Today's consumer votes with their buying habits, and in tracking credit card use over the internet, that vote is resoundingly in favor of processing plastic. Well over 80 percent of goods and services bought over the ‘net are paid for with a credit card, and that number is expected to rise.

So with the decision concerning the wisdom of card services eliminated, the focus next should turn to the process of selection. And this is a step where many business people derail their efforts. They punch “credit card processing” into a search engine and get hundreds of vendors, all claiming to be “the best.” And what often happens is the Web-store owner freezes from the sheer number of choices or make a hasty decision.

Neither is good for business. Both can spell trouble. But the fix is easy.

First, take a fast look at four to six provider sites. Any site that is charging a fee for putting in your application should be moved right to the discard pile. Likewise move any provider asking for software fees, tech support fees – just about any upfront fee – to the reject side of your ledger.

Because you will find as you go through this process that the established legitimate companies are not going to charge there fees. They don't need to. They have built their businesses and reputations on superior product offerings, superior customer service and above-the-norm customer retention. These are the companies you want to consider.

And the next step at this point is to go to their Web sites and find out what they charge. All their figures should be easy to find and understand, and if you have questions there's a number for that, too – a toll-free phone number where you can call and ask a service representative to explain anything you don't understand. And don't be afraid to ask questions, as the good companies will do what it takes to earn your trust, not to mention your business.

This is also a great time to look at your business. What is the nature of your business? Are you presently processing several transactions per month, or is your business aimed at higher-priced items where quantities are not as great a factor for profitability?

This will become an issue when you start looking at what companies charge per transaction, which is one of the legitimate fees all providers do charge. If you're moving hundreds of items per month, the per-transaction fee need to be competitive. If not, look for a company with a lower monthly minimum.

Another important thing to look for is making sure that any company you do business with will be able to let you accept checks electronically as well, as you will still have customers that prefer that method. The good news here is that technology makes it possible to “accept” the check over the internet, as opposed to the “old” days of getting the check in the mail, depositing it into your bank and waiting for it to clear before you could access those funds.

And one last piece if good news – when you have found the company you want to do business with the application process will likely take less time that you spent opening your last checking account. Indeed, some businesses are processing card transactions within 24 hours of approval.