E-Commerce & Online Shop Websites

Electronic Commerce, commonly known as (electronic marketing) e-commerce or eCommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over the internet.

We make selling online easy, with websites that get results and simple to use control panels so you can manage your own shop. Whatever type of business you have, a well designed and implemented website will help you to sell successfully online.

Selling online has a number of advantages over selling by conventional methods, including:

  • Low set-up and operational costs. You don't need to pay shop assistants, rent high-street premises, or answer a lot of pre-sales queries.
  • Reduced order-processing costs.
  • Reach a global audience.
  • Compete with larger businesses by being open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Attract customers who would not normally have investigated your type of high-street outlet.
  • Analyse shopping trends and customer purchases
  • Use your online shop as a catalogue for existing customers.
Online Payments

Accepting card payment online enables you to take advantage of impulse buyers, international customers and of course the increasing number of consumers looking for the convenience of shopping online.

There are 2 main methods to accept card payments on your website:

  1. Directly Accepting Payments Set up an Internet Merchant Account (IMA) with an acquiring bank, and use a Payment Service Provider (PSP) to process the card payments directly into your bank account.

  2. Using a Payment Processing Company Using a Payment Processing Company/Bureau to process the payments on your behalf and forward the money to you. Examples are PayPal, Google Checkout, Nochex etc.

OPTION 1: Using a Internet Merchant Account to directly accept payments

IMA Account

To accept credit or debit card payments directly online, you will need to set up an Internet Merchant Account (IMA).

There are several banks and other processors that currently offer IMAs. In addition to the IMA you will also need a Payment Service Provider (PSP) to securely collect the card details and pass them to the acquiring bank. Some acquiring banks offer PSP services as part of their product.

  • Advantages:
    • Typically lower transaction fees especially with high volumes of transactions.
    • Less delay in cash flow.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Application for a IMA is slower and stricter. A business plan, trading history and supplier info will typically need to be provided.
    • Usually have higher setup & monthly fees, making it a less viable option for people expecting a low volume of card transactions.

OPTION 2: Using a Payment Processing Company/Bureau to accept payments on your behalf & forward the money to you:

Payment Processors

Payment processing companies obtain the payment from your customers' cards on your behalf and forward the money to you.

They offer an attractive alternative for businesses who expect a smaller volume of online transactions.

  • Advantages:
    • Little administrative work involved compared to using an IMA.
    • They handle the majority of the security.
    • The application procedures are fast and easy to setup compared to an IMA.
    • Much more cost-effective options available for people expecting a smaller volume of online transactions..
  • Disadvantages:
    • Customers can usually see that the payment is being handled by a third party.
    • Payment-processing companies may hold payments for a settlement period, and may restrict withdrawal amounts.
    • Transaction charges are generally higher compared to a IMA.
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