The easiest way to get merchant account is to apply through a Merchant Account Provider, a company that helps set you up with the proper merchant account, and provides the software and hardware you'll need in order to perform credit card transactions on your web site.

There are a huge number of merchant account providers and their services are all a little different.

Basically, merchant account providers will open an account for you at a financial institution (a bank with whom they're partnered) that can handle Internet transactions, and approves your credit history.

Although many merchant service providers advertise the best and lowest rates, your discount rate depends on several factors that every merchant service provider is subject to. These factors include monthly transaction volume, transaction method and what type of business you have. Merchant Express has the lowest discount rate for internet merchant accounts.

There are also optional fees related to transactions' screening for fraud. Electronic Transfer is one of the few merchant account providers that bundle it for free.

Many merchant account providers do not accommodate international businesses. If you live outside the US, in order to obtain international merchant account you can go with third party credit card processors or work with a merchant account provider that specifically deals with foreign firms.

Fees for international merchant accounts will be higher than if you were a US based business.

Among the most reputable companies that has relationships with international banks and processors and can provide you with an international merchant account is U.S. Merchant Systems.

Below I list some of the top internet merchant account providers, including those dealing with international merchant accounts.

Electronic Transfer

Low fees, fast approval, easy setup. Very popular merchant account provider with 98% approval rate (!). It means that if you've been declined elsewhere Electronic Transfer can help you accept credit cards.

Application: Free
Start Up Fee: Free.
Discount Rate: 2.18%.
Transaction Fee: $0.29.
Monthly Statement Fee: $10.
Secure Gateway: $14.95.

Apply Today and get these low rates with free secured gateway license, internet processing software and merchant account set up.

Merchant Express

An experienced company with thousands of customers. Allows you to accept all major credit cards and bank ATM Debit cards, at the lowest possible cost.

Virtual Terminal - allows you to manually process mail and telephone credit card transactions, as well as issue credits, just like a real physical terminal, but with the added flexibility of letting you access it from any Internet connection in the world.

WebLink - allows you to link your web site to the system in order to accept credit card payments from customers in real-time with complete automation.

ADC (Automated Direct Connect) - provides a mechanism to link more complex web sites with the transaction gateway server, requires custom programming.

Application: Free
Start Up Fee or Lease: Contact merchant account provider.
Discount Rate: 2.17%.
Transaction Fee: $0.25 + $0.05 AVS (Address Verification) fee.
Monthly Statement Fee: $9.95.
Monthly Gateway Fee: Not specified.

U.S. Merchant Systems

U.S. Merchant Systems is one of the few merchant account providers that has relationships with international banks and processors and can provide you with an international merchant account.

They provide customer accounts to over 95% of international applicants in less than 48 hours as well as multi-currency payment services.

Because of the wide variety of international applicants, each with their own unique circumstances, U.S. Merchant Systems asks that interested businesses complete a short online form in order to obtain a rate quote for their particular business.