Today with E-banking and E-commerce becoming more mainstream; the services that banks, processors and their affiliates are able to offer make breaking the mold of local and domestic processing an easier and more seamless integration for merchants. This does not mean that domestic banks are suffering and local vendors will eventually stop using them. Web hosting companies are seeing a lot more businesses than usual come to them as vendors to either supplement their existing business or start up and maintain a new entity. Websites are funnels for advertisers, satellite industries and support businesses like banking and customer support. The hosting companies are really doing a lot of work for free so that not only their main client (the merchant) can do business, but also several other companies can make their money. This is fine, but what if you are a hosting company that sets up E-commerce websites for businesses every day only to send them packing off to a search engine to find credit card processing or can’t even answer the question?

Merchant service providers, processors and banks see the forest for the trees in that website hosting companies can be a great referral and affiliate source for them in ultimately obtaining new business. Why give the business away when you can refer it to a paying partner? Processors that deal with multiple banks naturally are able to achieve superior results through excellent rates, custom tailored processing solutions and services that customers may not have thought were available through their current or even any bank or processor. Processors are able to pay commissions to web hosting companies for the leads, and with website optimization becoming increasingly difficult; these fees often prove to be a more calculated expense with a higher rate of return than the processor or merchant service provider climbing the ladder to the first page of a search engine. Merchant service providers interact with several processors, who in turn interact with a number of banks. Likewise banks and merchant service providers foster relationships where the processor is the last piece of the puzzle when the deal comes together. As there are a number of scenarios, any one of these ultimately benefits merchants and the web hosting company that brought them to a processor or merchant service provider first. Merchant service providers typically are on the front line in the credit card processing battle. They deal with new customers every day and are able to gauge the ultimate success of the processing relationship and in turn match them with a processor and/ or bank that will foster the most seamless, quick and least cost intensive credit card processing solution for their customers. For web hosting companies flat rate referrals are only the beginning; high volume, high dollar merchants referred to merchant service providers often rate a percentage commission which can add up quickly. There are a lot of variables when it comes to these relationships, and for web hosting companies, researching the right merchant service provider will improve your customer relations and offer you a niche’ in the market.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

The topsoil and stone business is more or less a necessity driven industry that is becoming harder and harder every day to maintain and for businesses to stay competitive. The reason behind the pinch is the increasing cost of fuel. The stone industry is separated into three categories, quarries, gravel pits and recyclables.

Quarries typically use measured and strategically placed charges to blast stone into workable sized pieces. Then the stone is either loaded into trucks and hauled to a stationary processing plant that crushes, screens and sometimes washes the stone with high pressure watering systems to clean off sand and fines. The end products are uniformly sized materials that are used for roads, parking lots, driveways and in the building process. The materials that quarries and gravel pits make are used to make concrete and asphalt, both of which are used to build the roads we drive, walk on, run on and bicycle on every day.

Gravel pits are similar to quarries in that the processes for crushing, screening and washing the products is much the same. To harvest the stone from a gravel pit doesn’t necessitate the use of explosives as the material can be excavated with heavy equipment due to the fact that gravel is a mixture of sand and natural stone that lays beneath most of the worlds geography that ledge stone (which is quarry rock) does not inhabit. Various regions of the world are known for different types of rocks; some are hard, some are soft and some are very abrasive.

As both quarries and gravel pits typically use off-road dump trucks to transport the feed product to the stationary plants, some operations are turning to mobile equipment to bring the plant to the pile. Today, with the cost of fuel being so high, eliminating machinery and manpower and maintenance is a much needed cost saving measure. What is happening is as the face of a quarry or gravel pit moves back, the machinery moves with it. This not only eliminated the costly haul trucks, but it increases cycle times as the material doesn’t have to travel long distances to the plant.

Recyclable stone products are typically concrete and asphalt that are the products of the demolition and road rebuilding process. In the past, these materials were hauled to landfills and buried; today, savvy contractors are purchasing and renting mobile rock crushers much like the ones used in quarries, to crush down their jobsite waste to be used back on that jobsite or sold to other contractors in that area. This can work well for other contractors as a quarry or gravel pit may be a far drive and the fuel costs for getting a product to them may be too expensive.

