whats involved in setting up an e-commerce site?

[neutrino]

Just wondering what's involved in setting up an additional page to a
clients website - for accepting payment for goods, I'm aware that I
could relatively easily set up a shopping cart system using Paypal, (
although still a little unsure of the fees ) on the other hand -
what's involved if it were a more direct "accept credit card for
payment" - does this involve the bank we'd be using, and what if any
would be the cost, fee, for setting up such a service, not for setting
up the site, just the actual ability to make payment via credit card.
what would be the easiest more effective option ot use?.
many thanks.

 

[Jim Buyens]

You need to have:

o Credit card processing sortware on your Web server.
o An agreement with the service bureau that will process your charges.
o A "merchant account", which is a special bank account that can receive
charges. However, for a fee, some service bureaus will receive charges
into a merchant account for you, and then transfer the funds in a manner
similar to direct desposit.

In many cases, the best approach is to check with your host and see if they
have a standard service offering that includes all this.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
o--> Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition: Build a Web Site
Now!
o--> Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
o--> Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Inside Out
o--> Faster Smarter Beginning Programming