October 29, 2010
Can I get a seperate web merchant account?
y c asked:
Does anybody out there know if I can open up a seperate merchant account for the website I am about to launch. Currently I have a merchant account for my retail store, but extending this to an internet account will mean signing another contact and we are not really happy with the current provider in terms of service, so would really like to go with another company.
Does anybody out there know if I can open up a seperate merchant account for the website I am about to launch. Currently I have a merchant account for my retail store, but extending this to an internet account will mean signing another contact and we are not really happy with the current provider in terms of service, so would really like to go with another company.
I am a bit of a newbie in this area and not really sure how things will operate technically so I don’t really know if there would be any conflict between the tow accounts.
Thanks for any help!
Also, has anyone had any recent experience with PayPal be it good or bad. Seems the views on paypal are really mixed ed, went to a Paypal negative site that directs people to Cardservice International, and the reviews on them are really bad as well.
Filed under retail by on Oct 29th, 2010. Comment. 
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Comments on Can I get a seperate web merchant account?
Certainly you can. There’s nothing to stop you from having as many merchant accounts as you like.
There are a few merchant account providers who really understand online business and will work closely with online vendors to get them set up correctly. I suggest you ask around and then ask questions to make sure you’re dealing with someone who will be helpful.
Check out excelyourbiz.com for more information on reputable merchant host companies that know the biz!
Yes, you can. An e-commerce account would be considered a completely separate entity.
Contrary to the previous answer, though, you can’t have as many merchant accounts as you like. Your current provider at your brick and mortar location probably has something in their agreement that states you must use their service only at that location.
Don’t get locked into any term agreements on this one. There are plenty of good processors out there that provide “at will” service. Also, be wary of “free” setups. The software that processors use is not free and they’ll often make up the difference in the fineprint.
Also, be sure to work with a company that discloses all of their rates for different card categories (Visa, Visa Debit, Visa Rewards, Visa Commercial, MasterCard, MasterCard Debit, MasterCard World, etc.). The discount rate that you will be quoted is only correct for certain cards.
Lastly, make sure to ask about Payment Card Industry(PCI) Data Security Compiance. Many processors fail to mention your liability for cardholder information. Instead, they simply put language in their agreement indemnifying themselves and leaving you unprotected. Check out the Rip-Off Report for some horror stories about businesses that are out thousands of dollars.
Good Luck!