If you have online store, first thing that should be done is to go for a Comodo SSL certificate to ensure your customer’s safe and secure transaction. There are different levels of a SSL certificate. Depending upon your requirement and business type, you can go for the one that suits you best.

Credit cards and SSL:

To accept payments online, traditionally it has been a combination of both, merchant account and payment gateway. A special business bank account, commonly known as merchant account is what you need to accept credit card payments. Your store and merchant account is connected through online payment gateway that assists transaction between parties involved-merchant’s bank and card issuer’s bank. It is like a card swipe machine that you might have seen in most of the stores when you go out for shopping. As the monetary transaction is involved, it is advisable to get SSL certificate so that such transactions can be done in a secure environment.

If you want to opt for merchant account/payment gateway, you need to apply for both. All you have to do is fill up the application form and provide required financial information and your work is done. Merchant Stronghold is known for providing merchant accounts for all kinds of low and high-risk businesses.After applying for these forms you need to wait for few days for processing of your application and once your application is accepted, you can start accepting payments.