My Merchant Account Blog

Merchant Account Agreements

Friday, March 23, 2007

When you sign up with a merchant account provider, they want a contract. This contract helps to ensure the provider that you will do some type of business with them. Most businesses start because people want to make money. And to make money, businesses sell services and products to others. This merchant account agreement helps to ensure that you, as a merchant, will provide a business to the provider and will also stay in compliance with regulations set forth by the provider, by the acquiring bank, and by Visa and MasterCard.

Some providers want you to sign an agreement for one year, two years, maybe even three years. Other merchant service providers offer month to month agreements, no contract agreements. This not only protects the provider in knowing he will have a customer (the merchant) for a number of years, but it also protects, you - the merchant. As the merchant, this contract ensures that you will have the processing capability that you will rely on. Without this, you the provider could shut down at anytime without any recourse. You, as the merchant, would be left without a merchant account provider, unable to process any credit card transactions and not making any money.

When getting a merchant account, look to see how long the company has been in business. Check to see if they are a public company and to see how much they are worth. You want to know that the company you are going to choose is stable and reliable. You want to know that the company you choose to process your credit card transactions will always be there for you and is not a fly by night company. Also check out Choosing a United States Merchant Account Provider to see what information to look for.