IntaSend enables businesses and individuals to accept credit card payments online. In this article, we will share more on how payment gateways work, what makes IntaSend a preferred gateway, and how to get started today.
If you are like most people in the world, chances are you have something that you sell online. It could be a website, an app, or a product from just about anywhere. Credit card payments are usually one of the primary ways people purchase goods and services online. So everyone needs to know how to accept credit card payments using payment gateways.
Accepting credit card payments can increase your business's revenue, making it easier to grow and stay afloat. Accepting credit card payments without a payment gateway requires a lot of time and effort. The best solution is to use a payment gateway provider that accepts card payments on your behalf and processes payments for you. This saves you time, energy, and money.
Heads up: Please visit our API Documentation to add Card Payment button on your website right away. Otherwise continue reading to learn more.
What is a payment gateway?
Payment gateway is a company that accepts card payments on your behalf. They take your card information and information about the card's holder, like their name and address, and then process the card payment for you. They charge a fee for this service, usually between 2 and 5 percent of the total amount. Most major eCommerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WordPress have built-in payment gateways.
A payment gateway allows businesses to accept credit card payments online. Payment gateways encrypt sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, to ensure that third parties do not intercept it. They also handle the authorization and settlement of transactions.
For example, when you make a purchase online, the payment gateway processes the transaction and forwards the information to the acquiring bank (the merchant’s bank) for approval. Once the transaction is approved, the funds are transferred from the customer’s account to the merchant’s account.
There are many different payment gateways available, so choosing one compatible with your shopping cart software and merchant account is essential. When choosing a payment gateway, you will also want to consider fraud protection and customer support features.
Some factors you may want to consider include the following:
- Fees: Some payment gateway providers charge monthly or per-transaction fees, while others offer free plans. Be sure to compare pricing before making a decision. You must consider the payment gateway's processing fees before deciding.
- Ease of use: The payment gateway should be easy to set up and use. Look for user-friendly features such as an intuitive interface and support for multiple currencies. Ease of use is important, especially for small business owners who process in-person payments with a POS system.
- Security: Make sure the payment gateway uses industry-standard security measures such as SSL encryption to protect your customers’ information. The platform must be PCI-Certified. PCI certification is the security standard for payment services processing card payment.
A payment gateway is a service that allows businesses to accept credit card payments online. Payment gateways encrypt sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, to ensure that third parties do not intercept it. They also handle the authorization and settlement of transactions.
There are many different payment gateways available, so choosing one compatible with your shopping cart software and merchant account is important.
How to accept credit card payments
Payment service providers allow you to accept credit cards without a merchant account.
IntaSend, PayPal, Square, Stripe, and other payment services (PSPs) make this a lot easier and, in most cases, cheaper.
Similar to merchant accounts, PSPs accept and hold your credit card money, allowing you to sign up and manage the account online. They also process transactions in addition to holding your money and don't typically charge monthly fees.
It is easy to register for modern point-of-sale (POS) systems like Square and Clover, which include all the hardware and software you need to process credit cards and cash transactions.
An in-person retail business can use a simple system such as this: point of sale (allowing you to check out customers), card reader, and payment processor. Vendors on the go can also benefit from mobile point-of-sale systems.
Customers can swipe, use a chip reader, or tap a mobile payment reader to authorize transactions; and e-mail or print receipts for transactions.
Payment service providers such as IntaSend, PayPal, Stripe, Square, and Shopify are the simplest way for retailers to accept payments online. Payment processing has to be integrated into your website since you do not have a swipe card terminal. Using a payment service provider is the easiest way to accomplish this.
How do I choose the right payment gateway?
There are a lot of different payment gateways out there, and it can be tough to know which one is right for your business. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a payment gateway:
- Ease of use
You want a gateway that is easy to set up and use so that you can start accepting payments quickly and without any headaches. You should be able to start using it whether you have a website or not. IntaSend provides payment links and no-code tools for businesses to start accepting credit card payments right away.
- Cost
Payment gateways are often associated with fees, so you'll want to compare the costs of different options before making a decision.
- Features
Some payment gateways offer more features than others, so consider what features are important to you and choose a gateway that offers them. A payment gateway must support many ways to pay. Learn more about payment gateways features that IntaSend provides.
- Security
Security is an important consideration when choosing any type of payment gateway, so make sure to choose one that offers high levels of security. Do the payment gateways comply with PCI?
To protect your business and reputation, you should investigate the extra measures the payment gateway takes to prevent fraud.
