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Is Your Business Ready to Accept Credit Card Payments? Key Considerations and Tips

Fact checked by Vikki VelasquezRidofranz / Getty Images Nearly one-third of all payments are made by credit card. Here's how small business owners can accept this payment method.Paying by credit card is increasingly popular. In 2023, nearly one-third (32%) of all payments used a credit card, up from 18% in 2016, according to a Federal Reserve report.Accepting credit cards is more costly for small businesses due to fees charged by card issuers and payment processors. However, small businesses may find it worth their while to pay those extra costs.Key Takeaways As more consumers rely on credit cards, accepting them is increasingly important for small businesses that want to boost sales.Business owners can choose between setting up a merchant account and finding a payment process or opting for an all-in-one payment service provider like Stripe, Square, or PayPal.Costs can add up, so it's important to understanding fee structures and choose the right tools for your business, whether that's a card reader for in-person purchases or a payment gateway for an e-commerce store.How Are Credit Card Payments Processed?To understand how to accept credit card payments, you should have a clear idea of how credit card payments are processed.Whenever a customer swipes their credit card at a retailer, a complex chain of events is triggered, involving the business, the credit card issuer, the payment processing network, and the business's bank.When a transaction occurs, it's first sent to the acquiring bank, which is the merchant's bank.The acquiring bank then sends that transaction to the issuing bank (the bank that issues the credit card to the consumer) via a payment processing network.The payment processing network is like a middleman that facilitates the transaction between the acquiring bank (the business's bank) and the issuing bank (the card issuer).After the issuing bank receives the transaction, it determines whether the transaction is safe and determines if the customer has sufficient funds for the transaction.The issuing bank then approves or denies the transaction.After a transaction is approved, the merchant doesn't immediately receive funds from the purchase. It may take a few days for funds to be transferred from the merchant account—which is a type of bank account that accepts and processes electronic payments—to the business's actual bank account.What Do Small Businesses Need To Accept Credit Card Payments?Small business owners have two options when it comes to setting up a system for accepting credit card payments:Open a merchant account and then find a separate payment processing network to handle transactions.Use a payment service provider that already includes a merchant account and a payment processing service.By opting for a payment service provider that includes a merchant account, small business owners can avoid the hassle of having to set up a separate merchant account. Services like Stripe and Square are payment service providers that include merchant accounts.You'll also want to think about how you want to accept payments. For example, do you have a brick-and-mortar store or do you run an online e-commerce store? It's important to determine the payment needs for your small business first because accepting credit card payments in person requires different tools and technology than accepting card payments online.Accepting Credit Card Payments In-PersonIf you want to accept credit card payments from customers making purchases in person, you'll need to purchase a card reader, which is a physical device that can be used to accept debit and credit card payments.Typically, these card readers offer customers the option of paying via contactless payment, inserting an EMV chip card, or swiping a card. Some card readers are integrated into point-of-sale (POS) software that tracks sales, updates inventory, and more, which may be helpful for some small business owners.And if you don't want to purchase separate hardware for accepting payments, you can opt for a virtual terminal instead. Virtual terminals are a type of software that can be used on a phone or laptop without a card reader.WarningUsing a virtual terminal requires a little more effort because you'll have to manually enter customers' card information to complete transactions.Accepting Credit Card Payments OnlinePayment gateways can be thought of as conduits between customers, payment processors, card issuers, and the merchant. Payment gateways are essential for accepting online payments, as they ensure that transactions are routed to the correct financial institutions and that customers' payment information is kept safe through encryption.Note that payment gateways, which connect the merchant with payroll processors, are different than payment processors, which move the funds from one institution to another. But many payment service providers—like PayPal, Square, and Stripe—offer both services.Fees Can Add Up QuicklyWhen you're choosing between different payment service providers, payment processors, or merchant accounts, make sure to carefully analyze the fee structure.Credit card processing fees can be pricey, so you'll want to keep track of the various fees charged. For example, there may be payment processing fees, payment gateway fees, chargeback fees, and more.You may consider opting for a payment service provider if you prefer simplicity. Since these companies bundle together multiple features and services, the fee structure may be more straightforward.The Bottom LineAccepting credit cards can help small businesses attract more customers and enhance cash flow. Business owners can either set up their own merchant account and payment processor or rely on a payment service provider like Stripe, Square, or PayPal that bundles these services.Depending on whether your business operates in person or online, the tools needed to accept credit card payments differ. Brick-and-mortar store owners will likely need to purchase card readers or virtual terminals, while owners of e-commerce stores will need to ensure that they have a payment gateway. By doing research and understanding the associated fees for the different services, small business owners can make credit card acceptance a worthwhile investment.
How Would a Texas Stock Exchange Compete With NYSE and Nasdaq?