Topsoil companies or organics producers either purchase raw workable topsoil and other products that can be turned into topsoil, mulches for landscaping and highly enriched garden and potting materials. Many of these companies use their own trucks to deliver their products to customers, while others travel to jobsites to turn an unusable and unsalable material into a salable commodity.

Both the stone and topsoil industries are really feeling the pinch of high fuel prices and a soft economy. Increases in products make up for some of it to offset these circumstances, but to remain competitive, even more cost saving measures need to be implemented. As these businesses typically accept credit cards, many of the transactions are done over the telephone and a receipt is either printed to be signed by the customer on delivery, or an invoice is sent out. In most cases, the transactions are classified by banks as “Card not Present Transactions” and these businesses are placed in a high risk category without even knowing about it. Merchant service providers have a lot to offer these merchants in the stone and topsoil industry. They’re used to dealing with business owners that mainly run card not present transactions and they often deal with high volume high batch submissions. What they can offer are competitive rates, custom tailored services to various industries and low fees. Contact a merchant service provider today to find out more.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

For most merchants, using their credit card merchant account has not only helped their business grow, but it has been the mainstay of their cash flow. For online merchants, not being able to accept credit cards is not an option. Another great option for merchants to electronically process consumer transactions is through ACH.

ACH is Automatic Clearing House and basically an electronic wire transfer system and the transactions are settled in much the same way that traditional paper check transactions are; meaning that the bank divides the batch submissions by the originator bank and sends them off to clear, and wit for the respective deposits. Unlike paper checks, ACH transactions are usually high dollar amounts and are popular with international merchants selling products or services to clients abroad. This usually works out well because of the time and risk involved with mailing funds. Internet merchants are believed to be particularly savvy when it comes to funds acceptance diversification. ACH has been around since the early 1970’s and has always been a risk for businesses to perform due to theft and fraud. Unfortunately criminals will always find a way into the most elaborate and secure funds transfer systems; however, this cannot stop merchants from looking forward to add ACH to their stable of acceptance venues.

When ACH was born, the US Federal Reserve offered help by way of offering electronics and computer systems to aid banking institutions deal with, organize and settle ACH transactions. In 1974 NACHA, which is the National Automatic Clearing House Association, to help establish rules and guidelines as well as regulate certain portions of the ACH industry. Today they operate and maintain their website which is www.nacha.org which offers news, information, resource links and statistics for merchants that are interested in ACH. Currently ACH transactions increase an average of about 15% each year, with a 13.4% volume increase in 2007. Due to the internet revolution, ACH has grown steadily and seems to show no slowdown in sight for the near future; however it is unclear today what the effects of a slow economy or recession will have on these transactions. It is possible that ACH transactions may spike in a slow economy because of the relative low cost of a per transaction fee, no discount rate and no chargeback risk. As with any avenue in business, industry professionals work to make their products and services more mainstream and a questionable economy just may be the way to accomplish that.

Setting up an ACH account is fairly simple. Many merchant service providers that set up and assist in the maintenance of merchant credit card accounts offer ACH set up services. This is great for one stop shoppers; however there are companies that specialize in ACH set up and servicing specifically ACH customers. The application process is very similar to credit card acceptance applications and there is usually a set up fee, monthly fee and transaction fee, which is the same for credit card accounts. A great money savings for merchants is that there is no discount rate involved. This means that there is no percentage of each dollar being processed taken out for the bank or processor. Transaction fees vary, but usually fall between $.25 and $1.00 per transaction. This can mean real dollars saved for certain industries, but it would be a hard sell for many merchants that benefit from the ease of credit cards and allot for those expenses. While it may not happen tomorrow, ACH is here to stay and enjoys steady growth in a fickle and ever changing marketplace. If you are interested in information on ACH accounts, checking with your merchant service provider is not a bad place to start.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

