Question
I'm looking to start an online business. And I want to accept payments by Credit Cards. I would be doing recurring billings too. But, I'm kinda confused with which service I should use. I'm based outside the U.S and 1shoppingcart's reseller's website recommends WorldPay as as International Merchant Account provider. Then I went to some other shopping cart software's website and they state fees from Authorize.net. What is Authorize.net anyway? Do i need WorldPay and Authorize.net at the same time? Can anyone guide me on this?
I'm looking to start an online business. And I want to accept payments by Credit Cards. I would be doing recurring billings too. But, I'm kinda confused with which service I should use. I'm based outside the U.S and 1shoppingcart's reseller's website recommends WorldPay as as International Merchant Account provider. Then I went to some other shopping cart software's website and they state fees from Authorize.net. What is Authorize.net anyway? Do i need WorldPay and Authorize.net at the same time? Can anyone guide me on this?
Answer
This is all a little confusing... They are talking about two different services. You need an 'Internet merchant account' and a 'payment gateway'. You can get an internet merchant account from one of your local banks, or from someplace like WorldPay A lot of payment service providers will set you up with a merchant account and a payment gateway. BankDirect is WorldPay's payment gateway. Authorize.net is another brand of payment gateway, probably the most popular and well supported by shopping carts. The merchant account is a relationship that you arrange contractually between your business and the banks/Visa that says you can accept credit cards. The 'payment gateway' is the tool that you use to actually process payments. It's analogous to a credit card terminal. Your shopping cart will hook up to the payment gateway. Your Internet merchant account, and your ecommerce shopping cart will both have a selection of payment gateways they support. You will want to make sure they can both agree on a payment gateway.
This is all a little confusing... They are talking about two different services. You need an 'Internet merchant account' and a 'payment gateway'. You can get an internet merchant account from one of your local banks, or from someplace like WorldPay A lot of payment service providers will set you up with a merchant account and a payment gateway. BankDirect is WorldPay's payment gateway. Authorize.net is another brand of payment gateway, probably the most popular and well supported by shopping carts. The merchant account is a relationship that you arrange contractually between your business and the banks/Visa that says you can accept credit cards. The 'payment gateway' is the tool that you use to actually process payments. It's analogous to a credit card terminal. Your shopping cart will hook up to the payment gateway. Your Internet merchant account, and your ecommerce shopping cart will both have a selection of payment gateways they support. You will want to make sure they can both agree on a payment gateway.
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