Online sales now account for over 20% of total retail sales in the United States — and that number continues to grow. If your business doesn't have a way to accept payments online, you're leaving money on the table.
The good news is that setting up ecommerce payments has never been easier or more affordable.
Choosing the Right Payment Gateway
A payment gateway is the technology that securely transmits payment information between your customer, your bank, and the card networks. When choosing a gateway, consider: transaction fees, supported payment methods, fraud protection tools, and integration with your existing website or platform.
What Payment Methods Should You Accept?
At minimum, your online store should accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Beyond that, consider adding digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay — they now account for over 30% of online transactions. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options like Afterpay or Klarna can also increase average order values.
Security and PCI Compliance
Any business that accepts card payments online must comply with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). This isn't optional — non-compliance can result in fines and increased processing fees. A good payment processor will help you maintain compliance automatically.
Reducing Cart Abandonment
The average cart abandonment rate is nearly 70%. Simplifying your checkout process is one of the most impactful things you can do. Reduce the number of form fields, offer guest checkout, display security badges, and make sure your checkout works flawlessly on mobile.
Integrating Online and In-Store Payments
If you have both a physical location and an online store, using a unified payment system lets you manage inventory, reporting, and customer data in one place. This saves time and reduces errors.
Ready to take your business online or upgrade your current ecommerce setup? Let's build the right solution for you.
