[header] How to accept credit cards without a merchant account [title] Understand how a third-party merchant works. [step] A third-party merchant is a company that accepts credit card payments on your behalf for a processing fee. The merchant will check the card, process it, and send you a monthly payment for the amount you are owed. 
The merchant does most of the work for you, allowing you to focus on developing your products, services and customers. [substeps] If you use a reputable third-party merchant, your customers are more likely to buy goods from you online if they know their credit card information will be secure and safe.