How to choose bank account types and online payment services for ecommerce: checking, savings, debit/credit cards, PayPal, Stripe, cross-border providers, and modern accounting needs.
Web hosting is the backbone of modern websites and online stores. Today's hosting delivers domains, HTTPS, scalable compute, CDNs, and integrations with payment services like PayPal and Stripe - making it easier and cheaper to run a fully online business without a physical storefront.
Practical steps to start a small-business bookkeeping service or product online: pick a model, build a simple website, use cloud accounting tools, market with SEO and email automation, and guard against scams.
Third-party merchant accounts (payment facilitators and aggregated processors) let startups accept cards quickly but usually charge higher fees, impose reserves, and limit control. Use them as a short-term bridge while preparing to qualify for a direct merchant account.
Canada's merchant services have modernized: providers now offer online and in-person processing, multi-currency settlement, mobile wallets, and advanced fraud tools that let businesses compete globally.
Third-party merchant solutions - PayFacs, aggregators, and merchant cash advances - can get you processing quickly, but they often cost more and can strain cash flow. Read contracts, compare alternatives, and model repayment impacts before you sign.
Updated overview of how modern online shopping carts handle UX, payments (digital wallets, processors, BNPL), security (TLS, tokenization, PCI DSS), and merchant tools to reduce abandonment.