Merchant account providers help provide accounts to merchants. Banks are the most well known providers of merchant accounts. Also, there are third party merchant account providers that are extremely popular with international and Internet merchants. To become a successful merchant account provider, there are a few basics one needs to understand.

The merchant account provider requires the help of at least two other entities to grant a merchant account to a client. One is an ISO (Independent Service Organization) and the other is the underwriter. An ISO normally comes from the local debt collection. Their job is to verify the risks that come with granting the merchant account. They look at the operation of the applicant, as well his history and assets. Often, ISOs are also merchant account administrators, with the power to liquidate the merchant account in the event of something going wrong. The underwriter is typically a bank. Their responsibility lies with the cardholders. They reassess the website, the merchant's operations, and the report provided by the ISO. It is the underwriter that actually grants the merchant account to the applicant. