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North American Bancard
Monday, November 22 2021
Should You Buy Merchant Services Leads?

After I released a post about finding leads, I had a sales agent come to me and ask me about paying for leads. He asked where he could go to get some decent prospects. I responded that he had a few options, such as using a professional lead-generating service or hiring someone to be a telemarketer for his company.

Well, he mentioned that he had used an online lead-providing service before, but that it had just been a waste of money since the quality of the leads were very poor and the conversion rate was awful. So I sat there trying to think of something else that he could try, but my mind just stayed blank. It's not like I'm a newbie in this industry. I've been around for years, and I've networked with many other professionals in that time, and yet I couldn't think of a single source of paid leads that would be worth it. That just goes to show how low-quality most paid leads are.

Few jobs are perfect. And though I love my job very much, there are a few annoyances that I am faced with now and again. One of those consistent annoyances is exactly this problem when I'm trying to teach salespeople how to succeed. You see, I know that they can do it. I've been around long enough that I know that just about anyone can make something of themselves in this field with the right strategy. I even know what that strategy is!

See, this is the annoying part: I might tell 10 sales agents about my methods, and only 5 of them will agree to use the strategy. Out of those, maybe 1 will follow through. The funny thing is, that one agent will have great success and tell me all about how my strategy works, but I can't help but wonder what I'm doing wrong that I can't induce the rest of this hypothetical group of sales agents to follow suit.

My point is that getting paid leads is a bad strategy. I'm not saying that my strategy is the end-all, be-all, but it's one that works. You can make much better leads yourself than relying on a potentially shady company to generate them for you. In fact, let me see if I can show you how my strategy works by presenting it to you as a job offer. Take a look:

Looking for a highly independent sales agent who can really put in the time to find quality leads and follow through with them. About four hours a day spent looking for new merchants and three or four hours spent following up with prospective and current customers. Pay starts at $4000 to $6000, but increases incrementally by $500 every month. After spending about a year working the job, you can keep growing your income, opt for a 6-figure severance package, or just keep working with your current customers and receive about $3000 every month for about five or six hours of work per week. Must be willing to:

  • Visit 20 new merchants per day.
  • Work from 9 to 5 every day, and no more.

Now, does this sound like a job you could do? If so, then go ahead and do it; the position is open!

Don't waste your time trying to find out where you can get the best paid leads. That is what the rest of your newbie competitors are doing, and they're not seeing any results. The best leads are the ones that come from you.

Some of the best strategies are the “dumbest” ones that require no special “secret.” Honestly, the key to creating quality leads is to walk around and look for them! Forget about trolling through online lists. Take to the streets and show your face. Meet merchants in person and learn about their problems. You don't have to close the deal every time you meet a merchant. Even just getting them interested and inserting them into your sales funnel—for example, via an email campaign—can yield a great amount of quality leads.

Another way that you can do this is to build an online presence and get leads from your website. This is also valuable because your lead has already shown basic interest in your product, so your conversion rate is bound to be higher than a paid lead. Generating leads from your website is a whole other concern that we can discuss another time, though. For now, just know that nothing beats meeting people face-to-face and vetting the leads yourself!

Posted by: Scott Shaw AT 06:40 am   |  Permalink   |  Email

How to Start a Payment Processing Business?

Starting a payment processing business can be a lucrative venture, but it requires careful planning and consideration. The first step in starting a payment processing business is to conduct thorough market research to understand the demand for payment processing services in your target market. This research can help you identify potential competitors, determine pricing strategies, and pinpoint the needs of your target customers. Once you have a solid understanding of the market, you can begin to create a business plan that outlines your goals, target market, revenue projections, and marketing strategies.

After developing a business plan, the next step in starting a payment processing business is to choose a payment processor to partner with. This partnership is crucial, as the payment processor will handle the actual processing of transactions, so it is important to choose a reliable and reputable company. Additionally, you will need to secure any necessary licenses and permits to legally operate your business. Once you have everything in place, you can begin marketing your services to potential clients and building relationships with merchants who may benefit from your payment processing solutions. With hard work, dedication, and a strong business plan, you can successfully launch and grow a payment processing business.

With the rapid growth of e-commerce and online transactions, the demand for payment processing services has increased substantially. White label payment processing is a business model where a company offers payment processing services to merchants under their own brand name.

What is White Label Payment Processing?

White label payment processing is a service where a company provides payment processing services to merchants under their own branding. This means that the merchant will see the payment processor's branding, but the processing service is actually provided by a third-party company.

The white label payment provider takes care of all the technical aspects of payment processing, including payment gateways, security, and compliance, while the merchant focuses on growing their business.

Advantages of White Label Payment Processing:

  • Flexibility: White label payment processing allows merchants to customize the payment process to meet their specific requirements.
  • Branding: Merchants can ensure that the payment process aligns with their brand image, enhancing customer trust and loyalty.
  • Cost-effective: White label payment processing eliminates the need for merchants to invest in developing their payment processing system, saving them time and money.
  • Technical support: White label payment processing providers offer technical support to merchants, ensuring a smooth payment process.

How to Start Your Own Payment Processing Company

  • Research the Market: Before starting your payment processing company, it's crucial to research the market to understand the demand, competition, and potential opportunities.
  • Develop a Business Plan: Create a detailed business plan outlining your target market, revenue model, marketing strategy, and financial projections.
  • Obtain the Necessary Licenses: To operate a payment processing company, you will need to obtain licenses from regulatory authorities. Ensure you comply with all legal requirements.
  • Choose a White Label Payment Processing Provider: Select a white label payment processing provider that meets your requirements in terms of features, pricing, and customer support.
  • Customize Your Branding: Customize the payment processing service with your branding and integrate it seamlessly with your website or platform.
  • Market Your Services: Promote your payment processing services to merchants through marketing campaigns, partnerships, and networking events.
  • Provide Excellent Customer Support: Offer excellent customer support to merchants to build long-term relationships and grow your business.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Registered ISO for Merchant Services?

To become a Registered ISO (Independent Sales Organization) for merchant services, there are several costs involved, including:

  • Registration Fees: The registration fee to become an ISO can range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the payment processor and the services offered.
  • Compliance Costs: ISOs are required to comply with industry regulations, which may involve additional costs for training, audits, and certifications.
  • Technology Costs: ISOs need to invest in technology infrastructure, including payment gateways, security systems, and software development.
  • Sales and Marketing Costs: ISOs need to allocate budget for sales and marketing activities to promote their merchant services and attract new clients.
  • Miscellaneous Costs: Other costs may include insurance, legal fees, and operational expenses.

In conclusion, white label payment processing is a valuable business opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter the payment processing industry. By partnering with a white label payment processing provider, you can offer payment processing services under your brand name, providing a seamless experience for merchants. Starting your payment processing company requires thorough research, planning, and investment, but with the right strategy and dedication, you can build a successful business in this growing industry.

    North American Bancard is a registered ISO of BMO Harris Bank N.A., Chicago, IL, Fresno First Bank, Fresno, CA, and Citizens Bank N.A., Providence, RI.

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