Andrea Herrera

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…