To accept credit card payments online, you’ll need to use a virtual terminal. Due to its resemblance to credit card terminals, it is dubbed “virtual” and is used in place of the actual hardware.
What Are Virtual Payments?
You don’t need a real token to make a virtual payment. Having your credit card information, CVV code, and expiration date on hand are all necessary when making a transaction online. You need to know your bank account and routing number to make a payment on a check. As tangible representations of their respective amounts, both checks and credit cards can be used.
To make a payment, travelers are not obliged to print off their VCC at any one moment.
Who Benefits from a Virtual Terminal Merchant Account?
In general, a virtual terminal solution is a suitable fit for these types of businesses:
⦁ Professionals that operate remotely and will not engage with their clients face-to-face, such as freelance writers and graphic designers.
⦁ Restaurants and dine-in venues that accept phone orders for delivery or pickup.
⦁ Expertise in the field in addition to seeing patients in their office, certain doctors, accountants, and attorneys can receive phone payments for medical bills, tax preparation, legal costs, etc.
⦁ A credit card reader or a complete point-of-sale system isn’t always necessary for small, physical businesses.
For one-time payments, a virtual credit card terminal may suffice, but you may be able to set up monthly billing.
Set up a payment plan for your clients that works for both your clients and your accounts receivable if you run a landscaping business and provide weekly lawn care services or if you work with corporate clientele who bill monthly.
How Does a Virtual Terminal Work?
It’s simple to get started with a virtual terminal. Merchant account providers provide a wide range of features.
- In an online dashboard or payment gateway, open the virtual terminal.
- Make a choice between a credit or debit card payment and an eCheck/ACH transfer.
- Enter the sales amount and any other order notes.
- There must be a manual entry of the credit card or bank account number and any other billing information that may be necessary. If you have a USB card reader, you can swipe or dip the card right now.
- Click a button to submit the transaction.
- Your email address will be used to notify you of the card’s approval or denial status. If the transaction is approved, most virtual terminals will send a copy of the receipt to the consumer via email.
Advantages of virtual terminals:
⦁ You can quickly and conveniently accept payments without your customer’s presence. You’ll need a card reader that can execute chip and PIN or contactless transactions if the consumer is present, though, for reasons of security and verification.
⦁ Point-of-sale software and traditional credit card terminals are no longer necessary. You don’t even need a cash drawer if you don’t sell anything in person.
Hope you find this article very useful.