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A2Z Online
Services
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Small
Business Tool Kit
Basic Business Plan Format
Definition of Mission, Goals,
Objectives and Strategies
Putting Together a PR Media Kit
Sample of a Press Release
Smart Marketing
Printing
Paper Basis Weight Chart
Printing and Marketing
Glossary
Envelope Size Chart
Online
Payment Systems
Like any business decision, selecting an online payment system requires quite
a bit of homework on your part. A2Z does not recommend any one online payment
system, but will work with you to design your website using the online payment
system you choose. Be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions of any
online payment system, and to compare it with other systems. Things to look
for include:
- How long have they been in business?
Choose a payment services provider that is well established and credible.Your
provider should also have in-depth experience in and a strong track record
for transaction security.
- Customer Service
Is the business only a faceless entity on the internet, or can you easily
contact a real human being? Do they readily disclose their corporate phone
numbers and business addresses? Are they located in the USA, or in a foreign
country (which may subject them to different laws)? Some companies intentionally
make the phone number very difficult to find in order to "save costs."
If you have a problem, you deserve the courtesy of a real human-to-human contact
instead of being shuffled off into the empty abyss of online email form replies.
You might even try calling the listed phone number to verify the ease with
which you can access their customer service.
- Disclosure of Terms of Service
If you plan on doing very large volumes of financial business from the internet,
you would be well advised to run the online payment system company's Terms
of Service past a lawyer who specializes in business transactions. Be forewarned
that some online payment services have been charged with not completely disclosing
their Terms of Service upon signup and leaving some "conditions"
undisclosed. Your money may be100% at risk.
- Do they have a policy that allows them to arbitrarily "freeze"
your account?
Some online payment systems have a reputation of completely cleaning out customers'
accounts, (including checking or savings account) with no appeals process
available.
- How do they handle disputes?
Do the Terms of Service allow you to opt for a jury trial or allow you to
retain a legal option to dispute the company's decisions? Be aware that some
online payment systems act as their own investigator, judge, jury and executioner
in disputes with their company. In these cases, if they make a decision to
keep your account locked, you cannot appeal the decision
- How do they handle payments made with stolen credit cards?
If you are paid with a stolen credit card or if a customer "disputes"
the charge, your account can be flagged as "criminal behavior" resulting
in the confiscation of all funds -even funds not involved in the disputed
transaction - in your account.
- What do they charge for their services?
Some online payment systems charge excessive fees for services. You might
be better off to just establish a phone or fax merchant account with Visa
and MasterCard. We advise you to carefully compare rates between services.
- Real-time Authorization
Make sure your payment gateway provider offers real-time credit card authorization
results.This will
ensure that the credit card has not been reported as lost or stolen and that
it is a valid card number.
Verisign
To read Verisign's helpful Online Payment Processing Guide: What You Need
to Know, click here.
PayByWeb
Set up your own merchant account. Not only take credit cards, but also checks
instantly! Since 3 times more people have checking accounts than credit cards,
the e-check thing is a big market. In business since 1992.
Propay.com
You get a real merchant type account, your business email address shows up on
your customers credit card statement, so they know who to contact in case of
questions, and their rates are reasonable. Plus no monthly fee!
Merchant-Systems
No application fee, no certificate required. About $30/month.
Intelli-Collect
StormPay
Money Bookers
PayPal
While PayPal is one of the most recognized names on the internet as an online
payment system, there is a lot of controversy right now about the ethics of
PayPal's business practices. At this point, I cannot recommend the PayPal system
to my clients. To read about the specifics of the complaints, review the comments
on this site:
http://www.nopaypal.com
Other
information:
Helpful
information for entrepreneurs and small business owners:
Small Business Administration
(SBA)
Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE )
INC. Magazine for Entrepreneurs
Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME)
Oregon Economic & Community
Development Department
Washington State Department of Community,
Trade and Economic Development
Washington Office of Financial
Management
Better Business Bureau
National Association for the Self-Employed
Federal Trade Commission
Oregon Secretary of State Corporation
Division
Need to register a business name, or find out if someone else in the state has
a name registered? You can do all that, and much more here.
Washington Secretary of State Corporation
Division
Take care of business needs via this site.
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DISCLAIMER: A2Zgorge.info is an information and referral service provider
and is not liable or responsible for direct services provided by any individual,
business or organization listed. Please report any problems you experience
directly to the business or organization in question. If you do not receive
satisfaction, we suggest you file a report with the
Better Business Bureau . The information on this site is for information
purposes only, and not to be considered legal advice, or to take the place
of consulting an appropriate medical or mental health professional. Would
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