- Customer support
If you have any questions or problems with your payment gateway, you'll want to be able to get help from customer support. Make sure the gateway you choose has good customer support.
Pay attention to how well the payment gateway provides customer support. Different service providers may provide various types of support, from 24/7 support to live chat to e-mail support. Your business depends heavily on payment processing, so resolving problems quickly is essential. Depending on the level of assistance provided, these services are billed.
The benefits of using a payment gateway
There are many benefits of using a payment gateway to accept credit card payments. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it allows businesses to accept customer credit card payments. This can greatly increase sales, as customers are more likely to purchase from businesses that accept their preferred payment method.
Another benefit of using a payment gateway is that it can help to reduce fraud. By requiring customers to enter their credit card information into a secure system, businesses can reduce the risk of fraudulent charges being made on their accounts. Additionally, many payment gateways offer fraud protection services that can further help to reduce the risk of fraud.
Finally, using a payment gateway can help businesses to save time and money. Rather than having to process credit card payments manually, businesses can use a payment gateway to automate the process. This can save businesses significant time and money, as they will no longer need to invest in manual credit card processing methods.
If you're a business owner, chances are you've considered accepting credit card payments. After all, credit cards are one of the most popular methods of payment today. But what is a payment gateway, and how do you choose the right one?
A payment gateway is a service that helps businesses accept credit card payments online. It authorizes payments and ensures that the funds are transferred securely. When choosing a payment gateway, it's important to consider features such as security, ease of use, and fees.
The biggest advantage of a payment gateway is that it allows you to accept card payments without worrying about the process's technicalities. It also allows you to accept card payments from various countries and currencies. Some payment gateways also offer additional services like fraud protection, 2-factor authentication, and customer support.
Payment gateways are the online platforms that process card payments on your behalf. They connect your website or app to the card networks, such as Visa or MasterCard, and accept the card payments online or in-store. This allows you to accept card payments without building and maintaining your payment processing equipment.
They also provide a web dashboard to see the payments you’ve processed, the fees you charged, and your account balance. The best payment gateways offer the most secure and technologically advanced processing services, allowing you to accept card payments without any risk of fraud or chargebacks.
There are many benefits to using a payment gateway, including:
- Increased sales: Credit card payments are convenient for customers and can increase business sales. Payment gateways also provide many ways for businesses to get paid. If a customer cannot complete the transaction with the credit card, they are able to opt out for a method that is convenient for them.
- Reduced fraud: Payment gateways help reduce fraud by verifying customer information and authorizing payments.
- Improved security: Payment gateways use data encryption to protect customer information and prevent fraudsters from accessing it.
- Ease of use: Payment gateways make it easy for businesses to accept credit card payments online. They can be integrated with shopping carts and websites, making the process quick and seamless for customers.
- Lower costs: Payment gateways can help businesses save on transaction fees by offering discounted rates.
The drawbacks of using a self hosted payment gateway
There are a few disadvantages of using a self hosted payment gateway for your business.
They can be expensive. There are fees associated with setting up and maintaining a payment gateway, which can add up over time. Further, they can be complicated to set up and use. If you're not comfortable with technology, or if you don't have someone on staff who is, then a self hosted payment gateway may not be the right solution for you. Also, coverage may not be available in all countries.
If you're doing business internationally, you'll need to ensure that your payment gateway can accommodate transactions from all your customers. Finally, payment gateways are often subject to fraud and security risks. Be sure to research and choose a reputable provider with robust security features to protect your business.
The biggest drawback is that they are not always as secure as you might hope. Someone else can intercept your payment, which can be problematic if you sell something sensitive or personal. They also charge a fee, which could mean lost revenue if users decide to skip over it.
If you decide to host your own payment gateway, keep an eye on the security settings and immediately report any suspicious activity to the payment processor.
Another drawback is that some self hosted payment gateways only allow certain types of payments. If you sell items such as books or software that You can download digitally, you may not be able to use a payment gateway that only accepts credit cards. You'll need to look for one that supports all primary forms of electronic payments. Working with a provider such as IntaSend enables you to avoid all these risks so that you can focus on your business. Integration is also made easy and that means faster time to market.
The different types of payment gateways
There are a few different types of payment gateways, and each has its own set of features and benefits. Here are the most popular types of payment gateways:
- Merchant Account Payment Gateway: A merchant account is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept credit card payments. You’ll need to set up an account with a merchant bank to use a merchant account. Once you have an account set up, you can then integrate a payment gateway into your website or point-of-sale system.
- Third-Party Payment Processor: A third-party payment processor is a company that will process credit card payments on behalf of your business. These companies typically have bank relationships and can provide you with a merchant account. You’ll most likely need to sign up for an account with a third-party processor to use their services.
- Payment Service Provider: A payment service provider (PSP) is a company that allows businesses to accept credit card payments. PSPs typically offer a merchant account and a payment gateway, making them a one-stop shop for all your credit card processing needs.
Why is IntaSend the best payment gateway?
IntaSend is the answer for African users looking for the best payment gateway. IntaSend is a PSP and we provide both the merchant account and the payment gateway. IntaSend makes international payments for your employees quickly, securely, and at an affordable cost, whether you employ an EOR or not. Through payment disbursement, you can disburse payments to multiple beneficiaries simultaneously. You can upload beneficiary details directly through the IntaSend dashboard or the transfer API.
When you use IntaSend, you can easily receive payments from foreign clients. ACH payments (US bank-to-Africa transfers) and Pay with Bitcoin are also supported. It also accepts all major credit and debit cards. Your clients can pay in several ways, so they can choose the one that is most convenient for them. This will lead to an increase in your success rate and revenue. Let’s discuss the products of IntaSend to help you understand why it is the right choice for Africans.
ACH Payments
IntaSend supports ACH (bank transfers) to Africa for clients in the US. It may make sense for you to use ACH. As a convenience, ACH transactions cost the same as credit card payments and take two to three days to process.
Payment APIs
With our payment APIs, you have the potential to receive payments from multiple channels, whether you're a freelancer or a business owner. IntaSend eliminates the need to merge with different providers separately and spend time and money on development.
Both code-based and no-code applications can be integrated using the SDK developed. IntaSend offers a wide range of options for integrating an online payment system into your website.
These include:
- JavaScript SDK
- Python SDK
- PHP SDK
- REST API calls for any language
- WooCommerce and WordPress plugins
- Bubble.io and no-code solutions
Card Payments
Payments can be collected or sent with IntaSend using credit cards. African businesses and freelancers also use this payment method to fulfill their payment needs, and it is a commonly accepted method of receiving payments.
Bitcoin
IntaSend offers multiple payment options in addition to its robust technology. As a result, you will have a greater chance of getting paid, and you will be able to reduce revenue losses caused by customers not being able to pay. The Pay with Bitcoin option is also available for clients who wish to pay in cryptocurrency.
IntaSend automatically converts collected amounts into US dollars to protect you from cryptocurrency price fluctuations. Instead of dealing with the liquidity issues associated with crypto payments, you can focus on your business.
MPesa
Mobile payments, bill paying, sending money, and collecting money can be integrated into your application with the M-Pesa API. Your application should be able to accept B2B payments. You can achieve your international payment goals with IntaSend.
Crossborder Payouts
Banking institutions' weak security policies and access policies make their money vulnerable to high-level security breaches. Businesses and customers prefer institutions with high levels of security and risk management. With IntaSend, you can disburse and collect payments across borders quickly and securely.
Conclusion
You can easily collect customer payments by using the right payment gateway. Finding a payment gateway that meets all the requirements is more difficult. To meet your business's needs, it must be compatible with your region, allow payments to be received internationally, and be affordable.
To get paid or receive payment more easily, IntaSend supports different methods of getting your payment across without hassle.
FAQs
- How do I start using IntaSend?
Getting started on IntaSend is one of the easiest things you can think of. All you have to do is to sign up with your information (mostly email address, phone number, and preferred password), fill in a few details about your business, and confirm your registration from a confirmation email that must have been sent during the signup process.
- How much does it cost?
It costs nothing to create an account with IntaSend, as registration is completely free. However, you will be charged for every transaction you perform via IntaSend, whether card payments, mobile money transactions, or ACH.
- Which documents do I need to use the service?
Identity verification is a high priority on IntaSend. After completing an individual verification step, depending on your account type, some of the required documents range from Business Registration to KRA Tax Certificates. Learn more about account verification and required documents here.
- How long does it take for the account to be approved?
After creating an account, you need to submit your verification documents. Our compliance team will review and invite you for a live screening meeting. This process normally takes 1 business day.
- What is the live screening meeting?
A live screening meeting is basically a call with your IntaSend account manager. We do this to properly understand your business, the people behind it, and how you intend to use your IntaSend account so we can get you set up properly.
- Which countries do you support?
IntaSend currently supports businesses and users in Kenya. We have plans to support more countries soon.
Photo by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash
