How to receive credit card payments? Guide for digital businesses and growing companies

In this guide, we show you how to receive credit card payments, what you need to get started and what options exist to process payments securely and efficiently, whether you sell products, services or subscriptions online.

How to receive credit card payments?

Accepting credit card payments has become a necessity forany growingbusiness . Whether you sell products online, offer subscription-based services or are looking to grow in markets such as Latin America.

Having efficient alternatives for credit card processing is essential to provide a modern and secure shopping experience to your customers. Here are the main channels for receiving credit card payments:

• Card reader or physical point-of-sale (POS) terminal: ideal for face-to-face sales or small retail businesses. Includes mobile options and contactless payments (NFC).  
• Embeddedcheckout in web or app: allows you to integrate personalized payment forms directly into your site or app, improving the experience and conversion. Platforms such as Rebill allow you to integrate this type of payment in an automated and secure way, ideal for digital businesses, SaaS or subscription models that seek to scale in LatAm.
• Payment links: these are personalized links that can be sent via WhatsApp, email or social networks to get paid without an online store. If you are wondering how to get paid by card without having an online store, this is one of the most effective and fastest ways, especially if you use a payment infrastructure such as Rebill.
• In-app payments: integration of card payments directly into mobile applications, ideal for on-demand services or subscriptions.
• Electronic invoicing with integrated payment: send digital invoices with the option of immediate payment by credit card.
• QR codes: contactless option for charging at physical points of sale, fairs or events.
• Digital wallets: accept payments from electronic wallets such as Apple Pay or Mercado Pago, both in physical and online stores.
• Marketplaces and third-party platforms: use the payment infrastructure of marketplaces to sell and get paid easily in new channels.

What tools do you need to start charging by card?

To start charging with credit cards in your business, it is not enough to have a point-of-sale terminal. It is necessary to choose a payment processor that integrates advanced technology and functionalities that optimize the experience and operational management. Here we explain what tools you need to start charging cards securely and efficiently:

Online payment gateways

Beyond a simple virtual POS, payment gateways must have automation to manage authorizations, automatic retries in case of temporary failures, tokenization to protect payment information, anti-fraud policies and compliance with security regulations such as PCI DSS. 

Linked business bank account

A bank account is required where funds from card sales are credited. In many cases, a specialized merchant account is required to act as an intermediary to receive and manage payments before transferring them to your main account.

Multi-currency support and dynamic currency conversion

If your company operates or plans to expand into international markets, it is important that the platform allows payment methods in different currencies, in addition to offering customers the option to pay in their local currency.

Integrated point-of-sale and operational management system

A software or service provider that centralizes sales control, facilitates automatic reconciliation, manages refunds, cancellations and enables clear tracking of transactions.

Retry automation and failure handling

Modern platforms have mechanisms that automatically attempt to collect again when a transaction fails due to temporary causes (such as insufficient funds or technical problems), increasing the success rate without manual intervention.

Definition of the type of cards accepted and conditions

It is essential to decide which card brands you will accept (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, among others) and to know the commissions charged by each one. Also, evaluate whether you will offer additional benefits such as interest-free months or promotions linked to issuing banks, which can be a competitive differentiator.

This combination of technical and operational requirements ensures that your business can process credit card payments securely, efficiently and adapted to the current needs of the digital and physical market.

Advantages of accepting credit card payments

Incorporating credit card payment into your business not only expands options for your customers, but also brings multiple business and operational benefits that boost growth and efficiency. Here are the main advantages:

Increase in sales and average ticket

By offering a variety of payment methods, you make shopping easier for more consumers, including those who prefer not to carry cash or who are looking to finance their purchases. This increases both sales volume and the average amount per transaction, thanks to the possibility of deferred or installment payments.

24/7 access to online sales

Integrating payment gateways in your online store, app or social networks allows you to receive payments at any time, without time constraints. This opens up permanent sales channels and expands your reach to customers in different time zones or with nocturnal shopping habits.

Improved customer experience

Card payment solutions are fast, convenient and secure. Offering a seamless and reliable shopping experience increases customer satisfaction, fosters loyalty and reduces abandonment in the checkout process.

Possibility to offer financing and interest-free months

By enabling options such as installment or interest-free payments, you incentivize the purchase of higher value products or services and differentiate yourself from the competition, attracting consumers looking for payment facilities.

Security and operational control

Certified and tokenized payment services minimize the risk of fraud and enable detailed monitoring of all transactions. This facilitates the management of refunds, reconciliations and audits, providing greater transparency and trust.

Greater formality and professionalism

Accepting card payments projects a modern and reliable image of your business. This not only attracts more customers, but also improves the perception of your brand in the market and facilitates the relationship with suppliers and financial institutions.

Regional and international scalability

Payment platforms with multi-currency support and automation allow you to expand your business to new markets, adapting to different currencies and local regulations, which facilitates internationalization.

Payment and billing automation

Integrating systems that automatically manage recurring payments, e-invoices and retries in case of failures reduces the operational burden, improves cash flow and reduces administrative errors, optimizing the company's efficiency. 

Reduction of cash management

By accepting card payments, you reduce the need to handle large amounts of cash, which reduces associated risks such as theft, counting errors and administrative costs related to physical cash management.

Access to detailed reports and analysis

Payment platforms often offer real-time dashboards and reports that allow you to analyze sales behavior, identify trends and make informed decisions to optimize commercial and operational strategies.

Undoubtedly, having the ability to receive credit card payments is key to boosting your business in today's environment. Adopting technological solutions that facilitate secure payments positions you to take advantage of new opportunities and provide a better experience to your customers.

Do you want to receive card payments in an automated, secure way adapted to your business model? Talk to a Rebill expert and find out how to optimize your collections.