3) For many this isn't an issue but for others it's huge. What is maximum amount (in dollars) that you can process each month? The standard is $20,000 to $25,000. Anything over that and merchant provider will shut down your account. This risk is too high for them especially for unproven, unsecured accounts.

4) They have option of shutting down your credit card processing. What is their criteria? What would cause them to shut down your account? Do they have to give you notice? Common sense says they must inform you before taking such as drastic step but I have seen it happen. Accounts have been closed and bank accounts frozen without a phone call, email or fax.

5) How are charge backs handled and what is fee for a charge back? Do you get chance to state your case or is money immediately refunded to customer without your approval? You will probably find that American Express and Discover will let you dispute charge back and work with customer. Visa/MasterCard don't always give you option.

6) Who is your point of contact? Get a name so you know who to go to with questions and issues after your application is approved. The person that processes your application through is not person that will have answers for you later on.

7) If you are using merchant services in conjunction with your web site, does merchant work with back-end of your site? Do you have to manually enter orders? For example, Yahoo!Stores only works with First Data linked merchant services. Innovative Merchant Services works with gateways such as Verisign and Authorize.net. QuickBooks and Chase Manhattan Merchant Services require manual entry but are processed online.

As far as merchant service providers go, I like Card Services International (http://www.cardservice.com) and Innovative Merchant Solutions (http://www.innovativemerchant.com). Both have good rates and have ecommerce as well as offline (traditional) processing options. In my opinion, it is better to go with a larger, well- established credit card merchant. Smaller firms have a tendency to have less customer service, more restrictions and less input from you.

Choose your merchant service provider wisely. Credit processing can have a huge impact on your bottom line.

Suzette Flemming is the CEO / CFO of Flemming Business Services. Providing financial direction to businesses since 1994. Learn how to save money and increase your bottom line by subscribing to our free newsletter ~ Make the Most of Your Money at www.FlemmingBusinessServices.com or give us a call with questions at (425) 432-5870.

"Orderliness is a character trait. Organisation is an outcome of that trait. Character qualities are learned behaviours that develop throughout our whole lives - not just while we are children."

"Yes, everybody can be taught organising one's life. It's only a question of changing habits, however, everything is connected. You cannot be a complete mess in your personal life and expect to be perfectly organised in your business life."

So you see it doesn't matter who or what you are, anybody can learn basic fundamental skills and experience daily benefits of being organised.

It's just a case of recognising that you need to improve in that area and as mentioned in one of comments, you have to have desire to change. Of course next thing you have to do is take action!

Then you too can experience benefits of being organised such as having more time to do what you want to, improved confidence, having more control over your life, reducing your stress and feeling good!

It's all up to you.

Lorraine Pirihi is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist and Leading Life Coach. Her business The Office Organiser specialises in showing small business owners and managers, how to get organised at work so they can have a life! This article may be reproduced providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio and all links. For further information please contact Lorraine Pirihi.