How to start accepting payments on your website

How to start accepting payments on your website

Quick answer: To accept payments online, you need a merchant account, a payment processor and a payment gateway working together. Decide how you'll sell, choose a processor, set up your account and gateway, integrate it with your site, turn on the right payment methods, then test everything before going live. Elavon bundles these pieces into one solution, and Costco members get access to exclusive payment processing rates.

Have you ever lost a sale because a customer couldn't finish their order on your website? It happens more often than business owners realize. A shopper adds items to their cart, gets to checkout and hits a wall: no clear payment option, a clunky process or a page that just doesn't inspire trust. The result is the same: they leave your website and you lose the sale.

The good news is that setting up online payments is more straightforward than it looks. This guide walks you through what you need, how to get it running and what it typically costs to accept payments on your website. You'll also learn how to keep checkout fast and secure once you're live.

And if you're a Costco member, you have an added advantage. You can access payment processing services at a member-exclusive rate through Elavon.

What do you need to accept payments online?

Before a customer's card payment goes through, three systems work together behind the scenes. They're often confused for one another, but each plays a distinct role.

A merchant account is an account your business establishes with a payment processor so you can accept credit and debit card payments from customers.

A payment processor moves the transaction between banks and card networks. It communicates with the customer's issuing bank to confirm funds are available, then routes the approval, or decline, back to your site within seconds.

A payment gateway is the technology that securely transmits your customer's card data at checkout. When someone enters their card details on your site, the gateway encrypts that information and passes it along safely and securely. Think of it as the online equivalent of the card terminal you'd use in a physical store.

You don't have to source these three systems separately. Elavon bundles the merchant account, payment gateway and processing services together, giving you one point of contact instead of three. That means simpler billing and less troubleshooting if something needs attention.

How do you set up online payments?

Once you understand how online payments work, setting them up follows a predictable path and can be done in just six steps.

Step 1: Decide how you'll sell. Your approach depends on how your business operates. A hosted checkout page redirects customers to a secure page to complete their purchase, which is simple to set up and keeps sensitive data off your own site. A virtual terminal lets you key-in card details manually, which is useful for phone orders or invoicing. Many businesses use more than one option.

Step 2: Choose a payment processor. This is one of the most important decisions you'll make, so compare providers on more than the advertised rate. Look at the pricing model, the platforms and shopping carts they support, their security standards, the quality of their support and how quickly you receive your money. Elavon integrates with leading shopping carts and gateways, which makes it easier to connect the systems you may already use.

Step 3: Set up your merchant account and gateway. Sign up with the processor you select and choose your gateway, shopping cart and payment types. You'll receive the credentials you need to start taking payments on your site.

Step 4: Integrate the gateway with your site. Connect the gateway to your checkout using a plugin, an extension or an API, depending on your platform. Most popular eCommerce platforms offer straightforward integrations, and your provider's support team can help confirm everything is configured correctly.

Step 5: Turn on the payment methods your customers use. Enable the options customers actually reach for, like credit and debit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay and any recurring or invoice-based payments your business relies on. Offering the right mix reduces friction and makes checkout easier (making it easier for you to get paid).

Step 6: Test, secure and go live. Run test transactions to confirm payments process, receipts generate and funds settle as expected. Verify your security settings and PCI DSS compliance, then switch your checkout live. A short round of testing helps prevent issues once real customers start buying.

What does it cost to accept payments online?

Rates to accept payments online usually follow a similar structure: a percentage of each transaction plus a small flat per-transaction fee. On top of that, you may see monthly service fees, gateway fees and PCI DSS compliance and program fees, so it's worth asking for the full picture rather than focusing on the headline rate alone.

One detail often surprises new online sellers. Online payments, also called card-not-present transactions, typically carry higher rates than in-person payments. The customer and card are not physically present, which increases the risk of fraud, and pricing reflects that added risk.

Your exact rates also depend on your business. Factors like your industry, your average transaction size and your monthly sales volume all influence the acceptance rates to take customer payments online. Because of this, the most useful comparison isn't a generic advertised rate. It's a quote tailored to your specific business.

Do Costco members get a better deal on payment processing?

Yes. For Costco members, there's a simpler path to reliable online payments. Elavon has provided payment processing to Costco members for more than 29 years, giving members a long-established, trusted option instead of an unfamiliar third party.

Members get access to exclusive rates that reflect the value of a Costco membership. Just as important, one provider can cover your entire operation, including your website, in-person sales, mobile payments and virtual terminals. That means a single, reliable point of contact for all your payment needs.

How do you keep your online checkout smooth and secure?

Getting online payments working is the first goal. Keeping checkout smooth and trustworthy is what turns visitors into repeat customers.

Keep the checkout process short and remove any step that isn't necessary. Every extra field is a chance for someone to abandon their cart. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly, too, since a large share of online shopping now happens on phones.

Display recognizable trust signals, such as secure payment icons and a visible SSL certificate, so customers feel confident entering their card details. On the security side, confirm your provider offers PCI DSS compliance, encryption and tokenization to protect payment card data. Offer the payment methods your customers prefer so no one abandons checkout because their preferred option isn't available.

Finally, send clear confirmations and receipts after every purchase. It reassures customers and reduces support questions down the line.

Ready to start accepting payments on your website?

Accepting payments online comes down to a few clear moves: decide how you'll sell, choose a processor, set up your merchant account and gateway, integrate it with your site, then test before you go live. With every piece in place, you can capture the sales that were slipping away at checkout.

If you want to see how your current setup compares, check your existing rate against Costco member pricing with Elavon. From there, you can start accepting payments on your website with a solution built to grow alongside your business.