n the early days of Internet commerce, there was widespread concern that Web retailers were going to put brick-and-mortar retailers out of business. With the benefit of hindsight, we now know that is not the case. Web storefronts and physical storefronts are both integral to retail success. Merchants must be able to process transactions wherever consumers are willing to pay.

When it comes to the Internet, retailers need more than just a Web presence or a digital brochure directing would-be consumers to call or visit a physical location.

Retailers need a fully functional, e-commerce-enabled site that makes online shopping and purchasing quick and easy. Specifically, they need a feature-rich, easy-to-use gateway that includes a shopping cart system and a virtual terminal.

While all successful merchant level salespeople (MLSs) understand that they must offer the products and services merchants need, savvy MLSs find ways to make their offerings as profitable as possible. A company by the name of PaymentClearing.com can help MLSs and ISOs do just that.

PaymentClearing.com is one of the original providers of Internet payment acceptance services. Its shopping cart and virtual terminal solutions allow online merchants to accept checks, EFT payments and all payment card types. It provides services to tens of thousands of clients worldwide.

"One of our missions is to continue providing the most customer and merchant friendly payment gateway avaiable, with the ability for sales offices to private-label all of its features," said Matt Sumsion, the company's Vice President.

The father/son team of Allen Sumsion, Chief Executive Officer, and Michael Sumsion, President, founded PaymentClearing.com.

Previously, Michael was a small-business owner who processed MO/TO transactions and accepted COD payments. Out of necessity, he created a program to accept checks over the telephone. He took that technology and in 1994, with his father, founded RediCheck, the Internet's first provider of online check acceptance.

The Sumsions added credit and debit card acceptance services in 1997, making the company one of the first complete payment gateways on the Net. They later changed the company's name to reflect its expanded service offerings. Matt, Michael's brother, joined the family firm in 1999, and he spoke on behalf of the company for this profile.

More than 11 years later, PaymentClearing.com is still growing. "Our 400th sales office joined our reseller program this past year," Matt Sumsion said. "Also in 2005, the company's sales force, account numbers, processing volumes and revenues all reached their highest levels to date." PaymentClearing.com is outgrowing its main office in Bountiful, Utah, and is currently building larger corporate offices to accommodate increased personnel. It also employs sales representatives at satellite offices in Dallas and Seattle.

Self-branding at no extra cost

PaymentClearing.com understands how powerful MLSs and ISOs are in the retail space, so it works with them daily. One reason MLSs and ISOs of all sizes work with the company is that they don't need to be webmasters or Internet geniuses to use the company's products, and neither do their merchants.

No matter what their level of Internet expertise, MLSs can look professional, offer a complete product and earn a profit. That's because PaymentClearing.com offers ISOs and MLSs the opportunity to private label their solutions, so they can offer a self-branded gateway product to merchants ... and charge any amount for it. The best part is that the private-label options are available to ISOs and MLSs at no additional charge.

"Bundling a payment gateway/virtual terminal with the merchant account provides the merchant with essential services, gives the sales office an additional revenue source, and increases account retention," Sumsion said. "The ability to private-label the gateway gives the sales office the ability to strengthen its own brand instead of another entity's."

Also, ISOs and MLSs can customize the PaymentClearing.com program to meet their needs. Those looking for a quick solution can private label the "front end" virtual terminal/gateway; those with more technical expertise can build on the "back end" connectivity to create a completely customized payment solution.

"Our gateway/virtual terminal is your gateway/virtual terminal," Sumsion said. "Label it and sell it as your own. Pricing is extremely flexible; we are able to match or beat any other gateway's pricing."

PaymentClearing.com does not charge MLSs and ISOs sign-up or technical integration fees. And, there are no minimum account requirements; MLSs can start with just one account if they wish.

The PaymentClearing.com gateway also allows for automated recurring billing (via check and card payment). Processing occurs on PaymentClearing.com's secure servers, so neither merchants nor MLSs have to bear the burden of security.

A solution for merchants of all shapes and sizes

PaymentClearing.com's solutions make it easy for merchants to create and promote their sites, as well as accept a variety of payments. Therefore, ISOs and MLSs can offer PaymentClearing.com's products to any merchant, whether or not he or she currently has a Web storefront.

The company's products include:

• RediCharge: Real-time credit card acceptance
• RediCheck: Internet check payment acceptance
• RediEFT: Payment acceptance via electronic funds transfer
• RediCart: Web site shopping cart
• RediPromo: Web site promotion
• FormWizard: Web site order form creation.

ISOs and MLSs can present any of the above services as benefits to new and existing customers. Since PaymentClearing.com allows multiple payment options, merchants can increase sales and profits.

Merchants can also accept orders by telephone, fax or in person, which also helps to increase sales. Transactions take seconds, which saves time and, again, increases sales. Merchants receive payments quickly, and funds can be deposited directly into merchants' bank accounts.

The easiest way

Sumsion stressed that while other companies may offer Internet payment gateways, PaymentClearing.com is the only one that provides free branding.

"Sales offices that are not offering a private-labeled payment solution to their online merchants, or that are outsourcing the gateway/virtual terminal to another provider, are wasting a tremendous revenue opportunity," he said. "If agents or ISOs are not providing a gateway solution, they should be, and this is the easiest way."