The Top
Retail Merchant Accounts

Retail merchant accounts are used for credit card processing by retailers and other businesses who accept credit cards from customers in person.

To make it easy for you to compare retail merchant accounts - so you can process credit cards at a point of sale terminal - just refer to our list of The Top 5 Low-Cost Retail Merchant Accounts.

In compiling the list, we reviewed more than 30 merchant account and credit card processing services, their fees and products.

USE OUR 3 STEP PROCESS
to Evaluate the Top 5 Low Cost Retail Merchant Accounts:

Step 1
Compare the fees of the retail merchant accounts. CLICK on those of interest.

Step 2
Read the descriptions and ratings of each for their fees and products.

Step 3
Review further information to help understand credit card processing.

Top Retail Merchant Acount Providers

Step 1:

The Top 5 Services For
Retail Merchant Accounts

Our Top Recommendation is Featured in Red

NAME	FEE TO APPLY	DISC. RATE	TRANS. FEE	MONTHLY STMT. FEE	MONTHLY MINIMUM	SET-UP FEE	EQUIPMENT FEE
The Transaction Group	None	1.70%	25 cents	$10.00	$10.00	None	From Just $49.00 and up
Free Credit Card Processing	None	1.79%	20 cents	$9.95	None	None	Free. No set-up or lease payments.
The Electronic Avenue, Inc.	None	1.65%	18 cents	$5.00	Depends on Mthly volumes	None	Free Terminals Available
Durango	None	1.65%	20 cents	$10.00	Not specified	None	Nurit Equipment from$200.00
Total Merchant Services	None	1.65%	20 cents	$7.50	$25.00	None	Free Hypercom T4100 terminal

Fees quoted above are as of July 15, 2007. As the fees for retail merchant accounts and processing terminals are revised from time to time, be sure to check their websites and to speak with their representatives to ensure the fees that are set out above are still up-to-date. Discount fees quoted for retail merchant accounts are for VISA and MasterCard. Contact the retail merchant accounts providers for rates for other card issuers. Very high-risk businesses may be required to pay higher fees than those mentioned in the Table above.

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Step 2:

Further Information To Help You
Evaluate The Top 5 Low-Cost
Retail Merchant Accounts

Each of the 5 retail merchant accounts services is discussed below. We provide information on their products, as well as rating both their fees and products, utilizing a "10-star" system:

The Transaction Group
Website Online Since: May 1, 1998
Fees Rating: 9 stars
Products Rating: 9 stars
Apply: Online

Everyday, retailers choose The Transaction Group to provide payment-processing solutions for their business. Retailers have come to rely on The Transaction Group for its unbeatable prices and dedication to quality. Yet it's their full service approach and state-of-the-art solutions that have positioned them as a leader in retail payment solutions.

The Transaction Group's retail services will enable your business to accept all major credit cards, in addition to debit and check solutions. Its very low cost retail terminal features include:

	A very wide variety of the top card processing terminals available today.
	Most terminals have automatic credit card batch summary printing and closing; accept ATM/Debit cards and come with credit card fraud protection.
	Allow processing of check guarantees; have enhanced credit card detail lookup in the item review and void function; and offer credit card receipts numbered for easy review.

And if you are currently processing and are looking to lower your rates, contact them for a free rate analysis.

The Electronic Avenue, Inc.
Website Online Since: 1996
Fees Rating: 8 stars
Products Rating: 8 stars
Apply: Online

	Today, The Electronic Avenue, Inc. provides point-of-sale technology through credit card processing terminals, POS software, hardware and peripherals. They call it a one-stop-shop because they can also offer other programs such as payment processing, gift cards, check services, wireless table orders through PDAs and much more. Their success has been driven by their technical expertise, everyday low prices, fast shipping, and superior customer service.
	The Electronic Avenue, Inc. offers a solution for POS computer systems, restaurant and retail software, counter top terminals, wireless terminals, fast internet processing machines and many other systems to meet a merchant's needs.
	The variety of processing terminals and features offered are almost unlimited. If you have a specific model or processing system you need to operate your business needs, they probably have just the right solution for you.
	If you are looking just to lower you processing fees, then they can offer you a free rate comparison in several different plans. They can help you find the plan that will best suite your operation of processing.

