Andrea Herrera

Andrea Herrera

Payments Staff Writer at Fit Small Business
Automated Clearing House
What Is an ACH Payment & How It Works for Small Business

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…

Dec 1, 2023
Girl purchasing cosmetics using credit card.
How to Prevent Chargebacks: 18 Tips for Small Businesses

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…

Nov 29, 2023
Smartphone and credit card.
What Is a Merchant Account? A Guide for Small Businesses

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…

Nov 29, 2023
QR code payment.
Cross-Border Payments: Small Business Guide

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…

Nov 29, 2023
Mobile phone banking and investment concept photo.
How to Use Zelle for Business

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…

Oct 9, 2023
Showing a graphic of one click checkout.
What Is One-click Checkout & How Does It Work?

One-click checkout is an ecommerce feature that lets customers complete their purchases with a single click and does away with the usual multistep checkout process. It streamlines the transaction by securely storing customer information and payment details, allowing for quick and frictionless purchases. This feature can help reduce cart abandonment rates, boost conversions, and enhance…

Oct 4, 2023
A woman sitting in a café is using her credit card to make online purchases.
What Is a Secure Payment System? Small Business Guide

A secure payment system allows customers to make payments safely and protects businesses from fraud and data breaches. It collectively refers to payment processing solutions, information technology tools, and practices that allow businesses to accept payments while ensuring information and payment security. Some of the key features of a secure payment system are authentication protocols,…

Oct 2, 2023
Helcim vs Stripe logo.
Helcim vs Stripe: Pricing & Features

Helcim and Stripe are both powerful merchant service providers that offer zero monthly fees and accept a wide number of payment types. When it comes to Helcim vs Stripe, Helcim is the cheaper option with its low interchange-plus pricing and automatic volume discounts, while Stripe is an excellent online payment processor with numerous integrations. In…

Sep 26, 2023
Logo of Stripe vs BrainTree.
Stripe vs Braintree: Comparison (Stripe Wins)

Stripe and Braintree are popular and highly customizable payment processors typically used for online payments. They both have excellent developer tools, standard flat-rate transaction fees for smaller businesses, and custom interchange-plus pricing available for larger companies. In our evaluation of the best online payment processors, Stripe came out as the best overall with a score…

Sep 20, 2023
Chase Merchant logo
Chase Payment Solutions® Review (formerly Chase Merchant Services)

Chase Payment Solutions® (formerly Chase Merchant Services) stands out as one of the few global financial institutions that offers both banking and merchant service solutions directly to small businesses. This results in affordable rates, seamless transactions, better customer service, and faster access to funds. Chase has also spent the past year improving its small business…

Sep 12, 2023
An employee touching the B2B graphic on the screen.
What Is B2B Payment Processing? Definition, Methods & Trends

Business-to-business (B2B) payments are transactions between two companies, usually for the exchange of goods or services. They are often made through invoices and purchase orders and processed via check, ACH, or credit card. In this guide, we take a look at common terms, payment methods, challenges, and trends in B2B payment processing. Common B2B Payment…

Sep 11, 2023
PCI Non-compliance fees
PCI Non-compliance Fee: What It Is & How To Avoid It

A PCI non-compliance fee may be charged by merchant services providers or payment processors when a business does not meet minimum security standards when processing card payments. Fees range from $20 every month up to $5,000 or more, depending on the details of non-compliance and security breach, if any. These security standards—known collectively as the…

Sep 8, 2023
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