In order to accept credit or debit cards directly from your customers, you need what is called a "merchant account".  A merchant account can be obtained from a bank or through a merchant account provider.  Several merchant account options are available online.  Your customers provide you with their credit/debit card information, and your merchant account bills your customers in your name.

Any merchant account (new or existing) can be used with our services.  Your merchant account will use an Internet Payment Gateway to connect your merchant account with our service:

"PayPal" is a third-party, online payment processor that allows you to process credit/debit card payments through their web site.  Our service continues to capture order information, but sends each of your customers to your PayPal account (at PayPal.com) for payment processing.  You can be sent an e-mail from PayPal to verify each time a payment has been successfully processed.

"Google Checkout" is a third-party, online payment processor that allows you to process credit/debit card payments through their checkout system.  Our service continues to capture order information, but sends each of your customers through Google's checkout (at checkout.google.com) for payment processing.  You can be sent an e-mail from Google Checkout to verify each time a customer has successfully completed Google's checkout process.

A simple and inexpensive way to process payments from your customers is to accept mailed checks and/or money orders.  Our service allows you to display a special instructions message at checkout to customers who wish to pay you by check or money order.  Customers mail their payments directly to you.