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To Set Up a Merchant Account Call 1-800-757-5453
Accepting Ebook Payment
By: Shelley Lowery, Thu Jun 1st, 2006
Once you've completed your ebook and have taken the necessary
steps to protect your work, your next step will be to set up an
online payment system.
Don't let this process intimidate you, as it is much easier than
you may think. There are many professional companies on the
Internet that will assist you. If you'd like to get your own
merchant account, you can do so right online. If you'd rather
not have your own merchant account, there are companies online
that will process your orders for you.
Merchant Accounts
If you decide to get your own merchant account, you will also
need access to a secure server and a shopping cart system. A
secure server will protect your customers information. A
shopping cart system will provide your customer with a running
total of what they have ordered and the total cost.
The following websites can provide you with a merchant account:
Total Merchant Services (TMS)
http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/web/jump.cgi?ID=2332
This outstanding company comes highly recommended by Corey Rudl
-- author of the #1 selling online marketing course, "Insider
Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet."
The TMS Merchant account, for Internet transactions, will
enable you to accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and
Discover. They offer two merchant processing software packages
to choose from. The first package is the TotalPay powered by
Authorize.Net™ Virtual Terminal. This package will enable you to
authorize, process, and manage credit card transactions from any
computer with an Internet connection and a Web browser. This
package ordinarily runs $995, but for a limited time is being
offered for only $397. The second package is the TotalPay
powered by Authorize.Net™ Virtual Terminal that includes the
Total Merchant Manager Shopping Cart. This package includes
everything the first package includes, plus all of the following:
- Customizable Shopping Cart System - UPS Shipping Module -
Links to Virtual Terminal - Free Initial Installation
Their discount rate is 2.4% and $0.35 per transaction fee.
Monthly fees include a $10 monthly statement fee and a $10
gateway fee that includes secure, online, real-time credit card
and e-cheque processing and only applies to merchants processing
transactions through their Internet payment gateway.
NRWW Commerce http://nrww.com/merchant_account.shtml
This powerful Internet-based software provides secure,
real-time transaction credit card processing. The Virtual
Terminal feature enables merchants to authorize, process, and
manage credit card transactions from any computer with an
Internet connection and a Web browser. This software package
runs $179.95.
Their discount rate is 2.25% and $0.30 per transaction fee.
Monthly fees include a $5 monthly statement fee and a $15 secure
gateway fee.
Third Party Credit Card Processors
If you'd rather not have your own merchant account, third party
credit card processors will process your credit card orders for
you. There are usually no monthly fees. They charge a "per
transaction" fee and send you payment for all of your orders
processed, minus their fee and a reserve fee. A reserve fee is
withheld to cover and charge backs you may have. If you have no
charge backs within a period of time, your reserve will be
refunded to you. Each company has their own guidelines in regard
to reserves.
The following websites will process credit card orders for you:
CCNow http://www.ccnow.com
This outstanding company will enable you to accept all major
credit cards online without a merchant account. There are no set
up or monthly fees of any kind. They charge a 9% per transaction
fee. In addition, their services are available for non-US
merchants.
CCNow is intended to be used for tangible merchandise only.
This means that you must have a physical product that is shipped
to the customer's physical address. If your product is
electronic, you may want to consider using one of the following
companies to process your orders.
ClickBank http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/web/jump.cgi?ID=196
ClickBank is another outstanding company that will enable you
to accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover,
Eurocard, Visa-Debit, MasterCard-Debit and Novus cards. No
merchant account is required.
They charge a one-time $49.95 activation fee, and a $1 + 7.5%
fee per sale. There are no monthly fees. The great thing about
this company is that over 60,000 affiliates can choose to sell
your products for you. ClickBank enables any web seller to
automatically pay sales commissions to affiliates. They will
bill your customers, pay you, and pay your affiliates a
commission. In other words, they'll run your entire affiliate
program for you. In addition, their services are available for
non-US merchants.
ClickBank is intended to be used for electronic merchandise
only. If you ship a physical product, you may want to consider
using CCNow to process your orders.
iBill http://www.ibill.com
iBill will enable you to accept Visa, Mastercard, American
Express, JCB, online checks or telephone billing (900 number).
There are no setup fees. However, you must maintain a minimum
sales volume of $25 per month or the difference will be charged
to your credit card. They charge 12% - 15% per transaction fee
for credit card and check purchases and 20% - 30% per
transaction fee for phone purchases. Non-US merchants are
welcome.
If you're just starting out, you may want to use one of the
third party credit card processors, as this is the easiest
route. Each company provides you with step by step instructions
to assist you in getting your web site set up to accept credit
cards. The great thing about third party credit card processors
is that they handle everything for you. You don't have to hassle
with processing your credit card payments or charge backs, as
all of this is taken care of for you.
In order to successfully sell your ebooks on the Internet, you
must accept credit cards. In addition, you must make the
ordering process as simple as possible. With today's technology,
even the smallest home-based business can now accept credit
credits almost instantly. Visit one of the web sites mentioned
above and get your web site set up today. Your success depends
on it.
About the author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of Ebook Starter. A complete ebook
design kit that takes you step by step through designing,
creating and marketing your own ebook. Give your ebook a
professional look in just a few simple steps with over 100 ebook
interface and cover templates.
http://www.web-source.net/ebookstarter.htm
