Perhaps the most confusing aspect of getting your e-business online is that of payment processing. To start, you must first choose between online and offline payments.

Offline Processing
If you already have a merchant account and merchant terminal (sometimes called a ZON machine) you can continue to process payments in the way in which you are accustomed. Simply log into your CyberStrong eShop, and click "View orders" to collect your payment information. To reduce typing errors, an optional credit card verification test is provided at the time of purchase which checks the card type, number of digits and card checksum. As a thoughtful touch, we reformat credit card numbers in groups of four digits to make easier the transcribing of credit card information from the screen to your merchant terminal.

CyberStrong eShop also allows you to specify check, cash, money order, or purchase order as payment methods. When selected, credit card verification and authorization are disabled.

Obtaining a Merchant Account
If you don't already have one, the first step towards accepting payments in real time over the Internet is to apply for an Internet merchant account.

Accepting Payments Without a Merchant Account
If you are not quite ready for the cost, commitment, and complexity of obtaining a merchant account, consider 2CheckOut.com. This low cost alternative to traditional merchant accounts allows you to accept online payments for an initial setup cost of less than fifty dollars. A payment gateway is not required and your funds can be transferred to any bank account. Later, you can convert your CyberStrong eShop to a full merchant account if you wish.

PayPal is the most economical way for small businesses to accept payments online. It is free to sign up! PayPal is an account-based system that lets anyone with an email address to securely send and receive online payments using their credit card or bank account. PayPal charges modest fees for Premier and Business members to receive payments.

Online Processing: Payment Services
Payment services verify an online customer's credit card details and perform the charge in real time. Some payment services will collect the credit card information for you, thus eliminating the need for your own SSL certificate. In the table below "CC Collection" indicates who can collect the credit card information.

CyberStrong eShop allows you to process credit cards at sale or review (fulfillment) time. In the table below "CC Auth Time" indicates which processing time you may use.

CyberStrong eShop supports the following payment services:

Ask your merchant account bank which payment service(s) they support. Once you have selected a payment service, you will be provided with login information which you use to configure your CyberStrong eShop.

CyberStrong eShop's payment service support is "built-in" and completely configurable through its Web-based interface. Get one free payment gateway integration of your choice, per license.

CyberStrong eShop supports the simultaneous use of multiple gateways. Integration with additional payment gateways may be purchased separately.

How Merchant Accounts Work
To understand how the online payment process works you need first understand the players involved. They are:

• Your bank: the bank where your online payments are to be deposited. This can be the merchant bank or your own bank.
• The merchant bank: the bank which collects your online payments
• The acquiring bank (processor): a bank that specializes in managing credit card transactions for merchants. The acquiring bank is sometimes referred to as a "processor"
• Fraud check service: a service that checks credit card numbers for fraud. Fraud check services receive credit card requests from multiple banks and use this information to look for and identify patterns of fraudulent credit card use. Ask your merchant account bank if they support the use of a Fraud check service. There may be an additional charge for this service.
• The credit card gateway: a company that provides the electronic connection between your shopping cart and the rest of the system.
• The issuing bank:  the bank that issued the credit card to your customer

Fortunately this process is made transparent to you by CyberStrong eShop's fully integrated online payment system. Here's what happens when you or your customer submits an order for online payment:

• A payment request is sent by CyberStrong eShop to your payment gateway.
• The payment gateway sends the request for payment to the acquiring bank (processor) for approval. Optionally, the payment gateway can send your request to a fraud check service at the same time.
• The acquiring bank (processor) sends the transaction data through the bank's private network to the issuing bank.
• The issuing bank performs a variety of security checks, including available funds, address verification, and card number validation.
• The issuing bank replies telling the acquiring bank (processor) whether or not the transaction is approved, and in turn, the acquiring bank informs your gateway service.
• The gateway service replies to CyberStrong eShop's original request for payment with one of "Approved" or "Declined". CyberStrong eShop records this information on the order review page next to your order.
• Transactions are settled nightly when the issuing bank pays the acquiring bank which then transfers the funds into your merchant bank account (less the bank's fees for servicing the transaction). If your company's account is not with the merchant bank, the funds are then forwarded to your company's bank account.