If you’re in the business of selling goods or services, the ability to accept electronic payments is critical to your success. In today’s economy, cash transactions are becoming increasingly rare, and consumers often expect the convenience of being able to pay using their credit or debit cards. But have you ever stopped to think about how your electronic payment system works? In this article, we’ll explore the world of merchant processing and how it affects your business. 

The Basics of Merchant Processing

Merchant processing is a vital part of the modern economy, enabling businesses to accept electronic payments from customers quickly and securely. However, many people are unfamiliar with the details of how merchant processing works. Let’s look at the basics of merchant processing, including what it is, how it works, and the key players involved.

What is merchant processing?

Merchant processing is the electronic transfer of funds from a customer’s bank account to a merchant’s bank account. This process involves multiple parties, including the customer’s bank, the merchant’s bank, and intermediate payment processors. 

At its most basic level, merchant processing involves the exchange of electronic payment information between a customer’s bank and a merchant’s bank. This transfer of payment information is facilitated by a payment processor, which verifies that the payment is legitimate and then processes the payment. The payment processor charges the merchant a fee for this service, and the funds are then transferred to the merchant’s bank account.

Key players in the merchant processing ecosystem

There are several key players involved in the merchant processing ecosystem, each with a specific role in the transfer of funds. These parties include:

• The merchant: The merchant account is responsible for initiating the payment transaction and providing goods or services in exchange for payment.
• The customer: The customer initiates the payment and provides the payment information.
• The payment processor: The payment processor facilitates the transfer of payment information between the customer’s bank and the merchant’s bank.
• The acquiring bank: The acquiring bank is responsible for accepting payments on behalf of the merchant.
• The issuing bank: The issuing bank is responsible for verifying that the customer has sufficient funds to complete the transaction.

Each of these parties plays a critical role in ensuring that the transaction is completed quickly, securely, and accurately.

Types of payment methods supported

Merchant processors support a range of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and online payments. Most payment processors support multiple payment methods, giving merchants the flexibility to offer their customers a variety of payment options.

In recent years, mobile payments have become increasingly popular, with services like Apple Pay and Google Wallet allowing customers to make payments using their smartphones. Online payments have also become more prevalent, with many businesses offering customers the option to pay using their website or mobile app.

Overall, merchant processing is a critical component of modern commerce, enabling businesses to accept payments quickly and securely. By understanding the basics of merchant processing, merchants can choose the right payment processor and payment methods to meet their needs and provide their customers with a seamless payment experience.

The Role of Financial Services in Merchant Processing

Financial services play a critical role in the merchant processing ecosystem. The ability to accept payments is essential for any business, and financial services help make this process seamless and secure. 

Banks and financial institutions

Banks offer a range of financial services, including merchant processing. They act as the acquiring bank, accepting payments on behalf of the merchant, and transferring the funds to the merchant’s bank account. This process involves multiple steps, including authorization, settlement, and funding. Banks also play a critical role in preventing fraud and ensuring that transactions are secure. They use advanced fraud detection tools and encryption technologies to protect both the merchant and the customer.

Moreover, banks have a deep understanding of the regulatory environment and compliance requirements. They ensure that all transactions follow the rules and regulations set by the card networks and government agencies. Banks also provide valuable insights into customer behavior, spending patterns, and market trends. This information can help merchants optimize their pricing, marketing, and product offerings.

Payment gateways and processors

It’s important to understand payment gateways vs. payment processors. Payment processors are companies or systems that facilitate the transfer of payment information between the merchant and the payment gateway. They act as a bridge between the merchant’s website or point-of-sale system and the payment processor. Payment processors encrypt the payment data and transmit it securely to the payment gateway for authorization.

Payment gateways, on the other hand, are responsible for verifying the payment information and initiating the transfer of funds. They work closely with the banks to ensure that the funds are transferred securely and efficiently. Payment gateways also provide valuable services such as chargeback management, risk assessment, and fraud prevention.

Independent sales organizations (ISOs)

ISOs are third-party organizations that provide merchant processing services on behalf of banks and payment processors. They typically provide additional services, such as equipment leasing and payment gateway integration. ISOs are especially valuable for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources to manage their own merchant processing. ISOs offer customized solutions tailored to the specific needs of the merchant.

ISOs also provide valuable support and training to merchants. They help merchants understand the complexities of the merchant processing ecosystem and provide guidance on how to optimize their payment acceptance strategies. ISOs also offer customer support services, ensuring that merchants can quickly resolve any issues that might come up.

Banks, payment gateways, processors, and ISOs all play critical roles in making sure that merchants can accept payments securely and efficiently. These services also provide valuable insights and support to help merchants optimize the types of payments they accept and grow their businesses.

