Merchant Accounts For SEO, SEM & Ad Agencies

An Overview

Search Engine Optimization & Marketing Credit Card Processing

Why We Proudly Accept SEO & SEM Businesses (Even When Many Processors Don’t)

Many credit card processors do not accept SEO and SEM businesses, primarily for two reasons:

1. The first is that the nature of the product or service being sold, is generally “big ticket” (high dollar). It is expensive to provide consulting services in the areas of search engine optimization, PPC/SEM, Facebook Ads, etc. As such these services often the target of fraud wherein customers will purchase and receive the service, then refuse to pay for it after the service has already been rendered, by means of initiating a chargeback. These “bad apple” clients, even if concentrated within a relatively small number of SEO/SEM agencies, have cause many other credit card processing companies to refuse work with such agencies.
2. Second, internet-based B2B services are challenging to a third party to objectively judge or verify. Consequently, it’s very easy for any client to initiate and then *win* a chargeback dispute, even if the client actually received the service  in question.

Many merchant account companies therefore prefer to work only with retail-based businesses that sell physical products, where initiating and winning a chargeback dispute is much more challenging for the consumer.

Soar Payments, by contrast, has been proud to serve the SEO & SEM industry since our company’s inception. Our extensive relationships with credit card processors and sponsor banks who specialize in underwriting businesses with increased chargeback exposure, enables us to confidently support SEO and SEM agencies. Moreover, our fully integrated chargeback and fraud prevention solutions, uniquely position Soar Payments to help protect our merchants from some of the inevitable risks endemic to this industry.

SEO & SEM Agency Software Integrations

Enjoy Seamless Integration With Leading SEO And SEM Agency CRM & Software Suites:

Soar Payments SEO & SEM merchant accounts, either directly or via a payment gateway, are compatible and integrate with the following CRM and software platforms frequently used by businesses in the online marketing industry:

ClickFunnels, InfusionSoft, OntraPort, Volusion, WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify, BigCommerce, Zoho, and Salesforce.

We’re Also Compatible With Many Other CRM & Software Suites.

Soar Payment’s SEO & SEM agency merchant accounts can be also integrated with most other software or CRM platforms which are compatible with the Authorize.net, NMI, or USAePay payment gateways. Don’t see your preferred software? For questions about how to integrate your preferred SEO or SEM related CRM or online shopping cart software, contact our sales team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are common questions specific to SEO & SEM merchant accounts:

• What types of SEO and SEM industry businesses do you accept?

  Soar Payments accepts a wide range of retail, eCommerce and mobile-based companies within the SEO and SEM industries. These include search engine optimization and marketing agencies, consultants who specialize in AdWords, Facebook Ads, PPC, or reputation management, plus local internet marketing firms that assist SMBs and startups. As contrasted with the “big guys,” Soar Payments is deeply familiar with the various niches within the internet marketing world.

• Is there a transaction ceiling for SEO & SEM merchant accounts?

  We know that SEO and SEM services often cost thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars, and being able to accept credit card payments ensures your business can complete sales it might not otherwise make. Therefore, we let you tell us how much your high ticket products cost when you apply for a merchant account, and when an underwriter reviews your application, it will be reviewed with your business’ specific transaction ceiling in mind.

• What criteria does my SEO or SEM business need to meet, to be approved for a merchant account by Soar Payments?

  To be approved, SEO or SEM businesses must meet the the following criteria: must not offer tech support services, or virus support / software; must not make outbound calls to obtain customers (inbound marketing only); must have chargeback ratio below 2%; must be based in the USA (and owners must also themselves be based in the USA); subscription length must be 12 months or less (no subscriptions over 12 months).

Want more information? Click here to read our extended list of our FAQ.

Types Of SEO & SEM Merchant Accounts

Soar Payments offer a full-spectrum of merchant services to search engine optimization companies, Facebook Ads or Adwords agencies, and other SEM and internet marketing consulting firms. These include:

• Retail
• Mobile
• Virtual Terminal
• eCommerce

Retail Payments

A retail merchant account for SEO & SEM enables businesses to accept face-to-face debit and credit card payments via a traditional credit card machine or point of sale system.

Ideally suited to a storefront or retail setting with reliable internet access, retail SEO & SEM processing accounts typically have the lowest chargeback and fraud risk and as a result are afforded the lowest credit card processing pricing.

Apply Now To Accept Retail Payments

Mobile Payments

A mobile merchant account for SEO & SEM enables your business to accept face-to-face credit and debit card payments via a swiper (included with each account) that plugs into your mobile phone or iPad.

Appropriate for businesses that frequently conduct face-to-face sales outside of a storefront, such as at networking events or internet marketing conferences, mobile accounts are priced similarly to retail, due to their lower chargeback risk.

Apply Now To Accept Mobile Payments

Virtual Terminal Payments

Also called a payment gateway merchant account, a virtual terminal enables businesses to accept payments over the phone, via mail, or typed into a computer (without needing outside equipment).

An SEO & SEM payment gateway account is ideal for businesses that accept payments over the phone, or via mail order. Virtual terminal payments are particularly vulnerable to fraud, therefore Soar Payments offers integrated chargeback protection.

Apply Now To Accept Virtual Terminal Payments

eCommerce Payments

An eCommerce SEO/SEM merchant account allows you to accept credit card payments via your website’s online shopping cart.

Our eCommerce credit card processing accounts integrate seamlessly with most major payment gateways and shopping cart software, making setup simple. Online marketing service charges payments are vulnerable to fraud and chargebacks, consequently, we offers pre-integrated fraud protection technology.

Apply Now To Accept eCommerce Payments