To accept credit cards there are two things you need:

1. A credit card machine
2. The service that allows you to get paid when you accept a credit card

PPC provides both of these. Visa / MasterCard / Discover / American Express all charge a percentage of a credit card sale to provide the services of authorizing credit cards (checking if the card holder has enough credit on there card for this sale) and depositing the funds in your checking account. The percentage rate varies by card type and the way you accept credit cards - swiping the card through a machine versus hand-keying the card. The average percentage rate is between 2 - 3% of each sale. When you accept a card for payment, 2 - 3 business days later the funds will be directly deposited into your checking account. The deposit amount will be the total of all the sales you accepted days earlier - the percentage rate fee that applied to those sales will not be deducted until the end of the month. This fee deduction is withdrawn from your checking account similar to a bank fee. Each credit card company will send you a separate statement that shows you the total amount of sales by card type and the percentage rate fee that applied to those sales. Visa/MasterCard will appear on the same statement, Discover and American Express will be on separate statements.

The equipment you will need to accept credit cards depends on the type of business you have and your method of acceptance of credit cards. For instance, if your business is a restaurant, you will have to have a machine that has a printer so that the machine provides a fast receipt and has the capability to add tips. If your business only accepts a few credit cards a day you can avoid the cost of a terminal with a printer.

All credit card machines provide the two functions needed by all business types: the ability to verify available credit, and the storing of sales for future deposit into your checking account. Credit card machines use standard electrical outlets and don't require a dedicated phone line. They use very little power and only use your phone for 10 seconds at a time. PPC offers both new or refurbished equipment. Our equipment can be leased monthly or purchased via check or credit card (of course!)

PPC representatives will step you through the application process at your business location. An application is needed to allow the credit card companies to know your business address, the type of business you are in, and the checking account you want your funds deposited in. The application process takes about 20 minutes to complete. The approval process is very quick - most businesses are approved and operating within days. 98% of all applications are approved.