Anton Petrus/Getty Images Texas is the 2nd largest economy in the U.S. and 8th largest in the world. TXSE would likely attract many Texas based companies as well as compete with the NYSE and Nasdaq.The race to establish "Y'all Street" as a legitimate competitor to the duopoly of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq on Wall Street has kicked into high gear, with billions in potential listing fees at stake. NYSE Texas opened in Dallas in March 2025, securing Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. (DJT) as its first listing, while the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) has secured $161 million in backing from giants like BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) for a 2026 launch."Texas's $2.7 trillion economy is very large (second in the U.S., eighth in the world) and rapidly-growing (fastest-growing large state in the U.S.)," Bülent Temel, professor of economics at the University of Texas at San Antonio, noted to Investopedia. "It means more and more companies are growing to reach the scale to go public to accelerate their growth. Getting listed and traded in a local Texas exchange would likely be these companies' first choice as it is good PR for them in a state's common culture that rewards localness."Key TakeawaysThe Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) is the most significant challenge to the NYSE/Nasdaq duopoly in decades, with unprecedented financial backing and institutional support.NYSE Texas launched in late March 2025, giving it the first-mover advantage, while TXSE plans to begin trading in 2026.The Rise of "Y'all Street"Regional exchanges once operated across America, but by the late 20th century, regulatory changes and technological advances had solidified the NYSE-Nasdaq duopoly, with the last of the five regional exchanges swept away by consolidation from 2006 to 2009.Attempts by others to carve out market share by focusing on high-frequency trading (HFT) largely went nowhere in the 2010s. Backers of the TXSE say this time is different. The state has drawn in hundreds of major companies with its low taxes, looser regulations, and thriving economy, including high-profile relocations by Tesla (TSLA), Oracle Corp. (ORCL), and Chevron Corporation (CVX).Adding to all this, traditional exchanges face fierce competition from alternative trading systems. According to CBOE data, off-exchange trading venues now account for 51% of U.S. equities volume, compared with 18% for NYSE and 14% for Nasdaq—an increase of about 20% since 2020. This shift largely stems from the rise of dark pools, payment-for-order-flow arrangements, and trade matching among large institutional investors.In January 2025, TXSE filed its 4,000-page Form 1 registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, officially beginning the regulatory approval process with $161 million in capital. The exchange plans to launch its trading operations in early 2026, with listings becoming available by the end of that year.The NYSE, recognizing the growing threat, relocated its Chicago operations to avoid the lengthy process of developing a new exchange from scratch, opening NYSE Texas in Dallas in March 2025, giving it the coveted first-mover advantage in the state.Despite regulations for securities being national and trading that's done electronically, Temel said being a local matters. "Arguably more so than other U.S. states, Texas has a common culture that is proud of its differences ... and its business acumen," he said. "This social psychology will likely pave the way for increasing numbers of Texans to invest in stocks using their local exchanges. Coupled with the fact that the average discretionary income has been rising in Texas, these cultural dynamics signal a bright future for the new exchanges in Dallas."NoteDallas now ranks as the second-largest financial hub in the U.S. by number of finance employees. The southeastern U.S., TXSE’s primary market, is home to 1,500 publicly traded companies and more than 5,200 private equity-backed firms, many of which are eyeing public market access.TXSE vs. NYSE TexasNYSE Texas hit the ground running with established regulatory approvals and infrastructure as part of Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE), giving it immediate global recognition and existing relationships with listed companies.TXSE, while backed by major players like BlackRock and Citadel, must build from scratch—a challenge that its backers frame as an opportunity to implement more efficient systems without legacy constraints.Perhaps most striking is their divergent approach to listing standards. NYSE Texas follows its parent company's established criteria, while TXSE said it's going to institute significantly stricter requirements, with TXSE CEO James Lee saying these standards would exclude about 1,700 companies currently listed on NYSE and Nasdaq, a bold strategy that prioritizes quality over quantity.The Bottom LineTXSE represents the most serious challenge to the NYSE/Nasdaq duopoly in decades. Its unprecedented financial backing, Texas's growing economic clout, and the increasing fragmentation of equity markets provide advantages earlier challengers lacked."There is an unsatisfied demand for stock trading, if not a need per se for local exchanges in Texas," Temel said. "Distinct features of Texas ... create opportunities for many private companies to go public, many public ones to also trade their stocks in Texas, and many more citizens and institutional investors to invest in Texas's exchanges."
Are You Prepared to Retain the Boomer Wealth Transfer?

Cory Sims, an advisor in Cincinnati, talks with Deep Dive host Jay Hummel about how he’s setting the stage to be the advisor that his clients’ beneficiaries know and trust. Cory Sims: Cory Sims is the managing member and investment advisory representative for Sims Investment Management. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a double major in finance and real estate and resides in greater Cincinnati.