CardService International
Website Online Since: August 28, 1998
Fees Rating: 8 stars
Products Rating: 8 stars
Apply: Online

	Cardservice International is a global leader in providing secure credit card transaction to more than 185,000 businesses in both the traditional and Internet marketplaces. You can download a free copy of their Merchant Account Buyers Guide to help you make intelligent choices when selecting the best Merchant Account Provider for your business.
	The Linkpoint 3000 terminal is called the next generation in point-of-sale (POS) terminal technology. The LinkPoint 3000 offers increased transaction capacity, more memory enhanced functionality and a heightened level of security with password protection against unauthorized downloadsall at an affordable price.
	The LinkPack 3000 Terminal/Printer combines all the capabilities of the LinkPoint 3000 with the added benefit of crisp, legible receipts and reports printed quickly and quietly.
	Also available are the PrintPoint 3000 (the fastest thermal printer in the transaction processing industry);the BankPoint PIN Pad which fits comfortably in the palm of the hand to allow secure data entry; and the Eclipse Terminal/Printer which supports credit and debit cards, as well as electronic check acceptance, check guarantee and American Express Travelers Cheques through its built-in check reader.

Durango
Website Online Since: N/A
Fees Rating: 8 stars
Products Rating: 8 stars
Apply: Online

	The NURIT 2085+ Point of Sale/EDC Terminal & Printer is a low-cost, powerfully featured and compact addition to the popular series of Lipman POS/EDC terminals.
	Simple or complex business transactions are processed for maximum communication efficiency and ease-of-use to answer the POS requirements of any merchant.
	Four "soft keys" allow better interaction with Application, Integrated fast 12 line-per-second thermal printer with automatic feeding system, and four user programmable function keys.
	The Nurit 2085+ comes with an integrated Pin Pad features.

Total Merchant Services
Website Online Since: May 6, 1998
Fees Rating: 8 stars
Products Rating: 9 stars
Apply: Online

	Total Merchant Services is a top provider of credit card processing services for retail merchant accounts.
	Offers a Free Hypercom T4100 terminal. And with their Merchant Advantage program you may also receive free lifetime terminal replacements including shipping, free receipt paper, online account access and deep discounting on your Federal Express shipments and Dell computers.
	All of their free credit card machines support most any check scanner or imager, contactless readers, as well as stored value cards such as gift and loyalty.
	No application fee, no annual fee, world class customer service toll free 24/7, A+ rating in the Better Business Bureau, 5000 new merchants boarded each month, 1-2 day approval times, overnight terminal replacements on any defective terminal, fully deployed terminal by Federal Express in 2 days, training session on the terminal upon receipt.
	Total Merchant Services' retail merchant accounts application process makes it easy to apply. You can submit an application online, by fax, or by meeting with a sales representative at your business location. Your application will be approved almost immediately, your account will be activated, and if you're buying or leasing new terminal equipment, it will arrive in just days.

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Step 3:

General Information About
Retail Merchant Accounts and
Credit Card Processing

In the previous section where we discussed low cost merchant accounts, we briefly reviewed the standard costs and fees that you can expect to be confronted with, no matter what credit card processing service you select. [NOTE: Other sections deal with low-cost merchant accounts for real-time processing for websites and online credit card processing for mail & phone orders.]

All providers of cheap retail merchant accounts - and those that aren't so cheap - will require you to either purchase or lease the point-of-sale terminal equipment needed to process your credit card transactions.

Remember, this cost is in addition to the costs that we discussed in the previous section (that you will face no matter which processing solution you require).

Sidenote: Before making a decision on a retail merchant accounts service for your business, you should take The Nine Minute Tutorial. You'll learn what credit card processing is all about, how to evaluate merchant account providers and what questions you should ask them, how you can avoid costly chargebacks for fraudulent transactions, what merchant account providers look for when you apply, etc.). It will be time well spent.