactions (the charging of a customer's credit card and depositing that money into the merchant's account). In the case of an Internet merchant, two options exist. If the merchant already has a "brick and mortar" business, he or she can use their existing credit card processing method to process Internet transactions. If the merchant wants to process credit cards in real time or is a new merchant, then he or she needs to apply for an "Internet enabled merchant" account which allows the merchant to process transactions where the credit card numbers are received through the Internet.

To obtain a merchant account, the merchant must have a good credit rating. Each processor has their own set of criteria, and merchants should shop around to find the right company which offers the best discount rates. The banks charge a discount rate which means they take a percentage of the total transaction as their fee for processing. Discount rates can range from 2.5% to 10% depending on the merchant's risk factors determined by the bank.

Datex has a relationship with E-Commerce Exchange, the largest provider of merchant accounts and secure transaction processing on the internet with 17 offices nationwide. They can assist you in getting a merchant account established.

($195.00 Application Fee Waived for all Datex  customers, for a limited time!)

Become an Internet Merchant Today -- Go to the Account Application Now