For photographers who have never accepted credit cards before, trying to figure out if you have a fair deal or not can be quite a task. Many processors pitch a rate and tell you there are no hidden fees, then a couple of months down the road, you see that you are paying much more than expected. Here is a punch list of things to look for when signing up.
-Stay away from tiered pricing. Many processors set up clients with what is called tiered pricing. You have a qualified/mid/non qualified rate. The problem is that there are over 200 different types of Visa and MC, and they all have different rates. So more than likely you are getting over charged on most cards. Look for Cost Plus or Interchange Plus pricing
-Look for any hidden fees. Take a look at the contract and make sure you know what you are signing. Track down the Schedule A and make sure you are comfortable with everything. Red flags are MONTHLY MINIMUMS, ANNUAL FEES, HIGH STATEMENT GATEWAY FEES, and of course high RATES.
-Contracts with long terms or cancellation fees. Do not get locked into a long term agreement with cancellation fees. This is bad news.
This is just a short list of what to look for. Please contact me if you have any questions on your current set up or if you are looking into accepting credit cards. Look for more tips soon.
Ryan
