On-line Payments – Part One
Introduction

One of the most important issues of electronic trading is taking payment on-line. Businesses that have a Web site with a catalogue of products are expected to provide a secure on-line payment service. A customer has entered a business Web site, discovered an item they want but decide to leave and find another site because the payment method is unsatisfactory.

This article and On-line Payments – Part Two will look at different methods of on-line payment available to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and their advantages and disadvantages. For more information on payment security, encryption and Web site maintenance, read On-line Payments - Part Three.

Please note there are several examples of costs given for payment services in this article and that all costs are meant as a guide only. Latest prices should be confirmed with the appropriate payment companies.