With the weak economy, the heavy equipment industry is adapting and overcoming by going global. For this and all of the construction industry, a weak economy is a frightening thought. For the larger contractors, a lack of federal and state funds for large projects like roads, bridges and infrastructure mean that they won’t be working as much and need to start liking at medium and small jobs. For the medium and small contractors, a weak or slow economy means that contract work from large contractors will dwindle or at least there will be more competition. For small specialized businesses like landscapers, loggers and tree service companies a slow economy means that businesses and homeowners won’t be spending the money that year. If you’re in the equipment retail or rental business, all of these people are your customers and if any one of those demographics are have a bad year, then so are you.

For every region in the country, their seasons break at different times. Basically no one likes working when it’s too hot or cold, that included equipment. You get the picture. The heavy equipment industry is basically at the mercy of the economy both directly and indirectly. Cost saving measures are implemented every day to make sure that their machinery maintains its equity, customers receive the service and maintenance they need and the company can be in business for another year. From the big dealerships to small equipment houses, they all do extremely well at watching their day to day costs and making sure that equipment deals pass the fairness test. A real aspect of the industry that is not given as much attention as it may should pertains to their banking and funds acceptance. As with many service industries, many dealers have card not present accounts so that they can take credit cards over the phone or on a jobsite; while they’re also set up at the store with a terminal for parts and other over the counter sales. While it may seem like a credit card driven industry, most dealers use their own credit lines established through an internal credit department that invoices customers and sets, increases and puts stops on all lines of credit within the company. What if this internal cost could be outsourced by using the customer’s credit cards to complete transactions? Many domestic banks probably won’t jump at the chance to have out low rate credit lines to the equipment and construction industry, but there are many banks and processors that look outside the box and may be willing to take a risk on credit lines for equipment, sales and rentals of heavy equipment. Merchant service providers are the best direct link to banks that are interested in that type of business. Just like contractors specialize in various skills and disciplines, doing the same thing day in, day out; merchant service providers are highly skilled in linking the right customers with the right banks. If you’re interested in a merchant account for your construction equipment sales, rental and parts business, contact a merchant service provider or find one on the internet.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

Men don’t go to the barber anymore and their wives, daughters and girlfriends don’t just go to the salon, they go to the spa. With everyday life getting busier and more hectic, everyone needs a time out; the spa industry has just what you need to revitalize yourself and escape if not for just a bit. The spa has taken over the cosmetic and salon industry offering more than just haircuts. Most spas are full service; they offer services such as manicures, pedicures, massages, tanning and they’ll even do your make up for you. Five years ago, if you owned a spa or full service salon, you owned the market in your town. Today, with many to choose from, spas need to differentiate and offer services that separate themselves from their competition. Some of the most sought after services today are full body wraps, hot stone therapy and of course there’s always a line out the door for a three hundred dollar haircut. It really sounds crazy, but it’s true, people are doling out big bucks to make themselves feel better and there is really no slow down in sight for the near future.
In addition to traditional salons and spas, specialty spas and salons are popping up in major cities, except their clients are probably not who you think? Kids and pets, that’s right, pedicures, massages and fancy hair do’s for your children and prized pups currently make up a small but growing percentage of the spa industry. In addition to service and product differentiation, these small businesses need to keep up revenue and watch their profit margins as this industry is high end and its clients demand the very best in terms of atmosphere and amenities. If you’re a salon or spa owner, the banking industry may not be your best friend as of late. Banks are cutting back on business improvement loans, both in terms of the size of the loan, term of the loan and interest rates are not as good as they once were. However, businesses need to keep up with trends, change to meet consumer demands and expand to grow their businesses. These are realities that spa and salon owners cannot ignore if they want, if they want to stay in business for the long term. A great way for small businesses like these to save money is taking a good look at their credit card rates; really, what they are being charged by their bank and/or processor to accept credit cards at their business. So many business owners are just too busy running their business to take a close look at their statement every month, and just chalk up the fees and high discount rate to the cost of doing business today. If that’s the case, then please look again. Sometimes banks and processors will place a business like a salon or spa in a high risk category; they often justify this to their customers because of the nature of their business, in that these are not necessities but luxury purchases. If you find yourself in a position that you don’t want to be in for the future, you may want to contact a merchant service provider. A merchant account service provider is simply a broker that deals with a lot of different banks. Two really good reasons for dealing with them over one bank is that you can shop rates of several banks while dealing with only one person and certain processors and merchant service providers deal mainly with specific types of industries. For spa and salon owners, this means that they’re in sync with busy times of the year and know how to handle chargebacks more effectively. For a business owner, that can mean real dollars saved and sleeping better at night!

