One of the considerations you will need to make involves how you wish to accept payment - is it simply for face-to-face 'chip and pin' transactions, are your transactions - 'person-non' present' - i.e. over the phone or mail-order? Or do you wish to trade on-line and increase your market-place to as potential world-wide audience?

There are a number of companies offering merchant North American Bancard Agent Program savings and cheap merchant services - these companies tend to be every bit, or even more competitive than traditional high-street banks. Some of these providers actually offer a fully-managed service, ensuring that you remain on the most competitive of rates, as well as providing excellent advice on terminal support.

There are a number of different types of terminal available to allow you to accept payment by electronic card. A standard counter-top fixed terminal may be ideal for garages and traditional shops, but in addition to these, there are numerous portable and mobile solutions. Bluetooth or wireless radio technology allows a terminal to be taken direct to a customer - for example a diner in a restaurant can pay for a meal without leaving the table. Taking portable terminals a step further - mobile GPRS terminals can operate anywhere that they can pick up a mobile signal - a mobile network SIM card securely transmits the transaction data over the mobile phone network. These types of terminals are perfect for field-based sales people, as well as people who work remotely, such as exhibitions or trade shows.