Many small businesses look to the Internet to sell their products or services online. The boom of e-commerce had made it easy for a potential customer to browse a website, shop at their own discretion, and makes purchases at home.
But for the small business owner it all has to start somewhere. E-Commerce providers and e-commerce solutions give businesses the opportunity to do just that. In this article, well point out some things to look for which trying to decide among e-commerce providers.
E-commerce providers help businesses setup a merchant account and/or a gateway account. These tools are the glue that hold your website, your customer’s transactions, and the money that is being transferred together in a digital environment.
The Cost
E-commerce providers will have their own rates and costs when establishing an account. Here are some of the typical things you want to look for:
- Transaction Rates
- Any Per-Transaction Fees
- Application Cost
- Annual Renewal Fees
- Any Service Charges
- Monthly Minimums
- Gateway Fees
Most companies you look at will have varying rates, it is important to do your homework to make sure you are getting the best rates and that you know all the up-front cost.
Ease Of Use
You always want to find out how easy it will be to incorporate your e-commerce solution into your existing or new website. If you are doing a website by yourself, check to see if there is any documentation or a technical support department that may be able to assist you with getting the e-commerce part of your website online.
If you have hired someone to develop your website, check with your web designer to make sure the e-commerce solution you are thinking of contracting with can be implemented into what you already have.
Flexibility
You might also want to know how flexibility your e-commerce solution will be. For example, does your e-commerce provide allow you to have terminals coupled with online sales? Can you make mobile or wireless payments? Depending on your future growth you may need to expand the way you accept customer payments. Finding out this information out before hand will save your valuable time in the future.
Customer Service
What happens when you have to refund a customers payment? What happens if a charge back occurs? What measures are there for security issues?
These questions and more might pop-up during your day to day operations. You want to make sure the e-commerce provider you are dealing with has a good customer service department. The customer service area should be able to help you with any questions you or your customers may have. They should also be able to explain the basic tools you’ll need to deploy, maintain, and run your e-commerce website.
Go With Your Gut
The last tip is more of a common sense type of thing. There are many, if not hundreds, at least thousands of e-commerce providers out there. You want to make sure you find a reputable company that has been in business for a while and has a good track record. If you don’t feel right about their services or have a bad feeling, just walk away from the table. Most of the time you can tell when something is a fly-by-night business or they are a sound establishment.
