QuickBooks Merchant Service for PCs

Q: How much does the service cost?
A: For pricing details, click here.

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Q: How do I apply for QuickBooks Merchant Service?
A: The application is easy to complete and submit. The application process takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Important: If there is no activity on your online application for more than 15 minutes, it will be automatically cancelled for your protection and you'll have to begin the application process again. Apply for the Merchant Service.

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Q: What will I need to apply?
A: You will need the following information about your business:

Q: How long does the application-approval process take?

A: Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by our credit underwriting department. In most cases, you will receive a decision on your application within two business days (often quicker). We will contact you via e-mail with a decision. Occasionally, a business will be asked to supply additional information in order for us to arrive at a decision. After receipt of any additionally requested information, you will be notified of a decision within one to five additional business days.

Upon application approval, your new merchant account must be activated at the bank and throughout the credit card processing network. This takes up to two more business days. You will receive another e-mail notifying you when your account has been activated. Once your account has been activated, you can start processing credit cards in QuickBooks.

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Q: How do I download my Merchant Service Fees into QuickBooks?
A: If you have QuickBooks 2006 or Enterprise Solutions 6.0 and higher, you can access Fees and Adjustments Download from the Make Deposits Screen or from the Customers Menu. All MasterCard, Visa and Discover® Network processing fees and any service related fees such as your monthly fee and chargeback fees can be downloaded. Simply select the fees you want to download and assign to the appropriate expense account. Fees are automatically debited from your bank account keeping your records up-to-date. Learn more.

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Q: What credit cards are accepted?
A: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Network, and JCB.

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Q: What is Virtual Terminal Plus and how does it work?
A: Virtual Terminal Plus is a feature of the QuickBooks Merchant Service which allows you to process credit card transactions anywhere you have a Windows PC and at least Internet Explorer 5.0—such as at a trade show, on the road, or at home. Learn more.

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Q: What is Automatic Credit Card Billing?
A: Easily set up recurring charges to your customer's credit card for weekly, monthly, quarterly, or other recurring charges. You must receive authorization from your customer first. Learn more.

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Q: Do I need to buy the card reader?
A:No, the card reader is optional. You may key-enter credit card numbers if you choose. Your transaction can, however, qualify for lower discount rates if you swipe cards instead of key-entering them.

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Q: Will I need to purchase any additional equipment or a terminal?
A: No. Your QuickBooks software contains everything you need to process credit cards upon approval. If you would like to take advantage of lower, card-swiped rates, you can purchase our optional card reader, sold separately, for a one-time fee. Learn more about the card reader.

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Q: Who is Innovative Merchant Solutions?

A: Intuit Inc. has acquired Innovative Merchant Solutions (IMS), a Calabasas, California-based provider of credit card and debit card processing services for small businesses. This acquisition allows Intuit to offer more payment capabilities and tighter integration into QuickBooks software providing a better experience for merchants and their customers. Founded in 1999, IMS offers a full range of merchant account services to small businesses nationwide.

QuickBooks Merchant Service customers who previously signed up with Chase will not be impacted–they can continue to process credit cards as usual.

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Q: How do I check the status of my application?
A: If you have questions about the status of your application, do one of the following:

• From the first page of the QuickBooks Merchant Service Application, click I need to finish an application I already started option, enter the e-mail address you used to create the application, then click Continue.
• Click the check the status of your application here link in the e-mail you received when you submitted your application.

Q: How do I set up QuickBooks Merchant Service?
A: Once your application is approved, you will receive an email with easy to follow step-by-step instructions on activating your account and to start accepting credit cards in QuickBooks. If you do not receive this email even after your account has been approved, contact customer service at (800) 558-9558.

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Q: How can I process credit cards in my Web-store?

A: Web-store solution providers listed on the partners' marketplace integrate with QuickBooks & QuickBooks Merchant Service. These solutions use QuickBooks Merchant Service to allow you to accept credit cards on your Web-store. In most cases, you can use the same account that you use to accept credit cards in QuickBooks to process in your Web-store.¹

The QuickBooks integration functionality provided by these vendors allows you to download order data including the credit card information directly into QuickBooks saving you time on data entry and providing greater accuracy.

