Merchant Accounts and Payment Gateways
An e-commerce website is a powerful tool for businesses in Oak Brook, Chicago, and nearby suburbs to sell products and services online. A properly built ecommerce site manages every aspect of online sales — from displaying products and processing payments to invoicing, shipping, and customer account maintenance.
Selecting the right content management system (CMS) and working with an experienced ecommerce web design company like AdverGroup Web Design is crucial. As a business owner, understanding the basic mechanics of ecommerce will help you make informed decisions and grow your online business effectively.
Key Components of an Ecommerce Website
Ecommerce Shopping Cart Component: This tracks products, sales, orders, and inventory. A shopping cart system collects selected products, calculates totals, and provides a secure interface for customers to enter payment information. For online stores with multiple products, a reliable shopping cart solution is essential for seamless operation.
SSL Security (Secure Sockets Layer): Websites accepting credit card payments must have SSL encryption. SSL creates a secure connection between your server and customer browsers, ensuring all transactions and sensitive data are encrypted and protected. Even if your Oak Brook ecommerce website uses PayPal or external gateways, SSL is recommended to maintain customer trust.
Merchant Account: A merchant account enables your business to accept and process payment card transactions online.
Merchant Service Provider (MSP): MSPs provide transaction processing solutions and often include both merchant accounts and payment gateways, simplifying the setup process.
Payment Gateway: The bridge between your ecommerce website and the credit card company, processing customer payments securely and efficiently — much like a retail point-of-sale terminal, but online.
Popular Merchant Service Providers and Payment Gateways
| Provider | Merchant Service Provider | Payment Gateway | SSL Required | Processing On-Site | Monthly Fee | Start-Up Fee | Transaction Fee | Corporate Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | ✔️ | ✔️ | No | Users Redirected | Free | $0.00 | 2.9% + $0.30 | California, USA |
| PayPal Pro | ✔️ | ✔️ | No | Optional | $30.00 / month | $0.00 | 2.9% + $0.30 | California, USA |
| Authorize.net | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | $20.00 / month | $99.00 | 2.2% + $0.10 | California, USA |
| Intuit QuickBooks | ✔️ | ✔️ | No | ✔️ | $19.95 / month | $99.00 | 2.5% + $0.29 | California, USA |
| 2Checkout | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | €0.00 | €0.00 | 5.5% | London, UK |
| PayZen Go | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | €14.90 | €0.00 | Not Published | France |
| Skrill Moneybookers | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free | €0.00 | 2.9% + €0.29 | London, UK |
As a leading local ecommerce website development company in Oak Brook and Chicago, AdverGroup Web Design builds secure, mobile-friendly online stores optimized for visibility, conversion, and scalability. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, we can help you design, launch, and maintain a custom ecommerce website tailored to your goals.
