Customers now expect to pay with cards, whether they’re shopping online, at a market stall, or in a café. Accepting credit card payments can make your business more accessible and more profitable. It opens the door to spontaneous purchases and smoother customer journeys.
Card payments also tend to increase average transaction value. That matters for small businesses looking to maximise each sale. And as contactless and digital wallet use grows, cards remain a central part of modern payment preferences.
Unlike large enterprises with dedicated payments teams, small businesses often have to manage everything from setup and tech to security without much support. Choosing the right provider is a step towards simplifying that.
Credit card payments typically fall into two categories: in-person and card-not-present. The differences between them impact how payments are authorised, the equipment required, and the level of fraud risk. Here's a quick comparison:
|
Method |
How it works |
Use case |
|
Magnetic stripe (swipe) |
Card is swiped through a reader to capture data |
Legacy POS systems |
|
EMV chip (dip) |
Card is inserted into a terminal for chip reading and secure authentication |
Retail and hospitality |
|
Contactless (tap) |
Card or device is tapped on an NFC reader |
Quick-service checkout |
|
Digital wallets |
Mobile devices use NFC to simulate card tap (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
Mobile-first consumers, fast checkouts |
|
Online checkout |
Card info is entered into a secure web form |
E-commerce websites |
|
Mobile payments |
Payments made via mobile apps or mobile-optimised sites |
App-based services, mobile shopping |
|
Phone orders (CNP) |
Staff manually enter card details into a virtual terminal |
Takeaway, bookings, or remote transactions |
Each method involves different risks, hardware, and user behaviours. Many small businesses benefit from offering both card-present and card-not-present options to meet diverse customer expectations.
Understanding the full credit card payment journey gives you clarity on what happens behind the scenes—so you can make better decisions about the providers and tools you use. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps:
Each transaction touches multiple parties, and delays or failures can occur at several points. That’s why it’s worth choosing a provider with reliable infrastructure and built-in fraud prevention.
You can either open a dedicated merchant account or use a bundled solution that combines this with your payment gateway.
For online payments, a gateway securely transmits card data. The processor handles authorisation and fund transfers.
Selecting a credit card processing provider is one of the most impactful financial decisions you'll make as a small business. While fees are often the first consideration, the real value lies in the combination of features, flexibility, and long-term fit. You need a partner that aligns with how and where you sell.
Look at how quickly a provider can get you up and running. Some offer instant account activation with pre-integrated tools; others may take longer, especially if custom development is involved. Consider how much of the setup you can manage on your own, and whether they offer support or onboarding assistance.
Then there’s pricing. Models vary, but most fall into flat-rate, tiered, or subscription categories. Flat-rate fees are easier to predict, while tiered models can be opaque and harder to track. Subscription-style pricing, where you pay a monthly fee for lower per-transaction costs, may suit businesses with high volume. Whatever the model, keep an eye out for hidden charges—such as fees for chargebacks, rented hardware, or access to certain features. In 2025, the average fee sits between 1.5% and 3.5%, with Visa and Mastercard transactions averaging 1.82%.
Support for multiple payment methods is also crucial. A good provider should allow you to accept major credit cards, contactless payments, digital wallets, and offer multi-currency support if you sell internationally. This flexibility helps you meet your customers where they are, without needing additional integrations.
Finally, consider whether the platform can grow with your business. Will it integrate easily with your point-of-sale, inventory, or e-commerce systems? Can it support recurring billing if you introduce subscriptions? The best providers make it easier to scale, not harder.
Security is an essential part of managing costs, customer trust, and business continuity. Fraud and data breaches can have lasting consequences, especially for small businesses. That’s why a robust approach to security is just as important as pricing or ease of use.
Look for tools that automatically monitor transactions for irregular behaviour, such as sudden high-value purchases, unusual locations, or mismatched customer data. Advanced systems use machine learning to adapt over time, becoming more accurate as patterns shift. The best tools prevent fraud without blocking legitimate customers or adding friction to checkout.
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance is essential for any business handling card payments. A good provider will maintain PCI compliance on your behalf, minimising your scope of responsibility. This means your systems don’t need to store or transmit sensitive cardholder data, reducing liability and making audits easier.
Data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest. End-to-end encryption helps prevent interception, while strong access controls limit who can see or process payment data within your team.
Tokenisation replaces sensitive card data with a non-sensitive placeholder, or "token". If a tokenised record is breached, the data is useless to attackers. This approach is essential if you’re offering one-click checkouts or recurring billing, where cards are kept on file for future use.
By contrast, storing full card numbers yourself means you must meet strict PCI requirements and assume the risk of potential breaches. Most small businesses benefit from using a tokenisation service provided by their payment processor.
Offering cards-on-file can improve retention and convenience for your customers. But storing those cards, even as tokens, comes with added responsibilities. Ensure your provider supports automatic re-authentication, expiry tracking, and secure card updater services to maintain continuity without exposing your business to risk.
Also consider fraud risks around subscription services. Are there velocity checks or 3D Secure triggers for high-risk accounts? A well-rounded provider will include these features by default.
A comprehensive security setup protects more than just your bottom line, it builds customer confidence, keeps operations smooth, and helps your business scale safely.
Antom makes accepting card payments simple, online, in-store, or both. A single integration gives you:
You can go live quickly using Antom’s dashboard, and settle funds in your preferred currency.
Card acceptance is a must-have for small businesses. Whether you're just starting out or ready to simplify what you already use, understanding how it works puts you in control.
Antom brings together everything you need to accept credit cards without complexity. Speak to a payments expert and start processing credit card payments that suit your business and your customers.