It is a definite disadvantage for a business not to accept credit cards. Whether you operate a small bricks-and-mortar business, a bricks-and-clicks business or an online-only business, there are services available that will allow your customers to pay with a credit card.

Credit Merchant Services

For businesses with a physical presence only--the so-called bricks-and-mortar businesses--credit merchant accounts offer several options for credit card payments: swipe machines, point-of-service (POS) purchase setups, pin pads and even wireless terminals for businesses that conduct mobile transactions. Merchant services set up credit and debit card payments, and take a portion of the transaction revenues as their fees. In exchange, they provide equipment, maintenance and customer service, often on a 24-hour basis. Fraud protection is an important component to credit card transactions, and merchant accounts provide for that service also.

Internet Credit Card Processing

Some merchant accounts also allow for online credit processing to enable bricks-and-mortar companies to expand their presence onto the Internet. For businesses that conduct their sales transactions strictly online, there are a number of low-cost options. Services such as PayPal and Moneybookers allow Internet businesses to accept credit card payments from customers worldwide. Additionally, Web-based credit card payments can often be conducted with no hardware and even no software downloads. Transactions are conducted through the customer's browser, either directly on the merchant's website or by redirecting the customer to the credit card processor. Just as with merchant accounts for bricks-and-mortar businesses, online credit card processing services make their money by taking a percentage of the sales generated by the online merchant.

Source:

Credit Card Processing Review

How to Accept Credit Cards Online

How to Accept Credit Cards