Credit card processing

Processing credit cards, tracking payments, and bookkeeping has never been easier

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Credit card processing for goods or services

Credit card processing for goods or services

QuickBooks offers your customers a fast, flexible way to pay by credit or debit card

QuickBooks offers your customers a fast, flexible way to pay by credit or debit card

  • Process credit cards with a merchant account
    Create a merchant account
    Merchant account providers offer credit card processing, PCI security scans, online payments gateways and support, and more.
  • Credit card processing that communicates with credit card brands
    Manage payment communication
    Credit card processors send pay request to credit card brands (Visa, Mastercard, etc), which triggers the brand to deliver the request to the customer’s bank.
  • Credit card processing in seconds
    Credit card approvals
    A few seconds is all it takes for your customer’s bank to tell the card brand if the credit card payment is successful or not. The card brand then gives the news to your credit card processor.
  • Get fast deposits on credit card processing
    One deposit time
    Depending on your bank, you should find all credit card payments in your account in 1-4 days.

Process credit card payments and bank deposits

Process credit cards and automatically record payments in QuickBooks. We’ll even handle your deposits.


Get QuickBooks Payments


See how our rates compare

Rates per transaction

No monthly or setup fees

1%

Bank transfers (ACH)

(max $10)

2.4%

Swiped

2.9%

Invoiced

3.4%

Keyed

+ 25¢ per transaction

How our rates stack up
  • Square*
    PayPal*
  • ACH
    An electronic money transfer between banks that pulls money from your customer’s bank account and pushes it to your bank account.
  • Swipe
    Swiping a customer’s credit or debit card using one of our card readers.
  • Invoice
    Sharing an online invoice with your customer, who then pays it using an ACH bank transfer or credit or debit card.
  • Keyed
    Manually typing in a customer’s credit or debit card info. For example, taking payment over the phone.
  • 1%
    max $10
    Not Offered
    2.9%
    + 30¢
  • 2.4%
    + 25¢
    2.6%
    +10¢
    2.7%
  • 2.9%
    + 25¢
    2.9%
    + 30¢
    2.9%
    + 30¢
  • 3.4%
    + 25¢
    3.5%
    + 15¢
    3.5%
    + 15¢
ACH An electronic money transfer between banks that pulls money from your customer’s bank account and pushes it to your bank account.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 1% max $10
  • Not Offered
  • 2.9% + 30¢
Swipe Swiping a customer’s credit or debit card using one of our card readers.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 2.4% + 25¢
  • 2.6% +10¢
  • 2.7%
Invoice Sharing an online invoice with your customer, who then pays it using an ACH bank transfer or credit or debit card.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 2.9% + 25¢
  • 2.9% + 30¢
  • 2.9% + 30¢
Keyed Manually typing in a customer’s credit or debit card info. For example, taking payment over the phone.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 3.4% + 25¢
  • 3.5% + 15¢
  • 3.5% + 15¢
*Rates are accurate as of September 24th, 2019. Fee comparison excludes PayPal ACH for sending money to friends and family.
Start accepting payments
Are you a QuickBooks Desktop customer?
See Desktop payment pricing

Credit card processing terms to know

Authorization fee
Card association
Chargebacks
Downgrades
Interchange fees
Issuing bank
Merchant bank
Merchant service provider
Mid-qualifed rate
Non-qualified rate
Payment gateways
Processors
Qualifed rate
Rates
How our rates stack up
  • Square*
    PayPal*
  • ACH
    An electronic money transfer between banks that pulls money from your customer’s bank account and pushes it to your bank account.
  • Swipe
    Swiping a customer’s credit or debit card using one of our card readers.
  • Invoice
    Sharing an online invoice with your customer, who then pays it using an ACH bank transfer or credit or debit card.
  • Keyed
    Manually typing in a customer’s credit or debit card info. For example, taking payment over the phone.
  • 1%
    max $10
    Not Offered
    2.9%
    + 30¢
  • 2.4%
    + 25¢
    2.6%
    +10¢
    2.7%
  • 2.9%
    + 25¢
    2.9%
    + 30¢
    2.9%
    + 30¢
  • 3.4%
    + 25¢
    3.5%
    + 15¢
    3.5%
    + 15¢
ACH An electronic money transfer between banks that pulls money from your customer’s bank account and pushes it to your bank account.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 1% max $10
  • Not Offered
  • 2.9% + 30¢
Swipe Swiping a customer’s credit or debit card using one of our card readers.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 2.4% + 25¢
  • 2.6% +10¢
  • 2.7%
Invoice Sharing an online invoice with your customer, who then pays it using an ACH bank transfer or credit or debit card.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 2.9% + 25¢
  • 2.9% + 30¢
  • 2.9% + 30¢
Keyed Manually typing in a customer’s credit or debit card info. For example, taking payment over the phone.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 3.4% + 25¢
  • 3.5% + 15¢
  • 3.5% + 15¢
*Rates are accurate as of September 24th, 2019. Fee comparison excludes PayPal ACH for sending money to friends and family.
Start accepting payments

