Should You Accept Online Credit Card Payments?

If your business isn’t accepting credit cards online, you’re already losing customers. Cart abandonment lost trust, and limited reach all stem from the exact root cause: outdated payment options. Consumers expect seamless digital payments. The answer is yes. You should accept online credit card payments if you want to increase conversions, build trust, and scale revenue. Let’s explain why, how it works, what risks exist, and how to do it right.

What Happens When You Don’t Offer Credit Card Payments?

According to a study, in 2020, 2.4 billion people worldwide used digital banking, a number expected to grow to 3.6 billion by 2026 (Jadil et al., 2021). With over 5.16 billion internet users globally, digital infrastructure now drives a major portion of payment activity (Datareportal, 2023). Customers bounce when checkout becomes complicated. When you don’t accept cards online, you force users to leave the site, use manual bank transfers, or abandon the transaction entirely. It’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a trust issue. Online shoppers expect to see Visa, Mastercard, and American Express options by default. The absence of these signals indicates an unprofessional or insecure business. For subscription businesses, SaaS platforms, eCommerce stores, or remote services, credit card processing is essential. Without it, monthly recurring revenue becomes impossible to automate. According to Baymard Institute, nearly 70% of carts are abandoned, and a lack of payment options ranks among the top reasons. That’s revenue left on the table.

How Do Online Credit Card Payments Work?

Online payments rely on five entities: the customer, merchant, acquiring bank, issuing bank, and payment processor. When a customer submits card details on your website, the processor routes the data to the bank. The bank verifies funds, performs risk checks, and sends approval or decline codes. Once approved, the funds are held in your merchant account or routed through a payment gateway. The transaction settles in 1–3 business days. Systems like 2Accept handle this full stack—gateway, processor, merchant onboarding, and support. You don’t need to understand the full backend to get started. A sound processor abstracts the complexity and handles PCI compliance, encryption, and data tokenization.

What Are the Benefits of Accepting Credit Cards Online?

The first benefit is clear: higher sales volume. Customers spend more with credit cards than with cash or debit. A 2022 Square study found that average ticket sizes were 20–30% higher when customers used credit cards over debit cards. Second, it increases trust. Online card payments signal legitimacy. Seeing Stripe, Visa, or secure checkout icons indicates to customers that their data is safe. Third, it enables automation. You can collect subscription payments, invoice clients automatically, and issue refunds without manual bank communication. This saves time and operational costs. Fourth, it allows international growth. Card processors support multi-currency transactions, local acquiring, and dynamic conversion. If you want to scale globally, online card acceptance is a non-negotiable requirement. A research using Dutch consumer data found that electronic payments, particularly contactless and online methods, are perceived to “hurt less” than cash. This psychological ease makes consumers more likely to complete purchases and spend more when paying with cards compared to cash. The study also found that the reduced ‘pain of paying’ associated with credit cards and other digital methods is especially effective among older consumers, reinforcing the role of digital payment methods in enhancing sales across demographic groups.

What Are the Costs of Accepting Online Payments?

Yes, accepting online credit card payments comes with costs. You’ll pay a transaction fee, typically ranging from 2.5% to 3.5%, depending on the provider and risk category. Some processors charge monthly fees or setup fees, while others bundle it all into a per-transaction model. You also have to consider chargeback fees. If a customer disputes a charge, you may be liable unless you provide evidence of delivery or consent. A chargeback costs between $15 and $25 per incident, plus the risk of account termination if the rate exceeds 1%. That said, not accepting cards means higher lost revenue. The average business sees a 20–25% increase in conversion after enabling online card payments. Providers like 2Accept reduce costs by offering flat-rate pricing, chargeback management tools, and risk profiling, especially for moderate- and high-risk industries.

What Types of Businesses Should Accept Online Payments?

The short answer is any business that sells online or invoices remotely. This includes:

• eCommerce stores
• Subscription platforms
• Coaches and consultants
• SaaS businesses
• Digital product sellers
• Dropshipping stores
• Telehealth providers
• Event organizers
• Online course creators
• Agencies and freelancers

Even brick-and-mortar businesses benefit from online payments through order-ahead options, QR checkout, or online deposits. High-risk verticals like CBD, firearms, vape, and adult content also need online credit card acceptance, but require specialized processors. 2Accept handles this space with custom onboarding and risk logic tailored to compliance needs.

Is It Safe to Accept Credit Cards Online?

Yes, it’s safe—if you work with a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified provider. These processors ensure encrypted transmission, tokenized storage, and secure checkout pages. They manage fraud detection using tools like:

• 3D Secure 2.0
• CVV and AVS matching
• IP geolocation
• Device fingerprinting
• Blacklist monitoring

Still, no system is immune to risk. That’s why you need real-time monitoring and human support. When fraud happens, the speed of response matters. 2Accept assigns a personal payment expert to monitor risk flags, respond to suspicious activity, and guide dispute resolution. That’s the difference between reactive tools and proactive protection.

How Fast Can You Start Accepting Credit Cards?

Some providers take weeks to approve applications, especially if your industry is considered high-risk. During this time, your business stalls. With 2Accept, you can start in as little as 48 hours, even with no coding knowledge. The process includes:

1. A short online application
2. A quick review by a payment expert
3. Gateway setup with or without developer help
4. Live test transactions and go-live status

This means you can sell, invoice, and collect payments within two business days, while others are still stuck in underwriting. If you use platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Wix, integration takes hours. For custom sites, REST APIs and prebuilt plugins are available.

What Are the Downsides of Not Accepting Credit Cards Online?

Not offering credit card options limits your growth and frustrates customers. You’ll spend more time managing manual payments, reconciling bank transfers, and following up on unpaid invoices. You’ll also miss out on mobile payments. More than 53% of online purchases happen on smartphones, and most mobile users prefer card autofill or digital wallets linked to credit cards. You risk higher abandonment at checkout. Customers who don’t see a recognizable payment method often abandon their cart entirely, even if they intend to make a purchase. From a brand perspective, you look outdated. Your competitor likely already accepts cards. The faster experience they offer may win your customer because you asked them to Venmo or do a bank transfer instead.

How Do You Choose the Right Payment Processor?

Look for a provider that offers transparent pricing, real-time human support, and the ability to scale with your business. Ask:

• Do they support your industry?
• How fast can they set you up?
• Do they require a developer, or can non-technical users onboard easily?
• What’s their approach to chargebacks?
• Do they offer live support or just email tickets?
• Are they PCI-compliant and secure?

Processors like 2Accept offer fast setup, dedicated experts, no-code integration, and support for both standard and high-risk businesses. That flexibility is critical if you operate across verticals or sell both digital and physical products.

Real Use Case: From Manual Invoicing to Automated Payments

A digital marketing agency used spreadsheets and PayPal links to collect payments. It worked until volume grew. Errors, delays, and client confusion increased. They switched to 2Accept. Within 48 hours, they had a branded payment page, client dashboard, and real-time approval rates. Recurring invoices and automatic reminders cut manual work by 60%. The approval rate rose to 97%. The revenue cycle shrank from 10 days to 2 days. This isn’t just about taking payments; it’s about transforming operations.

You Should Accept Credit Card Payments—And Do It the Right Way

If you sell anything online, accepting credit cards is no longer optional. It’s a standard. Without it, you limit conversions, trust, and scalability. With it, you gain automation, global reach, and faster cash flow. 2Accept helps you go live in 48 hours, with no coding, industry support, and real humans who’ve seen it all. Start accepting online payments most innovatively, talk to a payment expert at 2Accept today.