Andrea Herrera

A payment gateway and a payment processor are two elements needed to safely and securely process payments. The payment gateway collects, verifies, encrypts, and transmits the information to the payment processor, while the processor facilitates the actual transaction by working with the card network and relevant banks. Learning the difference between a payment gateway and…

Adyen and Stripe are popular international payment processors with ecommerce tools, strong integrations, and in-person card terminals. Stripe, however, has more extensive integration options, better rates for non-credit card payment methods, and a slightly larger international reach. Meanwhile, Adyen offers independent merchant accounts for better stability, interchange-plus pricing for credit cards, and a more unified…

Square and PayPal are popular tools for accepting payments and work well for most small businesses. Both can serve as merchant services providers and point-of-sale (POS) and ecommerce platforms. The primary difference lies in what they do best. While both offer free POS systems, Square’s is more feature-rich and has add-on software to grow with…

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps allow customers to pay for items in four or more installments while you, the merchant, is paid in full right away. This article lists the six best buy now, pay later apps for small business that retailers can use to offer BNPL financing, which can increase average order value…

When comparing Payanywhere vs Square, they may appear interchangeable because they both offer a free card reader, an app with point-of-sale (POS) tools, and the credit card processing fees are similar: Payanywhere charges 2.69% per transaction; Square, 2.6% plus 10 cents per transaction. However, Square gets better reviews, offers better software, and generally provides a…

Braintree is a PayPal-owned payment processor that specializes in online payments and offers complementary PayPal tools for in-person transactions. Notable features include top-notch security with level 1 PCI compliance, international payment processing, and developer tools, including a commitment-free sandbox. It is a popular solution for ecommerce businesses. In particular, we recommend getting a merchant account…

Automated clearing house (ACH) payments are simply direct bank transfers of payments between people and businesses. If you process sales online or through invoices, then ACH transfers can save you time and money. ACH payment processing is a cost-effective and reliable alternative to traditional payment methods. What Is the Automated Clearing House? The Automated Clearing…

A chargeback occurs when a customer requests a refund through their bank or credit card company to reverse a transaction. Customers will initiate refunds through their bank instead of a business if they don’t recognize the transaction or can’t come to an agreement with the merchant. In a recent merchant survey, 40% of merchants reported…

What Is a Merchant Account? A merchant account is a bank account where payment processors temporarily store a merchant’s sales proceeds until the funds are deposited to the merchant’s elected bank account. Merchant accounts are used in conjunction with a payment processor, which facilitates the transaction. Most merchant account providers also offer payment processing services…

Cross-border payments, which involve international transfers of funds between individuals, businesses, and financial institutions, are now essential in today’s global economy. The surging popularity of these transactions can be attributed to the increased interconnectedness of businesses worldwide. Small businesses, in particular, are embracing cross-border payments due to the benefits they offer, such as expanded market…

Square Payments is Square’s built-in payment processor for in-person, online, and mobile sales. It’s fast to set up (no approval process) and includes tools like invoicing, online payments, and chargeback management within the Square ecosystem. Square now offers three unified software plans — Square Free, Square Plus, and Square Premium — starting at $0. In…

Businesses can accept payments instantly and without any fees through bank transfers using Zelle. Both the merchant and customer need to be Zelle users, and the customer can send the payment using their bank’s mobile application. Although Zelle’s zero processing fees and rapid transfers make it attractive for small businesses, its limited international support and…