A virtual terminal is a cloud-based payment processing application that runs on any computer, tablet, or mobile device. Retailers, wholesalers, and professional businesses use virtual terminals to accept credit card payments remotely. Virtual terminals let merchants create transactions, enter payment information, and process those payments. They do everything that traditional credit card terminals do, and a lot more.
How Virtual Terminals Work
You can use any computer to access a virtual terminal. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Mac or a Windows PC, notebook or desktop, all you need is that computer and an Internet connection. You can also run virtual terminals on tablets and smartphones. There’s no software to install; once you connect your device to the Internet, you run the virtual terminal from the host website, via a secure connection.
Using a virtual terminal is a piece of cake. You can use the default entry page or customize your own page with details for your specific business. Just use your computer’s keyboard to enter the required data, including the customer’s credit or debit card information – no card reader required. The payment info is submitted online and the payment will be processed in a few moments.
Who Uses Virtual Terminals?
Because you don’t have to have the physical credit/debit card to enter the transaction, a virtual terminal is ideal for processing mail, phone, and online orders. In particular, virtual terminals are popular with the following types of businesses:
- Professionals (physicians, lawyers, accountants, etc.) who accept payment over the phone
- Food delivery
- Florists and other delivery services
- Churches and other nonprofit organizations (especially for remote fundraising events)
- Retailers with mobile or offsite operations
- Salespeople who operate offsite
- Online retailers
- Freelancers who work remotely but accept payments via mail or over the phone
- B2B companies who bill via mail or email
In short, virtual terminals are great for any business that accepts payment by phone, mail, or online.
Virtual Terminals from Higher Standards
Higher Standards offers virtual terminals solutions from several providers, each designed for different types of businesses:
- Authorize.net, good for connecting to website shopping carts
- B2B Gateway, for business-to-business transactions
- CloverGo, for use with mobile devices
- eProcessing Network, for all types of businesses, including mobile businesses
- USAepay, good for all types of businesses
Contact us today to learn more about how you can use virtual terminals in your business.