The Merchant Processing Lifecycle

The process of completing a successful transaction is complex and includes several stages. Let’s take a closer look at each step.

1. Payment authorization

Payment authorization is the first stage in the merchant processing lifecycle. It involves verifying that the customer has enough money in their account to complete the transaction. This process typically involves the payment processor communicating with the customer’s issuing bank to make sure that the account has enough funds to cover the transaction. If the payment is authorized, the funds are held in the customer’s account until the transaction is complete.

It’s important to note that payment authorization is not a guarantee of payment. The authorization simply reserves the funds in the customer’s account for a certain period of time, typically between 24 and 72 hours. If the transaction isn’t completed within this timeframe, the authorization will expire, and the funds will be released back to the customer’s account.

2. Payment capture

Once the payment is authorized, the next stage is payment capture. During this stage, the funds are transferred from the customer’s account to the merchant’s account. This usually requires the payment processor to communicate with the acquiring bank to initiate the transfer of funds. Payment capture may also involve an intermediate step, where the payment processor takes its fee and transfers the remaining funds to the acquiring bank.

Again, payment capture doesn’t necessarily mean that the funds have been settled. Settlement refers to the process of transferring the funds between banks, which we’ll discuss in the next stage.

3. Clearing and settlement

Clearing and settlement refers to the process of reconciling the payment and transferring funds between banks and payment processors. This involves verifying that the payment information is accurate and that the correct accounts are transferred. During this stage, the acquiring bank will typically initiate the settlement process by transferring the funds to the merchant’s bank account.

The clearing and settlement process can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the banks and payment processors involved. It’s important for merchants to monitor their accounts during this time to ensure that the funds have been settled correctly.

Chargebacks and disputes

Finally, the chargeback and dispute stage involves addressing any issues or errors that arise during the payment process. Chargebacks occur when a customer disputes a payment and the funds are returned to the customer’s account. Disputes may arise due to billing errors, fraudulent activity, or other issues.

Chargebacks can be costly for merchants — they can result in the loss of both the payment amount and any associated fees. To minimize the risk of chargebacks, merchants should make sure that their payment processing systems are secure and that they have clear policies in place for handling disputes.

Pricing Models and Fee Structures

Merchant processing fees can vary widely depending on the pricing model and fee structure used by the payment processor. It’s important to understand the different pricing models available to them so you can choose the one that best fits your business’s needs.

Interchange-plus pricing

Interchange-plus pricing passes the bulk of the cost to the merchant. In this model, the payment processor charges a fixed percentage of the transaction amount, plus a small fee per transaction. The bulk of the cost comes from the interchange fee, which is set by the issuing bank. This pricing model may be ideal for merchants who want transparency and predictability in their processing fees.

However, it’s important to note that interchange fees can vary depending on the type of card used (e.g., rewards cards typically have higher interchange fees), so merchants should be aware of this when choosing this pricing model.

Tiered pricing

Tiered pricing is a more complex pricing model that charges different rates depending on the type of transaction. Typically, it involves grouping transactions into different tiers (e.g., qualified, mid-qualified, and unqualified) and charging different rates for each tier. This pricing model can be more difficult to understand, but it can be cost-effective for merchants who have a high volume of transactions and can qualify for the lower tiers.

However, it’s important for merchants to understand how transactions are grouped into each tier, as this can vary between payment processors. Merchants should also be aware that some payment processors may use tiered pricing as a way to hide additional fees.

Flat-rate pricing

Flat-rate pricing charges a fixed percentage of each transaction, regardless of the transaction type. This pricing model is simple and easy to understand, but it may not be cost-effective for merchants with a high volume of transactions. However, for merchants with a low volume of transactions, this pricing model can be a good option since there are no additional fees to worry about.

Merchants should also be aware that some payment processors may have additional fees (e.g., monthly fees, batch fees) that are not included in the flat-rate pricing, so it’s important to read the fine print before choosing this pricing model.

Subscription-based pricing

Subscription-based pricing charges a monthly fee for access to a payment processing platform, plus a small fee per transaction. This pricing model is ideal for merchants with a low volume of transactions or those who want access to additional features such as invoicing and reporting. This pricing model can be cost-effective for merchants who have a consistent volume of transactions each month.

Merchants should be aware, however, that if their transaction volume fluctuates from month to month, they may end up paying more in fees than they would with another pricing model. It’s a good idea to analyze transaction volume and compare pricing models before choosing this option.

Conclusion

Merchant processing is a critical component of modern business, enabling merchants to accept electronic payments and facilitating the transfer of funds. Understanding how merchant processing works and the various players involved can help small business owners make better decisions when selecting a payment processor. By considering the various pricing models and fee structures, merchants can choose a payment processor that meets their needs and helps them manage their electronic payments more effectively.