How Shopify Payments Actually Works: Complete Guide for Online Merchants
Everything you need to know about Shopify Payments to decide if you should use them. Learn how they work, why accounts get suspended, what the fees really cost, and when an alternative payment processor is the best choice for your store.
The Ultimate Guide to Payment Processing Fees
Payment processing fees are a necessary cost of doing business in today’s digital economy, but they can quietly erode your profit margins if you don’t understand them. Every transaction comes with a price—interchange fees paid to card-issuing banks, assessment fees paid to card networks, and processor markups. These fees vary based on card type, transaction method, merchant category, and your pricing model. This guide breaks down the different types of fees, explains pricing structures like flat-rate and interchange-plus, shows you how to read your merchant statement, and provides actionable strategies to reduce costs and protect your bottom line.
Ecommerce Compliance: A Complete Guide
Running an ecommerce business means following a complex set of rules that touch everything from payment security to customer privacy and advertising. Ecommerce compliance covers FTC rules that protect customers from misleading ads, PCI DSS standards that secure payment data, GDPR and similar privacy laws for handling personal information, and local, national, and international regulations for selling across borders. This guide breaks down the essentials—what card networks require, how to keep ads and subscriptions compliant, red flags that trigger account shutdowns, and rules for selling globally—so you can protect your revenue, customer relationships, and business future.
Stripe vs Merchant of Record vs Merchant Account: The Complete Comparison
Stripe, merchant of record, or merchant account—which payment processor is right for your business? Stripe offers speed but comes with suspension risks and higher costs at scale. Merchant of record eliminates tax compliance but charges 5-8% and you lose customer data ownership. Merchant accounts provide the lowest fees, complete control, and stability, but require more setup. This guide compares real costs, benefits, and trade-offs across all three models to help you choose the best payment processing solution for your business size and industry.
Payment Processor Red Flags Every High-Risk Merchant Must Know
Why instant approval high-risk merchant accounts are dangerous. Learn from the Cliq FTC case and find legitimate payment processors that protect your business.