Internet merchant account for credit card processing (UK)

Without an internet merchant account, businesses can’t process electronic payments online. In the current digital-first world, businesses that aren’t able to process online payments will see an increase in customer dissatisfaction and may even lose them to competitors with more convenient payment options. While there are some services like PayPal and Stripe that provide online payment processing without the need for a separate merchant account, they tend to include high transaction fees and take longer for the funds to reach your account. 

A secure online merchant account infrastructure also reduces the burden of compliance. This is especially important for growing businesses or those in highly regulated sectors. All internet merchant accounts must comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Features like tokenisation, fraud screening and authentication support such as 3D Secure help to protect your business from chargebacks and reassure your customers that their data is safe. 

It’s important to understand the differences between an internet merchant account and online payment gateway. Both are essential, providing different functions that enable your business to take payments online. 

An online payment gateway is the tool that captures the card details. It acts as an intermediary between the customer and the business, encrypting payment information and performing authorisation checks before sending it to the business’ merchant account. 

The merchant account is where the money goes before settlement. An internet merchant account is a special type of bank account that enables businesses to process online transactions. After receiving the information from the payment gateway, it processes the payment and moves the funds from the customer’s account to the business’ account. 

The right merchant services provider will offer more than just a way to take payments. It will support secure transactions, provide integration options with your existing systems, and ensure compliance with industry standards. 

When choosing a provider, look for one that offers clear pricing, UK-based support, and flexibility around how you take payments. Not every online merchant account is built the same, so whether you need recurring payment options, B2B invoicing or multi-channel support, make sure your chosen provider is able to offer these. 

If your business is expanding, choose a partner that offers more than just basic merchant accounts. Scalable merchant services let you grow without needing to switch providers, saving time, money and integration headaches in the future. Remember as well to check their security and compliance credentials to make sure they meet the requirements of your industry. 

Take a look at our guide to essential merchant account questions to ask for more information about the sorts of things you need to consider when getting started. 

Setting up a merchant account online doesn’t have to be difficult. Most providers will walk you through the application process, including credit and risk checks, system integration and settlement terms. It’s important to understand how long settlement takes, what fees apply, and how the account works with your payment gateway and existing tech stack. 

No merchant account yet? We can help! Access PaySuite works with 250+ international acquirers worldwide, so whatever territory or currency you want to accept payment, we've got you covered. Our internet merchant account service provides fast and flexible options designed to scale with your business needs. 

Take a look at our guide on how to set up an internet merchant account for more in-depth information about the process, or get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to advise you on any of our merchant payment services.