As you would when making any business decision, find a provider with a proven track record. Investigate their technical support options and hours. Make sure their rates are competitive within the industry and reasonable. Be wary of processors that advertise rates that are significantly lower than the rates others charge (chances are those rates will increase, or there are hidden fees they are not disclosing). Also, make sure they won’t cap your monthly processing volume. If you’re having a record month for sales, you don’t want to discover that you can’t accept any more payments without paying extra fees. Lastly, consider the specific needs of your business and make sure the merchant account provider offers the type of processing that you and your customers need.