Once your new eCommerce website is designed and built, it will need to be connected to a payment system to allow people to buy your products. There are a variety of companies offering payment systems, which can broadly be divided into off-site systems and on-site systems.
Off-Site Payment Systems
A lot of eCommerce startups choose Paypal when they first launch their site, as they only pay fees when a sale is made. Payments are handled on the Paypal website rather than your website. This means your liability for fraud and hacking is reduced, as all card details are stored by Paypal rather than you.
Paypal is a good solution for new sites but the interface can be confusing for customers and the fees can be offputting to the merchant when you start selling over a certain amount.
Another off-site payment system we have used in the past is Worldpay.
On-site Payment Systems
If you want to keep customers on your website and take their card details then you will need to be compliant with the PCI-DSS rules. This can be expensive and time consuming as security on your website must be a lot stronger. While it allows for a smoother payment experience for the customer, most small businesses will want to avoid this extra cost!
Adding Internet Payments to Existing Facilities
There are lots of other payment systems available, and if you have a card processing system already then it may be possible to add on internet payments to your existing contract. Drop us a line on 0115 933 2516 if you have any questions about taking payments online and we’ll be glad to help.
