If you own a business in Albany, Troy or Schenectady NY, or are getting ready to open one, you already know that these days most customers will buy goods and services by using their credit and debit cards. As consumers  use checks less frequently, more and more purchases are being made by plastic. The cashless society we’ve heard about for so long  is upon us, and the question is, what’s the best way for your business to arrange for Credit Card Processing services in Albany NY.

It’s not difficult to get set up to accept credit card payments, but if you choose the wrong partner, it can be a very costly mistake. The first thing to know is that if all you’ll need is a simple credit card machine, usually referred to as a terminal, you should never buy, lease or rent equipment: no legitimate processing company will ever recommend that. Equipment should always be free, and even if you already own your own terminal, this free equipment should meet or exceed current PCI and EMV security standards, and will sync perfectly with your processor’s money management services. It is also essential to never sign a long term contract for credit card processing services in  Albany NY, or wherever your business is located.  The days when merchants were required to sign three year contracts or pay Early Termination Fees (ETF) if they wanted to switch processors are long gone, and if you agree to either of these “requirements”, you’ll be sorry.

Your Bank is Not a Processor

If you want credit card processing services in the Albany Capital District, it might seem like a good idea to ask your banker for help, but that’s usually a mistake. In most cases, banks will set you up,  but won’t tell you that they are usually just middleman, adding extra layers of expense that the business owner will pay for. In the Albany area, for example, Bank of America and M&T bank can cost a business thousands of dollars in unnecessary fees each year, and are among the worst offenders. It is not uncommon that a business with monthly sales of $100,000 will easily pay either of those banks between $10,000 to $15,000 more to accept credit cards each year than if they worked with a dedicated processor.

It is also critical that businesses make sure that they are set up with the appropriate pricing model.  For example, a quick service restaurant with a large number of small average transactions should avoid accepting pin debit charges, while businesses with high average sales like tire stores but which do far fewer sales will save if they encourage customers to use a pin pad and their debit cards..

Merchant Advocacy

No matter what your business is, it makes sense to work with an unbiased expert. When searching for Merchant Processing services in the Albany area, the Merchant Advocates at Real Merchant Solutions will work with several of the largest and most well thought of processors in the country to compete and bid for your business. Because Real Merchant Solutions is not a processing company, we can  always offer a full menu of competitive choices from major processors that don’t require contracts or equipment charges. Also, if you need other services like POS systems, Website Design and Management, Remote IT support or critical Data Storage, our Merchant Advocates can help with that as well.

If you’re getting ready to open a new business or if you already accept credit cards, but suspect you don’t have a very good deal, or want to see if you could do better with your Credit Card Processing Services in Albany, give our office a call at 800-551-0850, ext 21. A  local Merchant Advocate will be in touch to review your needs, look after your best interests and be sure you receive the service and pricing you’re entitled to.

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