Merchant Account FAQs

A merchant account is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept credit and debit card payments. It acts as a holding account where funds from card transactions are deposited before being transferred to your business bank account. You need both a merchant account and a payment gateway (like Authorize.Net) to process cards online.

A payment gateway (like Authorize.Net) is the technology that securely transmits card data from your website to the payment networks. A merchant account is the bank account that receives and holds the settled funds from those transactions.

You need both. START Merchant Services provides a bundled solution — merchant account + Authorize.Net gateway — so you don't have to coordinate two separate vendors.

Per Visa/Mastercard regulations, your website must clearly display: a refund/cancellation policy, privacy policy, terms and conditions, product/service descriptions with pricing, customer service contact details, shipping information, and an SSL certificate. See our full website requirements guide.

Most START clients are approved within 1-5 business days. Standard eCommerce businesses can be approved in as little as 1 day. High-risk industries typically take 3-5 business days due to additional underwriting. Once approved, your Authorize.Net gateway is configured and ready within 24 business hours.

Yes, in many cases. START evaluates applications based on multiple factors — not just personal credit. Business history, processing volume, industry type, and time in business all play a role. We work with a network of banking partners and can often find a solution for merchants who have been declined elsewhere.

Common reasons include: industry classification (high-risk), poor personal or business credit, excessive chargebacks, incomplete application, or a website that doesn't meet card network requirements. If you've been declined elsewhere, contact START — our bank network often has options that traditional processors don't.

Interchange plus pricing passes the actual interchange rate set by Visa/Mastercard directly to you, plus a small fixed markup from START. This is the most transparent pricing model — your statement shows exactly what the card network charges and exactly what START charges, separately. Learn more in our interchange plus pricing guide.

No. START Merchant Services charges no termination fees, no annual fees, and no address verification fees. We believe in transparent pricing — what you see is what you pay.

Tiered pricing bundles all card types into "Qualified," "Mid-Qualified," and "Non-Qualified" buckets. Most eCommerce transactions land in the most expensive Non-Qualified tier. Interchange plus is always transparent and typically lower overall. START exclusively uses interchange plus — we never use tiered pricing.

Businesses are classified as high risk based on industry type, chargeback history, processing volume, or the nature of products/services sold. Common high-risk industries include CBD/hemp, firearms, nutraceuticals/supplements, adult products, travel, subscription/continuity, and telemarketing. See our high risk merchant accounts page for the full list of industries we serve.

Yes. START has agreements with 5 banks for CBD/hemp payment processing. We navigate the regulatory complexity of CBD banking so you don't have to. Visit our CBD merchant accounts page for details.

Yes. Authorize.Net is a payment gateway — it handles the technical transmission of payment data, but it doesn't hold your funds. You need a separate merchant account with a bank or processor to settle and receive funds. START bundles both: your merchant account and Authorize.Net gateway setup, ready within 24 hours of approval.

Authorize.Net is pre-integrated with over 1,000 shopping carts and billing systems including WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, and hundreds more. Most major platforms include native Authorize.Net integration with simple setup wizards. See our integration methods page for details.

Every Authorize.Net account through START includes: virtual terminal, verified merchant seal, online reporting, advanced fraud detection tools (AFDS), customer information manager (CIM) for recurring payments, virtual point of sale, and multiple connection methods for integration. Optional add-ons include eCheck/ACH processing and the Authorize.Net mobile app.

It depends on your technical needs: Simple Checkout — easiest, minimal coding, great for quick launches. Direct Post Method (DPM) — hosted form with your branding, good PCI benefits. Server Integration Method (SIM) — server-to-server with relay response. Advanced Integration Method (AIM) — full API control for custom solutions.

See our integration overview for a detailed comparison.

Yes. The Authorize.Net virtual terminal lets you manually enter card details from any web browser — no card reader required. It's included with every account and is perfect for phone orders, mail orders, and MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order) businesses.

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a mandatory set of security requirements for any business that accepts card payments. Yes, you need it. Using Authorize.Net's hosted payment forms dramatically reduces your PCI scope — card data never touches your servers, which simplifies the compliance process. Learn more on our PCI compliance page.

The top strategies: display clear refund/cancellation policies, make your business name (DBA) recognizable on statements and in order confirmation emails, enable AVS verification, use CVV matching, and include policies with all physical shipments. See our full chargeback prevention guide.

Yes. START is a Registered MSP/ISO with Elavon for Canada, covering merchants from Vancouver to Halifax. We can process in Canadian dollars or US dollars, and support cross-border US/Canada businesses. Learn more on our Canada merchant processing page.

Yes. START offers merchant processing solutions for Australian businesses. Visit our Australian merchant processing page to learn more about our international capabilities.