Get Secure Your Payment Processing with Merchant Stronghold

Nowadays, there are a lot of e-commerce and m-commerce transactions; opening doors for cybercriminals. As a merchant, you need to confirm that you provide the best payment security and that your customers don’t have to worry about their data. Customers usually cannot select their own payment gateway, so it’s up to you to make the best and perfect choice for them.

PCI COMPLIANCE

When you’re processing payments on your website, PCI (Payment Card Industry) is a must. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) provide direction for merchants that tell them what they need to do in order to secure sensitive data in payment processing.

A merchant doesn’t have to be PCI compliant if he/she selected the right payment provider (one with PCI level 1). He/she can leave it up to the payment gateway to comply with the industry level security excellence. Note that data encryption is needed by PCI.

SSL protocol

Each and every transaction should be secured with SSL protocol. SSL helps to encrypt the information so that the card details and all other sensitive and important data is secured. It, of course, improves payment security but also makes customers more eager to for the purchase.

A padlock icon in the URL bar symbolizes the SSL, and the web address starts with https.

ADDRESS VERIFICATION SERVICE (AVS)

You can also use an Address Verification Service, which requires customers to give the billing address connected with their credit card. If the address on the card matches with the one in bank’s documents, the transaction will go through.

Many companies have a problem of controlling the location and storage of their payment data, but almost 42% of the companies claim that payment data is at serious risk when it is stored. A Global Study on the State of Payment Data Security shows that over 50% of organizations had a breach involving payment data within the past three years.

We, at Merchant Stronghold, will help you secure your payment processing in order for you to provide the best payment security to your customers. We also provide high-risk merchant services, contact Merchant Stronghold to get answers to all your questions related to the security of payment processing. Feel free to contact us using our toll-free number +1 (888) 622 – 6875.

Also, you can contact via Email -  info@merchantstronghold.com 

Expand Your eCommerce Business Globally

Study your Targeted Market

If you are just starting out then put a few items on the sale. Do not rely on commerce entirely. Focus on the main business first and then slowly move towards e-commerce. Starting small can help you understand your market very well.

Here are the key points to know about your Target Market.

• Start slowly with E-commerce Business. Put your prime focus on the main business at all times
• Take notes from your small start and point out the fields where you need to work first.
• Mark out the countries where your business can flourish.
• Target the countries with better economy and study their business norms.
• Learn about the customers and what they are looking for in your product.

Consider Various Payment Methods for your E-commerce Business

If you are dealing in different countries then your business will surely include foreign currency. And to avoid any conflicts in the future, you need to normalize the price of your product to match the demands of the customer from different countries.

• Sometimes, the customer likes a specific product but does not purchase it. Simply because their preferred payment method is not available.
• It is ideal to use the local currency to get revenue from a specific country.
• If you are not ready to deal with a different currency then make sure to give the currency conversion option so the customers can see what they’re paying.
• Choosing the right payment provider for your overseas transaction can be a tricky job.
• While choosing the payment processor, make the security of the transaction your priority.

Plan your Big Entry

Start Small on Existing Market Place

You can start small with the existing e-commerce platform like eBay. As we discussed, a small start can be ideal for a business that is just entering the E-commerce platform. Moreover, starting small gives you plenty of time while making a transition from store business to e-commerce.

• Small start allows you to test your product online.
• Also, you get the appropriate amount of time to focus on your main business.
• Choose a popular marketplace for your E-commerce Business for International Sales.
• Get more information visit website ask our experts team.

How To Improve Redirect Payment Gateway?

One of the common mistakes made by the merchants is that they do not give much attention to the Payment Gateway redirection. A payment gateway is a point where conversion takes place. If not done right, you can lose customer and revenue, both. It is advised to every e-commerce merchant to choose a redirect payment gateway, carefully.

In order to make sure that the conversion is not affected, you need to work on redirect payment gateway strategy. Here are some tips that you can try:

Make sure that the redirected payment gateway is completely secured for both the customer and the merchant.

Avoid too many clicks for the purpose of payment.

Only ask relevant information and required details from the customer.

The redirected website should open fast and shouldn’t have popups or advertisements.

Most importantly, alert your customers that they are being redirected to a new website so that your customer is not alarmed after seeing a different URL, logo, and website.

Another thing to notice when going for payment redirection is that the merchant should have complete information related to the payment being made.

