My Approach
I
take a simple but thorough four-step approach to assist you with
a merchant account.
In-Depth
Analysis – Cutting Through the Confusion
The
first step is to perform an analysis of your current merchant statement.
If you haven't opened a merchant account yet, we’ll discuss your
needs based on the available options below and make sure you receive the
best deal possible.
- Pricing Plan. There are a few
different kinds of pricing that merchant account processors
use: fixed rate; tiered; or Interchange Plus. I will determine
which plan type your current account falls under and determine if there
are ways to get you lower rates.
- Processing
Methods and Locations. Both of these affect your fees and the type of terminals
you need. We’ll discuss how you are currently processing your credit
cards. Common processing methods include: face-to-face with
card-in-hand customers; swiping the card through a physical
terminal; using point-of-sale software; processing charges on
the fly from a mobile device; and Internet-only transactions
through your website or payment page.
- Transactions. The number of
transactions per month and the average dollar amount per transaction both
impact your plan costs. Give me fifteen minutes with your current
statement and I can tell you if you're currently overpaying for merchant
services, and if you are – how much you would save by working with me.
Education
Understanding
how merchant accounts work on your own can be overwhelming. I break down my
findings from the analysis in the first step and then educate you in easy
to understand bites. You determine
the amount of information that you want and need to make a good decision. I’ll be ready to spend time showing you
what you need to know as an informed decision maker regarding your merchant
account. Here’s what I’m ready to
help you with:
- The Basics. I will teach
you what you really need to know about credit card processing,
without all the hype the credit card processors hide in the minutia.
- Clear Recommendations.
I make custom recommendations based on your needs and my extensive
knowledge of what is available today in the merchant account industry.
You'll receive straight talk from me – 15-30 minutes of
enlightening information that is relevant to your specific needs. If you have a great existing
contract – I’ll tell you straight-up. I won’t waste your time or mine. We’ll both walk away knowing that
you’re well taken care of.
(By the way – this happens about 20% of the time I analyze an
account.) Sometimes we’ll
decide to touch base again in 6 months or a year to make sure that
everything has stayed the same.
Applying
For a New Merchant Account
When
you’ve decided to move your merchant account processing to my company, I’ll
help you every step of the way. Here's
what to expect:
- Information
Needed. A
six-page application with a couple of attachments is required for you
to complete – don’t worry, this isn’t as hard as it sounds,
and I’ll be ready to answer any questions you have with the
paperwork.
- Time Involved.
With my help, it usually only takes about 15 minutes to get the
paperwork done. It’s a very
simple process (even though the paperwork looks daunting when you first
see it.
Implementation
– Working Your New Solution Into Day-to-Day Business
After
your merchant account has been approved, it’s time to get
to work setting everything up and integrating the solution into your existing
business. Sometimes this is easy
(we ship you a new terminal – you “plug and play”) and sometimes it’s a bit
more complex. Again, I have your
back to show you where to start and to make sure you have everything covered.
- Setting-Up
Physical Equipment. If you are face-to-face with your customers, either in
one location or multiple mobile locations, you’ll require some
equipment set up. This can include different types of swipe machines, and
you’ll need the right type for the way you do business.
- Creating Other
Accounts. This
varies depending on your specific needs, for example: If in our analysis,
we determine that you need mobile processing or if you need to accept
payments through the internet, I’ll help you by setting up your gateway
account.
- PCI Compliance. Another part of my implementation
with you is to help you become compliant with the Payment Card Industry’s Data
Security Standard. It can be
confusing, and expensive if done wrong. I’ll help you through this, and you’ll be secure knowing
that it is handled the right way.
- Ongoing Support. I’ll check on you after your first
day processing. I’ll make
sure that everything is working correctly – all the way through to your
bank account. Then – you’ll
get customer service information so that you know who to call when you
need help. You’ll also
receive my personal cell number.
I answer it whenever I’m awake. My customers have called me evenings and weekends – and
I’m happy to help with your account.
You won’t be shipped offshore to some call center – you’ll call me
when you need me.