Before you go searching for small business merchant accounts, there are 4 things you need to know.

If you own a small business, credit card processing is crucial. Here are four tips to make sure you get the most bang for your buck:

1. Look for merchant accounts that get you up and running for free
When you run a small business, credit card processing can feel like an extra-big chunk coming out of your bottom line. That’s why it’s important to cut costs anywhere you can. Luckily, many of the good merchant accounts come with zero set-up fees. So, you’ll be able to apply and get all of your equipment without putting any money down. (That’s a great deal, considering what some companies charge for a credit card machine these days!)
After that, you’ll be responsible for the normal and customary processing fees, but it will be nice to save some money right in the beginning!

2. Do some comparison shopping
All merchant accounts come with fees. However, those fees vary widely based on which company handles your small business credit card processing duties. So, before you sign on the dotted line, take a look around and make sure that you’re really getting the best deal.
And be sure to look at all of the options. For example, some accounts may charge a different rate for transactions done at a traditional credit card machine, as opposed to online. Make sure you get the full story, so that you don’t wind up with any surprises later!

3. See if they’ll make you jump through hoops
If you have a bad credit rating, some companies will make you sign up for a special high risk merchant account – then make you jump through a ton of hoops, follow a ton of extra rules, or pay a ton of extra fees to keep it.
Good merchant accounts won’t make you deal with any of that. They may have a different high risk merchant account option, but it won’t come with any tricks designed to squeeze more money out of you.

4. Find out what their turnaround times are
Most merchant accounts will brag that they can approve transactions in a matter of seconds. That’s nice – but how long does it take them to actually transfer the money from your customer’s account to yours?
The answer may surprise you!
If you’ve got a small business, credit card processing can’t take forever. If it takes weeks to transfer funds, you’re going to wind up with a big problem when it comes time to pay your bills. Instead, you need a company that can get the money into your account within a couple of days, at the most.

The best merchant accounts – both big and small – can be found at www.charge.com!