Furthermore, by offering the required information related to your payment methods can save a lot of your and customer’s time.

Need more information? – Contact Merchant Stronghold

If you are still not sure about the payment redirection methods. Also, we provide assistance with High-Risk Payment Gateway, Online Merchant Account, Credit Card Processing, and similar services.

Let's Understand Merchant Processing Services

Now that you understand the Merchant Processing Services, let’s get to the point and discuss the methods to get the best merchant processing services. Here are some factors that can influence the Merchant Processing or Card Processing Services.

Types of Payment under Payment Processor

The merchant service provider of the payment processor needs to be according to your demand.

You can explore the market with different payment processors and get the one that suits your demands.

Also, you can Compare Merchant Processing Services and payment processing services.

Price of the Merchant Processing

The different processor offers different plans for their services. It is your responsibility as a merchant to select the best for your business type. Here are some different pricing methods discussed.

Fixed Rate Plan – This where the merchant works with a business or only one merchant account. You need to pay a fixed amount for the payment processing service.

Leveled Pricing – When the merchant needs to pay a different amount depending on the risk factor. This method can be beneficial as the risk can vary each month and the merchant is not needed to pay anything extra.

Interchanged Pricing – Where the payment processing fees and processors benefits are clearly mentioned in the bill. This is the most transparent pricing system ideal for medium to large business.

Contract and Support for the Processing

Equipment used while the Transaction

On what basis should you Compare Merchant Processing Services?

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Set up Merchant Account easily with Merchant Stronghold

Setting up a merchant account is critical and for the most part, it isn't so much that difficult to do it either. What makes a merchant account great is the fact that it allows your organization to accept both credit and debit card payments. Ordinarily, you should have either an agreement with the bank that they procedure credit card payments or you can work with an independent sales organization, MSP et cetera. Either solution works as long as you collaborate with a dedicated financial institution and have a designated point of sale system.

The primary thing you need to do

Decide the manner in which credit card payments will work for your company. This implies you have to make sense of the kind of credit card payments that you need to accept and how you accept those payments. You have to check whether you accept website payments If you want to use a POS solution or mobile payments. You will also have to consider the amount that you get from credit card sales, to begin with.

Aside from that, when you create a new merchant account you will need to think about the merchant payment processing and you will also have to make a comparison between all the services offered to you. This way you will be able to see which one actually delivers the best value for your money, so you should consider that as fast as possible. Each merchant account provider has a flat rate that will be charged each time a payment is processed or it might have a percentage fee based on the total transaction amount.

Stay in Control

Sometimes you will see that merchant provider options will have software and payment acceptance solutions. Of course, if you do opt for these merchant services you still need to have something that allows you to be in control. It might be challenging at first, but results will end up paying off quite a bit which is exactly what you want to focus on here. Having control over the way your customers pay is very important to try to keep that in mind.

As you can see, setting up a merchant account isn’t that challenging, to begin with. It will take some time though, so try to keep that in mind and it will help you quite a bit which is exactly what you want to have!

Credit Card Processing Provider for Bars-Lounge & Disco

Hаvе уоu соnѕidеrеd using a POS ѕуѕtеm in уоur bar? Bесаuѕе оf thе regularly fаѕt-расеd еnvirоnmеnt, POS ѕуѕtеmѕ fоr bars offer mаnу bеnеfitѕ. With a POS enlist, уоur bar саn simplify thе ordering process and еvеn еntеr the rеаlm of tаblеѕidе ordering. You саn additionally track уоur invеntоrу, hеlрing уоu guarantee thе ѕесuritу of your bаr. Besides, POS ѕуѕtеmѕ аrе uѕеful in kеерing track оf рriсеѕ and other essential infоrmаtiоn. Rеаd оn tо learn mоrе аbоut the imроrtаnt Bеnеfit of POS system fоr bаrѕ.

Speedier and Easier Trаnѕасtiоnѕ 

First, POS ѕуѕtеmѕ for bars аrе incredible fоr ѕtrеаmlining your transactions. Your ѕуѕtеm will bе capable tо quickly ascertain tax, which аllоw оrdеrѕ to bе handled mоrе quickly. Yоur еmрlоуееѕ will аlѕо hаvе еаѕу get to tо thе entire menu аѕ well аѕ individual bar tаbѕ – аnоthеr wау to inсrеаѕе еffiсiеnсу. Overall, having a POS ѕуѕtеm in your bar will make everything move quicker, whiсh iѕ vital fоr аn аlrеаdу quick paced environment.

Invеntоrу Management 

Another major advantage tо uѕing a POS register in your bar iѕ thе certainty thаt уоu will be capable tо much mоrе еаѕilу credit card processing mаnаgе аnd trасk your invеntоrу. Nоt only саn thе POS system trасk liquor/alcohol sold in cans and bottles, yet уоu can аlѕо input receipts to keep track of thе ingrеdiеntѕ for mixed drinks. Additionally, уоur еmрlоуееѕ can rесоrding what ѕресifiс brand оf liԛuоr wаѕ utilized tо make the еасh drink, following your invеntоrу down to thе bottle.

Holding Еmрlоуееѕ Aссоuntаblе

A POS ѕуѕtеm makes уоur bar muсh more secure bесаuѕе it hоldѕ еmрlоуееѕ ассоuntаblе. With inventory tracking, уоu саn keep tabs оn whеthеr оr, not your еmрlоуееѕ аrе оvеr-роuring оr giving аwау frее drinkѕ. The bесаuѕе еасh individuаl employee will hаvе hiѕ оr hеr оwn login соdе, уоu саn also еаѕilу track which еmрlоуееѕ are the ones саuѕing you tо соmе uр short.

Consistency Between Lосаtiоnѕ

If уоur bar hаѕ multiple lосаtiоnѕ, thе funсtiоnаlitу оf thе POS ѕуѕtеm bringѕ even mоrе аdvаntаgеѕ. Nоt оnlу саn уоu more еаѕilу keep track оf уоur оvеrаll inventory, both bеtwееn lосаtiоnѕ аnd fоr each individuаl location, but you саn аlѕо ensure thаt уоur prices are соnѕiѕtеnt bеtwееn lосаtiоnѕ. 

You can contact us for more information and set up your Point of Sale today!

Merchant Account Requirements in the United States

For merchants in the United States, we have listed the requirements of the account application that can help them to be ready with all sorts of documents that will help them to apply with correct documents while filling the merchant account application form:

All the merchants who are based in the U.S. they need to provide the general requirements that are listed below that will help the merchant to prove that she/he is a legal resident of the United States:

Registered business name in the U.S.: The merchant account applicant must be legally incorporated in the U.S. or at least merchant registered its business with the local governance that could give them “Doing Business As” name (DBA).

S. bank account: The merchant should have a running U.S bank account, in which the merchant will get the funds of their transfers deposited.

The physical address of the merchant: A merchant must have a physical presence that is an address of living or doing business that can be verified.

The above document will help a merchant to show their legal presence in the United States, if a merchant has the above necessary proofs, they can apply in the bank for a merchant account that can help them to collect payment through credit cards.

Now for filing the application for merchant account the documents will vary with the businesses risk volume, that is categorized with the dependence of these factors including nature of the business, monthly processing, previous processing experience, etc. Although, the basic things a merchant needs to fulfill while applying for the account is:

Application Form: The application form that will collect the basic information of the business and applicant. The information includes the physical address, Tax ID, average sales, bank account details, web address, phone number, etc. There is an advance pricing agreement that is regarding the pricing of the products.

Business license: The applicant’s business requires any kind of permit before being sold; the applicant needs to provide the appropriate license copy at the time of application.

Incorporation proofs: if the applicant claims that their business has the existence all over the world, then there is a requirement of providing/submitting the copy of
incorporation paperwork, that proves that business is illegible to collect payment from around the world.

Voided check
W-9 form
Personal guarantee

Other than the document, the businesses that are listed in higher risk categories need to provide these additional details about their business:

Business financial statements: Normally the details of last years of business transactions are required.

Personal financial statements: Again, the details of the last two years of personal account details.

Processing details: If the business has previously accepted the card payments, then at least of last three month of processing of payment details needs to be shared with the processor.
If you are looking for Merchant Account Services in USA. You're in the right place. Merchant Stronghold providing in low rate best Merchant Services in USA .

Few Important Merchant Responsibilities and Pricing

Have you ever seen all the pricing on your Merchant Account Agreements and asked what they mean? Online Business must always read and understand the terms and conditions for their payment gateway. Merchant Stronghold explains the pricing schedule of fees:

Tiered pricing

ERR Pricing (Enhance Recover Reduce)

Pass-through interchange pricing

Pass-through Pin Debit

Tiered pricing: Tiered discount pricing allows you to group interchange programs into different tiers “buckets” and then price those buckets separately based on the range of interchange costs grouped into each bucket.