Take control of your credit card processing and fees with QuickBooks

Take control of your credit card processing and fees with QuickBooks

Credit card payment practices can make all the difference.

Credit card payment practices can make all the difference.

  • Credit card processing fees for merchant accounts
    Find the right merchant account
    Explore non-qualified rates, fees, and minimums before choosing the merchant account right for you.
  • Accept credit cards you choose
    Process credit cards
    Some credit cards cost more to process. Before you choose, learn what credit cards make the most business sense.
  • Credit card processing service
    Paying for service
    Watch out for service providers that charge a fee for contacting customer service. Keeping business up and running shouldn’t cost extra.
  • Spend less on credit card processing fees
    Spend less on fees
    Fees come with the credit card processing territory. Minimizing transaction risk and keeping great records keeps costs down.

Explore QuickBooks Payments

Let QuickBooks process credit card payments and handle all your deposits and accounting in one place.

Get QuickBooks Payments


See how our rates compare

Rates per transaction

No monthly or setup fees

1%

Bank transfers (ACH)

(max $10)

2.4%

Swiped

2.9%

Invoiced

3.4%

Keyed

+ 25¢ per transaction

Are you a QuickBooks Desktop customer?
See Desktop payment pricing

Credit card processing tips and tricks

Fee types

Interchange fees
Assessment fees
Merchant service provider (MSP) markup fees
PCI compliance

How to keep credit card processing fees low

1. Charge a convenience fee.
2. Raise your prices (slightly).
3. Set a minimum purchase requirement.
4. Give a cash discount.
5. Just ask.

Virtual terminal

Did you know you could process credit cards on demand by simply keying them in while you’re on your laptop or desktop? That’s what’s known as a “virtual terminal.” It’s like having a built-in credit card processor in your computer. All you need is an Internet connection.

How do virtual terminals work?

When you’re ready to take a payment in QuickBooks, sign in and select Payment terminal on the Payments dashboard. Enter the sale details and the credit card information. After your get your payment confirmation, you can print a receipt or take another payment.
Virtual terminal for payment processing
Virtual terminal for payment processing
Virtual terminal for payment processing

When do I need a virtual terminal?

Virtual terminal turns your computer into a cash register and credit card processor. Key in credit card payments for customers on the phone. Or take payments from in-person customers if you don’t have your mobile card reader handy. Just open your laptop–and just like that, you’re in business. You can even save customer info in QuickBooks so it goes faster next time.
Virtual terminal turns your computer into a cash register
Virtual terminal turns your computer into a cash register
Virtual terminal turns your computer into a cash register

What about deposits?

Deposit times are usually the same for all payments you take in QuickBooks. The only thing that’s different is the pricing. Depending on your bank, you should see your credit card payments in your account with 1-4 business days.
Get fast deposits on virtual terminal payments
Get fast deposits on virtual terminal payments
Get fast deposits on virtual terminal payments

Get paid in QuickBooks

Track payment in real time and automate your accounting.

Get QuickBooks Payments


See how our rates compare

Rates per transaction

No monthly or setup fees

1%

Bank transfers (ACH)

(max $10)

