When comparing web hosting services, it is important to ascertain whether
or not the web hosting package supports eCommerce and to compare the
specific eCommerce services that are being offered.
To establish an eCommerce website, the following web services
are normally required: shopping cart capabilities, merchant account
support, credit card support and a security feature called SSL.
A shopping cart program allows you to implement your own
on-line storefront. The shopping cart keeps track of what visitors have
ordered and allows them to add or remove items from a 'virtual shopping cart'.
When a visitor decides to check-out, the order information including the
buyer's name, address and billing instruction is recorded and a receipt is
sent to the shopper.
A merchant account is "bank account" established with a
payment processor for the settlement of credit card transactions. Any merchant
who wants to take credit card orders must establish a merchant account.
Internet merchants need a "Card Not Present Merchant Account."
To learn more about setting up a merchant account and how
to take credit card transactions online, click
here.
