Having a successful business involves more than just having the best price on a particular product. Your customers want ease of purchase, along with great prices. In this day of “plastic”, credit cards are one of the most popular ways to pay for an item. If you plan to accept credit cards for customer purchases, you will need a merchant services provider.
Finding a provider involves more than just choosing the first one you come across – it is important for you to choose your provider with care. The following questions will help you choose the best merchant services provider for your business. 
What are your customer service policies? As a business owner, you need to know that the provider you choose has a high rate of customer satisfaction. Solid customer service policies will help ensure that you are a satisfied customer.
Do you have fraud-prevention tools and plans? You want your merchant services provider to have tools to help you prevent fraud and a plan of action to address fraud issues as they arise.
What are your equipment policies? Can you lease your credit card purchasing equipment or do you have to buy it.
Which cards can I accept with your service? All merchant services providers are not created equally – some will allow you to accept certain credit cards, while others won’t. You have to know which cards you can accept so you can keep your customers informed.
What monthly fees will you be charged? Fees vary from provider to provider. You need a specific list of fees so you can determine if one particular service is a good match for your budget.
Are any discounts available? Discounts can help lower your provider cost, but a provider may not announce all available discounts. Be sure and get specifics about each discount offered, such as how to qualify and other specific terms.
Is technical support available every day? Will you talk with your own personal account representative? Or will you be a “number†calling in to a call center? You need to know if tech support is available at all hours or only during specific hours. In the event of a technical failure, where do you turn for help.
Asking these questions, along with some of your own, will help you choose the right merchant services provider. Being an informed consumer is important, no matter which side of the “plastic” you are on.