When you shop for a credit terminal, you must give weight to the

different types of credit card processing that you may need for your

business and purchase or lease the equipment that will allow for all of

those types of processing. If you aren't sure as to which types of

processing you will need, take a look at the information included here.

• Point

  of Sale Processing - This is credit card processing that takes place in

  person, in the location where the sale is being made - at the point of

  sale. Point of Sale is often abbreviated as POS. It typically requires

  the presence of credit card processing equipment, and the presence of

  the person who owns the credit card.

• Online Processing - This

  type of processing actually requires software on your computer, with a

  merchant account and a payment gateway. Online processing does not

  require the presence of a credit terminal. Obviously, this is not

  typically used for POS; it actually can be used in this way as well.

  Often, you will have the ability for POS processing with equipment, and

  the ability to accept online processing as well - as an added bonus.

  Online processing is available for customers, but it is also possible

  to use online software to process cards yourself - without the

  customer, which leads us to telephone and mail order processing.

• Telephone

  and Mail Order Processing - This is for orders that are taken either

  over the telephone, or through the mail. Obviously, in both instances,

  the actual credit card is not present, and neither is the owner of the

  card. Not all merchant accounts will allow for this type of processing,

  however when these are allowed by your merchant account, you will

  typically do this type of processing with computer software. Special

  rules always apply when the credit card is not present, and you need to

  discuss this with your merchant account service.

• Mobile

  Processing - Mobile processing is any processing that you do away from

  your usual place of business. For mobile processing, you need a mobile

  credit terminal. Mobile processing is needed at trade shows, expos, and

  many other instances where you can conduct business away from the

  office or store. There are numerous devices available for mobile

  processing. These devices are typically very small, and do not weight

  much, making them quite portable.

• Swiping Options - Different

  equipment has different swiping options - either you will swipe the

  card for the customer, the customer will swipe the card themselves, or

  you will input the credit card numbers using a keypad. If customers

  will swipe the cards themselves, you will need an external swiping

  device with a keypad in most cases.

Again, make sure

that you are getting the Credit Terminal that will allow for the type

or types of credit card processing that your business needs. Your best

bet for the money is to find physical terminals that also offer you the

option of using software for online transactions as well, so that you

can serve customers locally and globally.

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