For more information on the features of QuickBooks Merchant Service for the Web, click here.

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Q: What is the QuickBooks Merchant Service Terminal Offering?
A: QuickBooks Merchant Service also offers a terminal for merchants who prefer not to process credit card transactions through their PC. This offering also allows merchants to accept PIN Debit cards with the purchase of a PIN pad. With a QuickBooks Merchant Service terminal, you can download your credit card payments into QuickBooks. To learn more about this offering call 888-535-5490.

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Q: Can I keep my existing bank account?
A: Yes, you can have your credit card payments deposited into any business bank account that accepts electronic funds transfers.

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Q: How does your Merchant Service help me keep my bank records more accurate in QuickBooks 2006 and higher?
A: If you have QuickBooks 2006 or QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 6.0 and higher, you can enjoy great new tools that help you keep your bank records more accurate and up-to-date. Features included in QuickBooks 2006 and higher include:

• Funding Status. QuickBooks can tell you which credit card deposits have been funded to your bank account so that you never have to consult your bank statement to find out what’s available. Learn More.
• Fees Download. You can download your MasterCard, Visa and Discover Network processing fees and all of your merchant service fees directly into QuickBooks. Learn More.

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Q: How do I find out which payments have been funded to my bank account?
A: If you have QuickBooks 2006 or QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 6.0 and higher, it is easy to find out which payments have been funded to your bank account. When processing credit card payments, QuickBooks will group payments with undeposited funds instead of recording payments directly in your bank account. On the Payments to Deposit screen, payments are automatically grouped into batches. Simply select Get Funding Status on the bottom of this screen and QuickBooks will tell you which batches have been funded. You can accurately reflect deposited funds in your QuickBooks bank register without ever having to look at your bank statement. Learn More.

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Q: Can I use my existing merchant account?
A: No, you must apply for the QuickBooks Merchant Service. If you have any other type of merchant account, you'll need to apply for the QuickBooks Merchant Service to enter and process credit card payments that you accept from your customers in QuickBooks.

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Q: Can I use my existing QuickBooks Merchant Service account for my Web-store?
A: Yes, in most cases you can use the same account for all of your online and offline processing. While most other merchant account services require you to have separate accounts for your Web-store transactions and your offline transactions, with QuickBooks Merchant Services it is only $9.95 per month to add support for your Web-store to your existing account.¹

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Q: What is Billing Solutions?
A: When you enable Billing Solutions with your QuickBooks Merchant Service, you can e-mail invoices, statements and estimates to your customers. Your customers can then pay invoices online by credit card. Payments are automatically updated in QuickBooks so you never have to enter data twice.² Learn more.

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Q: My business is located outside the United States. Can I still use QuickBooks Merchant Service?
A: No, only U.S.-based companies with a U.S. bank account can use QuickBooks Merchant Service.

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Q: What is a card reader?
A: A card reader is a small device that plugs into a computer and can be used to read credit card information when you have a physical credit card at the time of the transaction. See a picture. The QuickBooks card reader can be used to transmit payment data either directly into QuickBooks or into QuickBooks Virtual Terminal. If you have a credit card at the time of the transaction and you swipe the credit card into a card reader or a terminal, you will qualify for lower rates.³ A card reader is different from a terminal in that a terminal plugs into a phone line and does not require a PC. There are many different terminal models available but most are significantly larger in size and more expensive than the QuickBooks card reader. For merchants, who want to process credit cards in locations that are not near a PC, QuickBooks also offers a terminal solution.

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Q: I have Online Edition; can I sign up for QuickBooks Merchant Service?
A: Yes. Online Edition customers can accept credit cards through QuickBooks Merchant Service provided by Innovative Merchant Solutions, LLC, an Intuit company. You can sign up directly through your Online Edition or click here to get pricing and to apply. Not all features described above are available with QuickBooks Online Edition.

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Q: Can I pre-authorize a credit card payment and capture the funds at a later time?
A: Yes, starting with QuickBooks 2008, you can validate and pre-authorize funds on a customer's credit card.⁴ Return to charge the card for the final amount at a later time, after the transaction has been completed.

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