ERR Pricing (Enhance Recover Reduce): Pass non-qualifying interchange costs to merchants. Using err, you have the option to assess a surcharge to the merchant’s downgraded sales volume. The surcharge is a client-defined percentage that is applied to the downgraded sales volume of participating merchants.

Pass-through interchange pricing: Using interchange passes through allows the expenses associated with interchange fees and dues and assessments to be billed directly to the merchant. If you are using interchange pass through plus, a sale transaction fee and/or a percentage rate would be assessed against the monthly volume and would be billed to the merchant along with the dues and assessments and interchange fees.

Pass-through Pin Debit: Allows you to pass through PIN debit network fees to the merchant. In addition to passing the network fees to the merchant, you need to bill a per item charge, a percent on the volume, and a monthly flat rate debit access fee.

IMPORTANT MERCHANT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensure compliance with cardholder data security and storage requirements.

2. Maintain fraud and chargeback below thresholds.

3. Review and understand the terms of the Merchant Agreement.

4. Comply with Visa Operating Regulations. (Go to www.Visa.com, select Small Business and Merchants, select Operations and Risk Management, select Rules for Visa Merchants)

The responsibilities listed above do not supersede terms of the Merchant Agreement and are provided to ensure the merchant understands some important obligations of each party and that the Visa Member (Acquirer) is the ultimate authority should the merchant have any problems.

In order to comply with all Visa and MasterCard regulations governing Internet Credit

Card sales, Merchant Processing Bank requires that you will not accept credit card transactions through your website and/or e-mail and then manually enter them into your POS equipment or software. You must obtain a separate and secure e-commerce merchant account to accept credit card transactions for products and service purchased through a website or the internet.

Improve Merchant Statistics and Reduce Fraud Levels

Recommendations to Improve Merchant Statistics Below have listed recommendations that could help to reduce fraud level. Merchant must provide an activity plane to reduce fraud levels by the payment system. On the off chance that the merchant doesn't successfully lessen reduce fraud level Risk and Compliance department will close merchant traffic. To avoid penalties and disqualification, Merchant must survey its business processes. The following are recorded suggestions that could reduce fraud level.

Here are some guidelines for preventing Internet, telephone or mail order fraud:

• Request that cardholders provide the following information during the order taking process:
• Cardholder Name, exactly how their name appears on their card.
• Card Number
• Card Expiration Date, four-digit number MM/YY.
• CVV (Card Verification Value) and/or CID (Card Identification Data) for some regions, the three-digit number located on the back of the card in the signature panel.
• Card billing address along with the ship-to address (when necessary).
• Home, business or other telephone numbers where the cardholder can be reached.

For each transaction, be sure to:

• Request and validate the CVV (Card Verification Value) and/or CID (Card Identification Data) for some regions, the three-digit number located on the back of the card in the signature panel.
• Verify the customer’s billing address, either electronically or by our address verification service (AVS).
• Verify the cardholder name, full billing address, email address and phone number with the Issuer in real-time using.
• Check your delivery service contract for who is responsible for merchandise not delivered.
• Get a signature for each delivery and keep all delivery records.
• Do not keycard information to force through a sale for which you have received any declined response to your authorization request.
• If the sale is on a credit card, refund sales on the same card.
• Include your common DBA and customer service number on the customer’s transaction receipt.
• Clearly communicate any and all delivery charges, restocking or other fees.
• Clearly explain any return policies and offer documentation of this policy with each sale.
• When working on a chargeback, document efforts to satisfy the customer. Be sure to respond to all chargebacks.
• Duplicate charges, or installment plans, unless otherwise stated, require an authorization for each sale.

Protect Customer Information on my Website?

• Protecting Customer Information
• Truncate all credit card information.
• Do not store any CID data in your records or on any type of sales data.
• Secure your site. Data MUST be stored in a secure environment that is protected by firewalls from your Website or access to the Internet. This data should be password protected with limited authorized use.
• Do NOT store any customer or credit card information on your Web Server.
• Please refer to your Merchant Operating Regulations for further Card Not Present (CNP) requirements with respect to the submission of sales.