Business Finances

Alternative lenders offer more flexible terms and faster approval and funding than traditional banks. Discover more about alternative loans.

Accounts payable is money your business owes, and accounts receivable is money owed to you. Learn how accounts payable and accounts receivable differ.

Square is a top credit card processor with no fees, low rates and pay-as-you-go terms. Learn why Square is the best credit card processor for startups.

A payment gateway encrypts and transmits customer data; a processor moves funds between accounts. Both are essential for online credit card transactions.

Businesses in high-risk industries, like gambling, can have a hard time finding a credit card processor or merchant account provider to handle their payments.

Accepting only credit cards can boost restaurant efficiency, reduce theft and speed up service — but it may alienate cash-preferring customers.

Reduce chargebacks through clear return policies, detailed receipts, prompt customer service and thorough documentation for all transactions.

Top PayPal alternatives include Stripe, Authorize.Net, Shopify Payments, Braintree and Payoneer. Each payment facilitator is ideal for different business needs.

Stax and Square give merchants an easy and convenient way to accept credit cards. Learn how their features, plans, pricing and integrations compare.

Restaurants benefit from using payment processors that offer POS integration, fraud protection, flexible terms and support for mobile and online payments.

Helcim offers transparent interchange-plus pricing, no monthly fees, free POS tools and strong support, making it a great all-in-one credit card platform.

Stripe is best for online and tech-savvy businesses, offering powerful APIs, global payments, recurring billing and seamless integrations with major platforms.

Stripe is ideal for online businesses needing customization, while Square suits in-person sellers with free POS tools, transparent pricing and fast setup.

Accepting credit cards helps construction firms boost cash flow, reduce bounced checks and offer clients flexible, secure payment options.

Stax offers flat-rate subscription pricing for high-volume businesses, while Stripe is better for startups needing developer tools and global payment options.

Flagship Merchant Services offers custom pricing, same-day setup, and free Clover Mini equipment, making it ideal for small businesses seeking flexibility.

National Processing is a top credit card processor for various business types, offering low rates, free terminals, ACH tools and excellent contract flexibility.

Payment Depot offers low, membership-based pricing with no markup and is ideal for high-volume businesses using Clover terminals or existing equipment.

Meta Pay lets businesses accept secure, fee-free payments across Meta’s platforms, making social selling easier with simple setup and purchase protection.

Venmo for Business lets small businesses accept payments easily with low fees, quick setup, no approval needed and access to a large, young customer base.

PayPal charges 2.29% plus 9¢ for in-person payments and higher rates for online transactions. Chargeback fees are $20; cross-border processing adds more costs.

Businesses can easily accept credit card payments on phones using mobile readers and apps from processors like Square and PayPal. Setup is simple and flexible.

Credit card processing laws ensure secure payments by requiring PCI compliance, fraud prevention, and adherence to federal and state regulations.

Businesses accept credit cards by choosing a processor, setting up a business bank account and selecting payment hardware like POS systems or mobile readers.

To accept Apple Pay, ensure your credit card processor supports it, use an NFC-enabled card reader, enable Apple Pay on your account and train your staff.

You can accept credit card payments over the phone by securely keying the customer's card details into your POS terminal, mobile app or virtual terminal.

To accept credit cards with PayPal, set up a business account, connect to PayPal’s payment gateway, and use PayPal Zettle for in-person or online payments.

Merchant One offers low fees and 24/7 support for established businesses. Square has no monthly fee and easy setup, making it ideal for startups and retailers.

Credit card surcharging shifts processing costs to customers but can cause legal issues, competitive disadvantages and customer dissatisfaction.

A credit card imprinter is a physical device that makes an imprint of a credit card onto a carbon copy sales slip to process and track payments manually.