A person making a contactless credit card payment at a sidewalk café.

How to Accept Credit Card Payments

7 min read
Last Updated: July 15, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

  1. Both businesses and individuals can accept credit card payments.

  2. You can accept card payments in person, online, and from your phone.

  3. Merchants typically pay a fee for each credit card transaction.

The ability to accept credit card payments offers a lot of benefits, whether you’re running a business or taking a payment as an individual.

 

If you’re trying to figure out how to accept credit card payments, you probably have a lot of questions:

Is accepting credit cards worth it? Do you need a credit card reader? Can you accept cards on your phone? And how do you get started?

 

The best way to accept credit cards—and how you get set up to do it—depends on your needs.

Getting set up to take credit card payments

There are three main ways you can get set up to accept credit card payments:

1.   A merchant account at a bank can be a good option for businesses, but you’ll need to apply and support your application with documentation about your business.

 

2.   An account with a payment service provider (PSP) works for both businesses and individuals, and may be very easy to set up.

 

3.   A peer-to-peer payment app is great for individuals. There’s a good chance you’re already using one.

Do some research before making a decision on which is best for you.

 

Merchant accounts may offer lower fees, but you’ll probably need to register your business, get an employer identification number (EIN), and do other administrative tasks.

Payment service providers don’t require as much paperwork, but may charge more. If you don’t qualify for a merchant account, partnering with a PSP could be a great choice.

 

Peer-to-peer payment apps may also charge high fees, but probably don’t require a monthly subscription, which is nice if you don’t take many payments.

Look at the terms, conditions, and costs of the available options before deciding on the best way to accept credit card payments for your situation.

Choosing the best way to accept credit cards

There are several ways you can accept credit card payments.

 

Which is best? The answer depends on where and when you need to take payments.

 

If you’ll be taking payments in multiple places, you may want to use more than one of the following options:

In-store or on-site payments

There are two options for processing credit card payments in person:

Credit card processing machines, sometimes called credit card terminals or card readers, let customers tap, swipe, or insert credit and debit cards. They can be ideal for stores, restaurants, and other permanent locations.

 

Many modern credit card processing machines are considered point-of-sale (POS) systems and do more than just process cards. They can complete transactions, print receipts, manage inventory, and more.

Mobile point-of-sale systems, also called mPOS systems, can work well for mobile businesses without a permanent location. They could also be good for individuals who want to accept credit card payments unrelated to a business.

 

An mPOS could let you take credit card payments using a smartphone, tablet, or another handheld device. Sometimes, mPOS systems have fewer features than standard POS systems, so consider your needs before choosing one.

If you’re interested in taking in-person card payments, a peer-to-peer payment app may work. However, a card terminal or mPOS system may be better if you’re taking payments regularly. They may also offer more features that are useful to your business. Compare all the options before deciding.

Online credit card payments

Most online businesses rely on credit card payments. Even businesses with physical locations, like stores, restaurants, or art galleries, often make sales online. If you don’t want customers to mail a check, you’ll need to take online card payments.

Many website builders let you connect your site to a payment service provider. This lets you easily take online payments with little setup. Just connect your accounts and you’re ready to go.

 

Make sure your site platform and PSP offer security features like encryption for sensitive data. Most reputable providers do, but it’s important to protect your customers’ information, so it’s worth looking into.

Can you use your phone to accept credit card payments?

Yes, you can accept credit card payments from your phone.

 

One option for taking card payments on your phone is using an mPOS or PSP account. You may also be able to take card payments using a peer-to-peer payment app.

How to accept credit card payments on your phone

If you use a mobile point-of-sale system from a payment service provider, you’ll need to register with the provider and order a mobile card reader. You might be able to use the PSP’s app, as well.

 

To take payments with a peer-to-peer payment app, you just need to download the app and follow instructions for using a credit card.

What are the costs of accepting credit card payments?

If you accept credit cards, you’ll have to pay some fees.

 

First, you’ll need to get set up to take card payments. That may include spending money on a credit card reader or an mPOS. Your payment service provider or financial institution may also charge you a monthly fee.

You’ll probably pay credit card processing fees every time you take a payment, too. These transaction fees usually include the following:

  • Interchange fees. These fees go to the credit card issuer. They vary based on the issuer, the type of merchant, and other factors.
  • Assessment fees. Credit card networks like Discover® and other major networks charge a small fee on each transaction using their cards.
  • Payment processor fees. These fees go to the payment processor, the company that sends the customer’s card information to the card network and the banks involved in the transfer.

Did you know?

Transaction fees vary based on many factors, including the card issuer, the card network, payment processor, and more. Most transactions incur fees between 1.5% and 3%, but they could be higher or lower.

What are the benefits of accepting credit card payments?

With all the setup and fees, you might be wondering if it’s worth it to accept credit cards. Here are a few of the many benefits for businesses and individuals that accept credit card payments:

More convenience for your customers. Not having to carry cash or write a check makes your customers’ lives easier. If you’re taking payments from friends and family, they’ll appreciate it, too. You can also offer benefits like automatic payments for online customers.

 

Less manual bookkeeping. Because so much of the credit card payment process is automated, it could reduce the need for manual accounting. If you’re currently sitting down at the end of every business day or week to update your books, these automations could save you a lot of time.

Easier payments for friends and family. If you don’t have a business but you still want to accept payments from friends, family, or others, you can do so by accepting credit card payments. Sign up for a PSP or use a peer-to-peer payment app for easy card transactions.

Taxes, regulations, and other considerations

Accepting credit card payments may impact how you or your business file taxes and could subject your business to new regulations. When you begin accepting credit card payments, consider checking with an accountant or lawyer about changes to your taxes and any laws that may affect your business.

 

You’ll also want to keep detailed records of transactions, deposits, and invoices from sales. That includes cash, check, debit, and credit card sales.

The bottom line

Both businesses and individuals can accept credit card payments. You might open a merchant bank account, sign up with a payment service provider, or use a peer-to-peer payment app to accept cards. All these options have pros and cons.

 

Once you’ve chosen the best option, you can start taking payments in a permanent location, on the go, and even on your phone. Just remember that you’ll pay some fees, depending on how you decided to take payments. You’ll also want to keep detailed records for when it’s time to file your taxes.

Next steps

You may also be interested in

Share article

Was this article helpful?

Glad you found this useful. Could you let us know what you found helpful?
Sorry this article didn't help you. Can you give us feedback why?

Was this article helpful?

Thank you for your feedback