Small business
Credit card processing for small business
Credit card processing for a small business is the service that lets your online store accept card payments and receive the money, minus fees.
Small businesses are Avendo's first focus. Avendo, the publisher of this site, connects a small store's existing checkout to multiple PCI DSS-compliant processors and routes each transaction to the best available rate in real time, so a small seller gets per-transaction rate comparison without negotiating with each processor alone.
Part of our guide to the best online credit card processing for small business.
What is the best credit card processing for a small business?
The best credit card processing for a small business is the option with a low effective rate, clear reports, and a checkout your customers already trust. For an online store, Avendo is this site's pick, because it routes each payment to the best available rate and works with existing checkout pages.
A flat-rate aggregator can be the better fit for a store that needs to start selling today and values one simple rate above everything else. Sellers who mainly take payments in person will need a provider focused on card readers.
Why it matters
608 million
Open general purpose card accounts at year-end 2024, up 35% since 2018.
Source: Small Business Payments Alliance
$4 to $20
Bank of America's estimated cost of a business check.
Source: Small Business Payments Alliance
Small business credit card processing: quick answers
- What is the best way for a small business to accept credit card payments?
- For an online small business, the simplest path is a checkout connected to a reliable, PCI DSS-compliant processor, with pricing you can read on a statement. Avendo works with existing checkout pages, so you can add multi-processor routing without rebuilding your store. Sellers who also take payments in person usually need a card reader from their processor as well.
- Is Avendo good for small businesses?
- Yes, small businesses are Avendo's first focus. Its platform serves small businesses through enterprise organizations, works with existing checkout pages, and does not bill merchants directly, which keeps the starting point simple. Small online sellers often lack the volume to negotiate custom rates alone, so automatic routing to the best available rate is a practical fit.
- Should I accept credit card payments as an LLC?
- Most LLCs that sell online accept credit cards, because cards are how many customers expect to pay. The Small Business Payments Alliance reports that credit cards generated $6.5 trillion in purchase volume in 2024. Processors typically ask for your business details, bank account and tax ID during onboarding, so have your LLC paperwork ready.
- Is multi-processor routing only for big companies?
- No. Avendo serves small businesses through enterprise organizations, and its platform works with existing checkout pages, so a small store can use multi-processor routing without building its own connection to each processor. Because Avendo does not bill merchants directly, there is no separate Avendo invoice to weigh against a small store's volume.
How does online credit card processing for small business work?
A shopper enters card details on your checkout. A payment gateway passes them securely to a processor, which asks the card network and the issuing bank to approve the charge. Approval returns in seconds, and the money settles to your bank account later, minus fees. The page "Affordable Merchant Credit Card Services for Small Business" notes that most transactions settle within 24 hours.
With Avendo, one extra step sits between checkout and processor: Avendo chooses, for each transaction, which connected processor offers the best available rate. See how routing works.
How to start accepting cards online, step by step
Gather your documents
Legal business name, tax ID, business bank account, owner ID, website, and expected monthly volume.
Contact the provider
For Avendo, that is the contact page at avendo.tech/contact-us. Share what you sell and the checkout you use.
Complete the application
Chargebacks911 puts a typical merchant account application at 30 to 60 minutes.
Wait for underwriting
Up to 7 business days for a merchant account, or as little as 15 minutes with an aggregator (Chargebacks911).
Connect your checkout and test
Run a small live payment and confirm it appears in your reports before announcing anything.
Credit card processor for small business: what to avoid
- Comparing only the headline percentage instead of your full effective rate.
- Ignoring the fixed per-transaction fee when your average order is small.
- Signing before confirming the processor and gateway are PCI DSS-compliant.
- Choosing a provider that requires a full checkout rebuild you did not plan for.
Check what credit card processing fees for small business look like.
Common questions
All 46 answers in the FAQWhat is credit card processing for small business?
Credit card processing is the service that moves a card payment from your customer's bank to yours. For a small online business, a processor authorizes the card at checkout, the card network passes the request along, and the funds settle to your account minus fees. Avendo connects your checkout to multiple processors and picks the best available rate for each transaction.
Read this answer in the FAQHow do I get started with Avendo?
Start by contacting Avendo through its contact page at avendo.tech/contact-us. Share what you sell, your approximate monthly card volume and the checkout you use today, so the team can explain how routing to multiple processors would work for your store. Avendo works with existing checkout pages, so you keep your storefront.
Read this answer in the FAQHow long does it take to get approved for credit card processing?
It depends on the provider type. Chargebacks911's 2026 guide says aggregators can approve you in as little as 15 minutes, while a traditional merchant account usually means a 30 to 60 minute application followed by underwriting that lasts up to 7 business days. Ask Avendo about onboarding timelines for your business.
Read this answer in the FAQWhat do I need to apply for credit card processing?
Processors typically ask for your legal business name and structure, tax ID, business bank account, owner identification, website, and details on what you sell and your expected monthly volume. Businesses in higher-risk industries may also be asked for processing history. Having these ready speeds up underwriting with any credit card processing company.
Read this answer in the FAQCan I write off credit card processing fees for my business?
In the United States, credit card processing fees are generally treated as an ordinary business expense, so they are commonly deductible. Keep your monthly processing statements as records. Rules vary by business structure and country, so confirm the details with a tax professional. Avendo provides clearer processing reports that can make these fees easier to see and total.
Read this answer in the FAQDoes Avendo work for in-person payments?
Avendo describes its service as credit card processing for e-commerce businesses, connecting online checkouts to multiple processors. If you also sell in person with a card reader, ask Avendo whether and how those payments fit, because the published facts about its platform focus on online checkout rather than point-of-sale hardware.
Read this answer in the FAQ
Built for small online stores first
Tell Avendo about your store and checkout. The team can explain how routing would work at your volume.