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Published November 01st, 2016 by

5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Merchant Service Provider

5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Merchant Service Provider

Customer satisfaction is always one of the most important things that people look for in a particular company. Customer satisfaction is convenient and this translates as easy payment methods. Cash is not anymore the mode of payment in many stores and business establishments nowadays. Moreover, with online stores, what is most important is the use of top merchant services.

These days, the term “merchant services” has become synonymous with online processing of credit cards. A merchant service is a system that handles cashless or digital payment services for online business owners as well as all businesses that have payment options other than cash. It is the merchant service that actually collects the payment funds from the credit card company and carries out the transaction easily for a particular fee. Merchant services have changed through the years. A long time ago, they were just simple credit lending services, but now they even go beyond the credit card.

As more and more online sellers or merchants nowadays are using credit and debit cards for making their payments, merchant services are getting more and more popular. This is because these services offer numerous flexible ways to pay for goods and services. A merchant services account is therefore a very convenient way for a customer or business owner who does not want to use cash for his transactions. Merchant service reviews all say that the best service must be something that makes possible necessary purchases even if the buyer does not have sufficient funds as of the moment.

Since the credit card or any other cashless mode of payment is a mere guarantee of payment, it is the merchant service that guarantees and reimburses these to the bank. There will naturally be charges but the cost of merchant services is actually too affordable for the security that it gives. Nonetheless, there must be a clear list of reasons why your business needs to start using a list of merchant services providers.

You Can Accept Credit Cards

If you go for credit card payment option for your business, then you will definitely need merchant services. Such services can bring a huge advantage not only to your customers who use credit and debit cards but also to your own company. If you provide the credit card option to your customers, then you are also doing your business a lot of good. In fact, you should be familiar with how a credit card option legitimizes your business. If you are providing your clients the option to pay by credit card through merchant services, then you are actually making your business legitimate. It is true that every business that uses credit card as a payment option is something that is already established in your industry. That is because banks approve of your business being a collector.

A survey way back in 2000 revealed that 50% of consumers leave their shopping carts when later on they find out that there is no credit card payment option. The same thing goes if their preferred payment option is not available. This means that there are really numerous benefits if your business offers a credit card payment option. Some of these benefits include fast authorization, fast real-time processing, 24-hour access to funds, 24/7 technical support, some freebies and many more.

You Can Avoid Bounced Checks

If your business is using merchant services, then you can definitely do away with bounced checks coming from some irresponsible clients. Bad checks are a real hassle to the business if you do not know how to handle these directly. Merchant services for small businesses are important because bouncing checks can never be a payment option for these services. Thus, you can avoid the trouble of having to deal with a bad check or even a bad customer.

If your business does not rely on a good merchant services provider and accepts checks as payment, then there is a good chance that once in a while you will have irresponsible clients. Many of them overlook the fact that they pay bounced checks. Based on the legal and technical definition of a bounced check according to Investopedia, bounced checks are sometimes used by clients who are simply just unaware about their low bank balances.

The problem with having to handle bad checks is that you have to go through a difficult process of confronting the customer about it. According to Free Legal Advice, you have to call the customer although taking care not to discuss his debt with his employer. You also have to send a certified letter that includes a return receipt that demands for payment. In addition, you have to consult a lawyer when it comes to this. Another thing that you have to do is that you should contact the bank from which the client has drawn his check. This does not only take time but also takes a lot of difficulty and stress on your part. However, with a merchant services provider, you can make sure that you will never have to go through this ordeal.

You Can Increase Sales

Reviews of the best merchant services reveal that customers tend to spend more if they are given the option to use credit cards. The same thing goes if your business offers them other payment options like Paypal or a payment processor. Thus, the use of a merchant services provider is one of the best ways to encourage purchases and thereby boost sales. Research shows that if credit card payment option is offered, some customers could even spend up more than 100% of their actual purchase if they have to use cash. This particular increase could therefore create a huge impact on the overall gains and growth of your business.

The future of merchant services depends much on the various benefits that flexible payment options can give to your customers. Some of these benefits include not only a boost in sales but also a widening of the client base due to more payment options. This alone also brings more sales in the long run. In fact, based on 2016 E-commerce statistics, there is an estimated 71% of the American population who do their shopping online because they prefer cashless payment options. This means that the decision to shift to merchant services is a very good one.

Aside from the fact that a credit card payment option increases sales indirectly, the integrated system brings different payment company systems together in your own company. Thus, this makes you get in touch with Visa, Mastercard, Discover and many other companies included by your merchant services provider. These are the biggest credit card organizations in the world today. If you are using a credit card as payment option for your business, this means that these big companies trust you. Moreover, you can also get in touch with your banks.

You Can Ensure Better Money Management

One more advantage of a good merchant service is that it will increase cash flow and will ensure a better management of your finances. Once you start accepting other payment options for your business, then you can definitely streamline your way toward easier transactions. Instead of literally counting cash and managing it, it will be the merchant services provider itself that will keep your financial records organized. This then translates to better cash flow management and forecasting.

Better money management always means continuous cash flow. If you do not go for merchant services, you will experience problems with cash flow. Cash flow problems are usually caused by mismanagement or unrealistic projections. If the day to day operations are filled with challenges and difficulties, then what is important is good cash flow management. In fact, a small business should be able to maintain good cash flow so that nothing can stop its future growth and expansion. It is your merchant service that helps you with all this cash flow.

You Can Increase Customer Satisfaction

The ultimate goal of all merchant services providers is to increase customer satisfaction. It is not enough that your customers are happy paying cash. You should find a way so that they can pay at their own convenience. When the payment process offers multiple options, when the merchant services provider is safe and reliable, and when the whole process itself is fast, then you will have many very satisfied customers.

There are many benefits to cashless transactions. Cashless transactions will always make customers happy and convenient since they do not have to carry cash with them. Moreover, cashless transactions brought about by merchant providers will always give the customer his own freedom in making more purchases. Moreover, if your business uses cashless transactions, then it provides a safezone for both your company and your customers when making payments. Thus, this should encourage more and more customers to make more and more purchases. Faster and more reliable transactions always lead to more purchases.

Only a good merchant services provider can actually give your business the boost that it needs. A good merchant service is essential to increasing overall customer satisfaction as well as sales volume and profit. Cashless transactions also help the business accept payment options like credit cards and others. Such transactions can also encourage positive cash flow and good money management, and can help avoid bounced checks. The success of your business therefore depends on having a good merchant service. Go check out CrowdReviews.com because it might just have the best merchant services that your business needs.

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