Compare Credit Card Processing Rates & Save

Virtual Merchant Services makes it easy to compare and get the best rates in a few simple steps. When merchant providers compete for your business, you win!

Free Quotes No Obligation 14+ Years Experience

Get the Best Rate in 3 Simple Steps

Finding affordable credit card processing should not be complicated. Here is how it works.

1

Tell Us About Your Business

Answer a few quick questions about your business type, monthly processing volume, and what features matter most to you. The whole form takes about a minute.

2

Get Competing Quotes

Multiple credit card processors will respond with rate quotes tailored to your business. They know they are competing, so they bring their best offer up front.

3

Pick the Right Fit

Compare the quotes side by side. Ask questions. Choose the provider who offers the right combination of rates, features, and service for your business.

Get a Free Quote →

Merchant Services for Every Type of Business

Whether you sell online, take payments by phone, or run a brick-and-mortar shop, we connect you with processors who fit how your business actually operates.

  • E-Commerce & Online Stores — Online retailers, subscription businesses, direct-to-consumer brands
  • Phone & Mail Order — Take orders over the phone or process keyed-in transactions remotely
  • Service Businesses — Contractors, consultants, salons, professional services
  • Storefront Retail — Boutiques, specialty stores, convenience stores, small retail
  • Medical & Dental Offices — Co-pays, balances, and payment plans
  • Property Management — Rent collection, maintenance fees, recurring billing
  • Small Offices & Nonprofits — Insurance, real estate, professional associations
  • Any Business taking phone, mail, or online orders

Looking for Authorize.Net Specifically?

Authorize.Net is one of the most trusted payment gateways in the industry, used by millions of businesses since 1996. If you already know you want Authorize.Net, we have a dedicated page covering pricing, features, and setup.

See Authorize.Net Plans →

Trusted Since 1996

Authorize.Net is the gateway behind millions of online and virtual terminal transactions every day.

Multiple Plans Available

Compare Authorize.Net’s payment gateway plans to find the right fit for your business volume and needs.

We Help You Choose

Get help picking the right plan and finding a reseller who offers competitive rates and good support.

What Is a Virtual Merchant?

The definition of a virtual merchant is a business that provides goods and services with the flexibility to accept payments anywhere. A virtual merchant may have a computer with a virtual terminal, an e-commerce website to accept online payments, use a credit card terminal at their place of business with a point of sale system, or use a mobile app to take payments at a trade show.

With today’s technology, it is easier than ever to accept credit card payments. Virtual merchants have many options for receiving payments. Some of the most popular include a virtual terminal on a computer, mobile phone, tablet, or shopping cart. You can also accept payments by mail or telephone, with mobile devices through an app, or with traditional credit card terminals connected to a POS system. The advantage of this kind of credit card processing is having all these payment options combined under one merchant account.

How Does a Virtual Merchant Account Work?

A merchant account, payment gateway, and virtual terminal work together to deliver the means to accept credit card payments online. The best merchant service providers offer competitive pricing, transparent terms, and modern tools for processing payments. Whether you run an online store, an e-commerce site, a service business, or a brick-and-mortar shop, the right virtual merchant account makes it easy to accept payments from your customers.

Saving money on a virtual merchant account, virtual terminal, payment gateway, or credit card processing has never been easier. Comparing quotes from multiple providers eliminates the guesswork and lets the providers compete for your business — which usually means better rates, fewer fees, and more flexible terms.

Virtual Merchant Payment Options

  • Virtual Terminal — Key in credit card payments from any computer for phone, mail, or fax orders
  • E-Commerce Payment Gateway — Accept credit card payments on your website or online store
  • Mobile Payments — Process payments on the go with a smartphone or tablet
  • Point of Sale (POS) — Accept in-person payments with a credit card terminal or POS system
  • Invoicing — Send professional invoices and collect payment online
  • Recurring Billing — Set up subscription or membership billing for repeat customers

What Is a Payment Gateway?

A payment gateway is a service, like Authorize.Net, that works with a merchant account to authorize and settle credit card payments for online businesses, e-commerce sites, retail stores, service businesses, and traditional storefronts. Payment gateways encrypt sensitive card data and securely transmit it between the customer, the merchant, and the payment processor.

Credit Card Processing for Every Industry

Virtual merchant services work for nearly every type of business — from restaurants, coffee shops, and food trucks to retail stores, e-commerce sites, salons, professional services, and healthcare offices. The key is finding the right provider with affordable rates, reliable service, and the payment flexibility your business needs.

What Business Owners Are Saying

★★★★★

“Filled out the form on a Tuesday and had three rate quotes in my inbox by Friday. It was much easier than calling around and getting pitched by every salesperson under the sun.”

KS
Karen S.
Service Business Owner
★★★★★

“What I appreciated was that the providers actually competed. I was able to use one quote as leverage to get a better rate from another. Ended up at a much better deal than I would have gotten on my own.”

MT
Marcus T.
Specialty Retail

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about merchant services and credit card processing.

A virtual merchant is a business that accepts payments using digital tools rather than relying solely on a physical credit card terminal. Virtual merchants can process card payments through a virtual terminal on a computer, an e-commerce website, a mobile app, or invoices sent by email. The flexibility to accept payments anywhere is what defines a virtual merchant.
A virtual merchant account combines a merchant account, payment gateway, and virtual terminal so a business can accept credit card payments online and over the phone. The merchant account holds funds before they deposit to the bank. The payment gateway transmits card data securely. The virtual terminal is the interface where payments are keyed in or accepted.
Effective rates typically range from 1.5% to 3.5% per transaction, depending on the processor, your card mix, and your monthly volume. Watch for monthly fees, PCI compliance fees, gateway fees, and batch fees that some providers add on top. Comparing total cost from multiple providers is the best way to know what you will actually pay.
Interchange-plus is a transparent pricing model where your processor charges you the actual interchange rate set by the card networks plus a fixed markup. It is generally considered the fairest pricing model because you can see exactly what you are paying the networks versus the processor.
Yes. Switching is usually straightforward and can often be done with minimal downtime. Before you switch, review your existing agreement to check for early termination fees. Most modern processors can have you up and running within a few business days.
A payment gateway like Authorize.Net is the technology that authorizes and securely transmits credit card transactions between the customer, the merchant, and the payment processor. It encrypts sensitive card data so it cannot be intercepted during transmission.
We focus on businesses based in the United States. The merchant service providers we work with serve businesses nationwide, including those that sell online to customers anywhere in the world.

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Get a Free Quote → Questions? contact@virtualmerchantservices.com