Are you an adult entertainment merchant in need of a payment gateway solution? Chances are, you have tried to acquire a traditional merchant account through a bank or other payment provider and have failed. There are several reasons for that.
First of all, the adult industry is considered a high-risk industry. The adult entertainment industry is filled with fraud, chargebacks, poor reputation, and regulations.
What Is A Payment Gateway?
So, if adult merchants are unable to secure a merchant account, where can they turn to for their card processing needs? They would need to seek the services from a high-risk merchant account provider. These types of providers specialize within the high-risk space. They are well aware of the risks and they have all the tools and resources necessary to mitigate and address these risks.
In order to securely process both credit and debit card payments, you will also need a payment gateway. A payment gateway is a payment solution that both reads and sends payment information from a customer and into a merchant’s bank account. A payment gateway’s main functions are to capture the card’s data, verify that the funds are available, and ultimately pay the merchant.
A payment gateway can come in two forms. There is a “cloud-based” software for an online payment gateway that connects a customer to a merchant. If it’s used in a physical store, there is special software that is essentially built into a point-of-sale (POS) system or within a card reader. Both of these systems process a transaction when the customer uses their credit card in order to make a purchase.
The Benefits Of Having A Payment Gateway?
There are many reasons why having a payment gateway will benefit your business. First, it addresses the security issue. Payment gateways use encryption in order to ensure that all of your customer’s sensitive data is protected. Payment gateways also come with anti-fraud tools which facilitate the management of fraudulent purchases.
Incorporating a payment gateway into your business also can expand your current customer base. By introducing your business online, you are allowing people from all over the world to purchase your products and services. By increasing your customer base, you are thereby increasing your revenue.
If you want to introduce recurrent or subscription billing, a payment gateway will help you do that. Receiving consistent payments will be more convenient and help sustain your business over the long haul. You can also launch new products and services to diversify your income streams.
These are all essential benefits that can save your company both time and money. It boosts customer loyalty as it creates a seamless purchasing experience. Best of all, payment gateways allow your business to grow and expand its reach, increasing your bottom line.
How To Choose The Best Payment Gateway?
Now that you’re convinced that investing in a payment gateway solution is a great business and strategic move, how do you go about choosing the best payment gateway for your particular business?
There are a few elements to consider before making one of the most important decisions in your business:
Cost-effectiveness
One of the most vital considerations before choosing a payment gateway is the price. The price is made up of three components within a payment gateway: a set-up fee, a monthly fee, and a transaction fee. In order to make the best choice, you need to consider the current value and volume of your transactions
Type of cards permitted
You would need to determine which credit or debit cards are the most used by your customers. Many have their own preferred form of payment and therefore, you would have to choose a payment gateway provider that can authorize the processing of these forms.
What is their holding time?
Payment gateways typically approve payments instantly, however, there is a “holding time” or the funds are usually held for a number of days before they are settled into a merchant’s account. This space of time serves as an allowance for the managing of any refunds and chargebacks.
Depending on the payment service provider, the holding periods can last anywhere from 1-7 days.
Supports multiple currencies
If you conduct your online business worldwide, you will need to be equipped with a payment gateway that can process a multitude of currencies from many countries. Your customer should have the ability to pay in their own currency. Foreign currency transactions may involve fees, so it is best to check with your provider.
Recurring billing
If your online business is subscription-based, know that there are a lot of intricate mechanisms involved with recurring billing. A well-equipped payment gateway must have a handle on all these moving parts. The provider must be able to both save and store a customer’s sensitive card information. It should be able to charge a customer’s credit card on a predetermined schedule. Should any transaction fail, the payment gateway should be able to retry the transaction.
How To Get A Payment Gateway
Depending on the provider, most applications for a merchant account and a payment gateway can be filled out online. Also depending on the provider is the type of documentation required to submit with the application. Here are just some of the paperwork that a provider may request:
- A driver’s license or government-issued ID
- 3 months’ worth of recent bank statements
- A pre-printed voided check or bank letter
- 3 months of recent processing statements
- SSN (Social Security Number) or EIN (Employer Identification Number)
- Chargebacks must be under 2%
Get An Adult Payment Gateway Solution Today
Just because you are operating an adult-themed business doesn’t mean you cannot process payments and expand your operation. There are plenty of adult merchant account providers ready to integrate a payment gateway into your website to securely and seamlessly take card payments from your customers.