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

The fight is on and some people would argue; but the satellite television industry is on fire and there aren’t any signs of the cable industry gaining any headway toward offering their customers competitive products or services that will sway folks from taking down the big ugly dish on the roof. Cable television is not a bad service in as much as it has been around forever and the companies have serviced their customers well. In fact it’s doubtful that cable will ever go away. What’s most exciting about the satellite television revolution is that the services are getting so much more competitive; where two and three years ago, better receivers, monthly fees and coverage area were consumer hot buttons. Now with high fidelity digital channels being a must have as well as number and selection of high definition channels being a main bone of contention for the present and future in customer loyalty. Today, satellite companies have cornered the market on high definition selection; having more of them and better selection, which is drawing customers their way. In terms of pricing and install fees, both satellite and cable tend to be very competitive; where perspective satellite customers may not have the direct line to the satellite in the sky, cable companies don’t service everywhere, in every crevice of the countryside. What is important to stay is that where satellite companies are pulling away from the competition with great services; the cable companies aren’t helping themselves out by cashing in on regular rate increases.

The really great thing about the satellite industry is that the dissemination of innovations happens so fast. Integrating homes, businesses and entire hotels is a bit easier due to high end components and wireless ability, which makes slot of accounts for satellite companies easier to maintain. Due to increased fuel prices, the cost of installation and cost of components is a bit higher today than it was three or even five years ago. Well, when it comes to raising prices, satellite television companies need to be careful; getting lumped into the category that their competitors in the cable business is always in the back of their minds. With a lot of billing done directly by automatic billing through their customer’s credit cards, these business owners typically pay a lot to banks in terms of rates and monthly processing fees. The day to day stresses and frustrations of running a business tend to take precedence over cost control. It’s probably not the most popular thing to say to a business owner, but many satellite companies are small businesses that need to control costs, but seldom have the time due to high workloads. A great way to control your merchant service costs is just by looking to your statement! That’s right, do it once a month; what you might find is that you are paying higher rates and unnecessary fees every month. You may also find that chargebacks due to customer’s credit card issues add up and if not addressed promptly will cost you, not them. You may also find that you’re probably paying a higher rate and were placed in a high risk category due to the fact that much if not all of your business is categorized as card not present. These transactions are convenient for business owners and basically necessary in the satellite industry, but are placed in that category as a rule based on principle by the bank because of the type of transaction that they are. By doing some basic research online, you may find that international banks that are located outside your domestic region are not only very competitive but probably offer better rates than your domestic bank. This is simply because this is found business outside of their market. Banking standards, while secure, are more lenient and merchant friendly toward the small business owner. Merchant service providers are usually the best resource to getting in touch with these banks and finding a better banking solution for you.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

Everyone likes to travel and get away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Destination weddings, all inclusive vacation resorts and boat rentals are becoming more and more popular among the vacation jaded. Travel agencies, brokers, wholesalers and direct sales houses that have lived through the peaks and valleys of various economies know, within reason how to predict consumer confidence. Today, the western economy is slow and travel is down; you know this, so watching your costs is a must to turn any profit.

There are several ways that business savvy travel industry insiders keep in the black and in business. the first is by packaging deals that cost average several aspects of a vacation; some with inflated costs and others that are true deals. This is fine by most consumers; nobody likes to shop around for a relaxing vacation. Another good way is to wholesale packages to businesses. Companies like to give away things to their employees that help drive business, build moral and keep the employees happy. This is a great way to associate a lot of value by buying in bulk. You all know this. With the relevant demise of corner travel agencies, online travel brokerage agencies have made some headway, sourcing sought after destinations with the amenities and activities that today’s traveler demands.

The travel industry is one of the internet’s most researched topics. Whether it’s destination, hotel, flight or packaging, most, if not all decisions can be made in your own home. Internet travel business owners feel the pinch every time they read their merchant account statements. Like any industry, there is a risk involved; however, banks view the travel industry in a high risk category. There are two reasons this happens. First is that there is an inherently high number of chargebacks in travel. People’s lives change, their plans change and there is always fraud and theft. These factors drive a merchant’s discount rate high, in some cases through the roof. Online travel merchants pay on the high end of the credit card industry; which is in itself an oxymoron. Travel entails moving people from point A to point B, right? Many times, travel is international. Merchants usually do business with clients within their domestic market; meaning US merchants are most likely to sell vacations and plane tickets to US customers. Many of these tickets and vacations involve international travel. When these merchants batch and process their transactions, it’s usually at a local bank, or at least a domestic bank…charging them a high discount rate reflecting a high risk business. Merchant service providers specialize in sourcing banks or banking solutions for various clients. There are a lot of benefits to obtaining a merchant account from a merchant service provider. They can offer many services that you may either have to pay for or may not have access to at all through your current bank. Some of these services include virtual terminals, third party fraud scrubbing and high volume accounts. If you’re in the travel industry and are interested in getting a better rate on your credit card transactions, contact a merchant service provider today.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

Small contractors in the United States are plentiful. Whether you’re looking for a landscaper, drywall hanger, framer, builder or general contractor, you’re covered. There’s definitely no shortage of skilled laborers and business owners that can complete the job. These types of businesses crux on the ability to get paid. Unlike other business owners, the accepted industry standard is that payment isn’t expected until the job is complete. There are exceptions like, large jobs that last over a month, where payroll needs to be met or supplies need to be purchased. Other than that, the public stigmatizes contractors to collect their money and disappear. Hence, the acceptable practice of not getting paid until the job is complete or paying only when certain portions of the job is completed.   While It’s not fair to say that these problems between contractors and their customers are unfounded, because there are and have always been a rift between expectations, implied expectations and the final product. These are things that small contractors deal with on a daily basis and it has not been getting any easier for them with the growing number of do-it-your-selfers and more importantly, the growing number of botched jobs by homeowner handymen and women.

If you’re a small contractor, it may not be a bad idea to look into getting a merchant account. Some businesses already have them, but don’t like to use them. Some have them and transfer the rate hike to their customers, because of the fact that their bank usually charges them a high rate, due to the type of business that they’re in and how the money is processed. Let’s start with how the money is processed. Typically, transactions are processed at the merchant’s home or business and over the telephone or on a jobsite. In any case, these types of transactions are classified as card not present transactions, where, the customer doesn’t swipe a merchant terminal. Due to the types of transactions being processed and the type of business that contractors engage in, banks tend to assess higher rates to them and other merchants like them. If you are a contractor and are interested in either obtaining a merchant account, or currently have a merchant account, but would like to better your rates, payment methods or processing intervals, then shopping around for a better deal may be worth your while. Merchant service providers connect processors and banks with merchants of all types every day. The phrase, “Sticking a square peg in a round hole” is very much their concern. A bad banking relationship will never benefit the bank as well as the merchant. Pairing up two parties that have the same expectations going in, is as much the same as you, the contractor explaining the scope of a job, then bringing it to life on site. Merchant service providers have relationships with many different banks; your chances of finding the right fit for you and your business are higher, dealing with a merchant service provider. If you are a small contractor and would like more information about obtaining a merchant account, contact a merchant service provider today.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

Business owners have to make many decisions before they open the front door to even their first customer. The interior design of their store must be advantageous to purchasing, clutter free, well lit, and inviting. If it is a restaurant, ample comfortable seating must be provided, and the kitchen has to of course be clean as a whistle. In all the consideration of décor and hospitality, retailers must never forget they must possess the ability to accept tender from their clients, and the more forms of payment is always better, giving customers many varied options when they look in their wallets or pocketbooks. Merchants must consider a whole range of options when considering their POS (point of sale) systems, and it is a good idea to patronize their own favorite retailers and hospitality providers in order to witness POS systems in operation.

Whether you are at the grocery store, your favorite watering hole, or the movie theater, all types of businesses must have reliable POS systems in place to expedite payment from their valued customers. Everyone has experienced a long wait due to either an employee’s unfamiliarity to less than intuitive credit card machines or cash register equipment; with the right equipment and of course, training in place, customers can freely shuffle in and out, happily enjoying their experience from product or service fulfillment all the way through to their purchasing. When considering POS, every merchant must be prepared to take credit cards, ATM cards, and checks, as most purchasers, especially tourists or visitors have taken less and less to carrying cash because of its inconvenience and lack of protection if lost or stolen. Though the initial investment might seem large, an all in one system that allows for check verification, ATM card processing, cash, and credit card processing, might be the best opportunity to serve all your customers’ payment needs. Another option is starting off with a cash register for cash transactions and adding other equipment as your business and growing clientele demands change. It is necessary to find equipment that can grow with you however, so that integral parts must not be continually replaced as communication with new technology is necessary. So, that outdated cash register found at a “going out of business” sale might not prove to be an adequate option in the long run.

Many electronic providers not only allow merchants the ability to process all forms of payment, but also can supply merchants with the necessary equipment personally, or through their years of experience with retailers, are able to put merchants in touch with distributors and outfitters who provide the latest in POS technology. Providing your customers with quick and secure payment options is not only necessary for their satisfaction, but is of course essential for continued smooth operation and growth.

For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit http://www.stradafee.com.

In California in the early 1970’s, several banks in conjunction with the regional Federal Reserve office in California began brainstorming to find a safe and secure way of transferring funds electronically between different financial institutions. Their hard work paid off with a new network labeled the Automated Clearing House coming online in 1972. Other institutions across the nation were motivated by the Californian’s success, forming their own regional Automated Clearing House networks to deal with paperless transactions in their individual states. The natural progression of these separate efforts came to its fruition in 1974, as a concerted effort of individual ACH organizations formed the National Automated Clearing House Association. The main goal of this association involving all regional ACH operations was to successfully combine them into a national network of automated clearing houses. In 1978, their goal was realized when financial institutions across the nation were securely electronically linked.

From its humble grass roots beginnings in the early 1970’s, the ACH has grown into the largest network of its kind in the world. It has truly revolutionized the way Americans and American businesses do business, providing all with the peace of mind that all transactions are made securely and safely between institutions. But what began as a way for banks to communicate with each other has bloomed into so much more. Now, practically all Americans rely upon ACH in fulfilling a financial need each and every month, if not daily. If a worker gets his or her paycheck directly deposited into a checking or savings account, this is done through an ACH transaction. April marks a time of increased ACH transactions, as it is the time of year Federal Tax Return monies are directly deposited into taxpayers’ accounts. Social Security benefits are also tendered through ACH transactions, as well as most all government benefits and payments. Many computer-savvy Americans have adopted the paperless option when paying their monthly bills, with most providers (utility, cable, mortgage providers, etc.) allowing for this time and paper saving feature. For online merchants, the ACH has proven essential in their acceptance of electronic payments and has proven a boon to online merchants in the United States. Nearly all electronic payment providers work with the ACH in order to provide protected gateways for the merchants they represent. Providers like New York’s Stradafee, effectively represent their customers by keeping up with all ACH developments, following guidelines implicitly so that their clients can keep their efforts focused on the cultivation and improvement of their individual businesses. The ACH and the network it provides has truly become an integral innovation contributing to smooth operations of commerce in America today.

Merchant accounts make it possible for businesses to provide online credit card processing. For more information on credit card processing visit www.stradafee.com.