What are the requirements that a merchant must meet to be able to accept credit cards whether it be in person or online or over the phone?

The requirements for acquiring a merchant account are basically the same, whether your business is a storefront operation or one that you run from your home. There are differences if you run an internet business, which I will discuss momentarily. Before opening any merchant account, the main requirements are that the applicant must be the principal owner of the business, the business must be located within the United States, you must have a Social Security number, and you must be at least 18 years of age. In order to make the process of opening a merchant account go smoothly, there are a few things that you may want to have in order beforehand: * A copy of a voided check from the bank account into which you would like your funds deposited * A copy of your driver