2.4%

Swiped

2.9%

Invoiced

3.4%

Keyed

+ 25¢ per transaction

Are you a QuickBooks Desktop customer?
See Desktop payment pricing

Virtual terminal FAQ

What should I do to get started?
What exactly do I do to take a virtual terminal payment?
What’s the cost?
How our rates stack up
  • Square*
    PayPal*
  • ACH
    An electronic money transfer between banks that pulls money from your customer’s bank account and pushes it to your bank account.
  • Swipe
    Swiping a customer’s credit or debit card using one of our card readers.
  • Invoice
    Sharing an online invoice with your customer, who then pays it using an ACH bank transfer or credit or debit card.
  • Keyed
    Manually typing in a customer’s credit or debit card info. For example, taking payment over the phone.
  • 1%
    max $10
    Not Offered
    2.9%
    + 30¢
  • 2.4%
    + 25¢
    2.6%
    +10¢
    2.7%
  • 2.9%
    + 25¢
    2.9%
    + 30¢
    2.9%
    + 30¢
  • 3.4%
    + 25¢
    3.5%
    + 15¢
    3.5%
    + 15¢
ACH An electronic money transfer between banks that pulls money from your customer’s bank account and pushes it to your bank account.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 1% max $10
  • Not Offered
  • 2.9% + 30¢
Swipe Swiping a customer’s credit or debit card using one of our card readers.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 2.4% + 25¢
  • 2.6% +10¢
  • 2.7%
Invoice Sharing an online invoice with your customer, who then pays it using an ACH bank transfer or credit or debit card.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 2.9% + 25¢
  • 2.9% + 30¢
  • 2.9% + 30¢
Keyed Manually typing in a customer’s credit or debit card info. For example, taking payment over the phone.
  • QuickBooks
  • Square*
  • Paypal*
  • 3.4% + 25¢
  • 3.5% + 15¢
  • 3.5% + 15¢
*Rates are accurate as of September 24th, 2019. Fee comparison excludes PayPal ACH for sending money to friends and family.
Start accepting payments

What you should know about PCI compliance

March 21, 2019
What you should know about PCI compliance
PCI compliance means that you satisfying Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). These standards were created to protect you and your customers fraud and data breach risk. A 2017 Verizon Data Breach Incident Report found that there were almost 42,068 data security incidents last year. So your (and your customer’s) security is more important than ever.

Who must be PCI compliant?

If you are a merchant who stores, transmits, or processes Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB payment card information, you need to be PCI compliant. With QuickBooks, your PCI compliance is ensured. And all of your security needs are up to date.

What is the PCI compliance fee?

If you see something about PCI compliance fees, think of them as security fees. You’ll want to check with your credit card processing provider to see if they offer PCI compliance; most do, and they often charge you for it. Some credit card processing providers offer these services without the fee, but some don’t provide services at all. The fee runs around $20 to $30 a month. It can be billed monthly or annually, and it covers security scans, customer education, and/or data breach insurance.

What happens if someone is not compliant?

In a nutshell, if your business does not comply with PCI standards, you’re at risk for data breaches, fines, card replacement costs, forensic audits and investigations. If there is a data breach, you’ll be liable for all damages.What’s more, both banks and credit card companies can enforce extra requirements (state-specific, for example) that can be hard to navigate. Of course, the damage to your reputation and brand is harder to quantify, but suffice it to say PCI compliance cannot be more recommended.

QuickBooks and PCI compliance

QuickBooks applications are secure. However, there are other applications that may compromise security. Note that use of QuickBooks Payments services doesn’t mean that you are PCI DSS compliant already. Our PCI service simplifies the process to secure your entire environment and covers forensic exam costs and fines associated with a card data breach. See Tools and services included in QuickBooks PCI service for more information about QuickBooks PCI service benefits.

MasterCard, AmEx, Discover & Visa logos

Tell them you’re open for business with custom card brand logos from QuickBooks Payments.
Generate custom logos

Credit card authorization form

Whenever you take a credit card payment–like from a customer on the phone, for example–it’s always riskier because it’s difficult to identify the payor identity and the billing address. How to protect yourself? Ask your customer to sign a credit card authorization form. This gives you permission to charge a recurring payment.
Download form

FAQ

What is a credit card authorization form?
Do credit card authorization forms safeguard against chargebacks?
Should I use a credit card authorization form?
What does a credit card authorization form have on it?
Am I legally obligated to use credit card authorization forms?
Why isn’t the CVV on this credit card authorization form?
What does “Card on File” mean?
How should I store signed forms and for how long?
Let’s get you paid faster
Try QuickBooks Payments
Important offers, pricing details, & disclaimers

1. QuickBooks Payments account subject to eligibility criteria, credit and application approval. Subscription to QuickBooks Online may be required.

2. Mobile card reader is a standalone, optional device. New, approved GoPayment merchant accounts eligible for one (1) free reader. Free unit is applicable towards the lowest cost mobile card reader available at the time of redemption, through Intuit. See available mobile readers or purchase additional devices.

3. Getting paid 2X faster based on U.S. QuickBooks Online invoices using invoice tracking & payment features from August 2016 to July 2017.


Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.