I am thinking about getting a job selling credit card processing. It seems like an extremely competitive field, and I suspect there is a lot of turnover, and I am looking for a little info from somebody that has experience in this area.
Is it a good opportunity?

Selling credit card processing contracts & equipment to business owners. I have experience in this industry and know how it works, but I have never been on the sales end. The salary is 100% commission plus residuels.
Please only answer if you have experience in the field.
Also, what is your typical work week like?

I have a small restaurant business that makes around 300k a year. I am thinking about accepting credit cards because many customers want to use credit cards but we only accept cash. How much would the startup costs be for getting a credit card system in place? Also, how much roughly are monthly fees and how much are transaction fees (estimates are fine)? Are there any contracts when signing up for credit card processing? In all honesty, would it be best for me to stay cash only or would it be better (again in your opinion) for me to go with a credit card system.

One more thing, we are more of a seasonal business in that we get most of our customers (about 75% of our income) during May-August and in November-January. Other months the business is slow.

My credit card processing company unilaterally charged me a higher discount rate than we agreed. My first monthly bill reflected this. Any idea why such a legitimate business company would do this?

Have you ever worked for a credit card processing company as a representative trying to open new accounts for credit card processing terminals? Did you have success with it? Make money? Competitive business?

I have already made some initial inquiries at credit card processing companies. Most of them suggested that I buy credit card equipment. Is this the right way to go?

Any web designers that have enabled credit card processing on a website, how do you do it? Do you just crearte a order form and have the customer’s info sent to the site’s e-mail address, or do you have to do something really complicated?

I get the impression that my merchant friends attain financial success because of credit card processing service. Is this all I need to to be successful in my business?

It has only happened a few times, but I remember watching a news expose on stores and gas stations charge the credit card fee to the customers.

Does anyone know if this is legal? It recently happened to me at a fast food restaurant (Church’s Chicken).

First they wouldn’t take a credit card (only debit), then they asked for my pin (WTH?), then after processing it, they told me there was a $0.79 processing fee for debit transactions.

I am now with Nova credit card processing through Costco and they are charging me 1.99% per transaction. My business is not able to swip the card as we are a manufacture and deal with stores all over the USA. We now use the internet to process our charges and need no equipment.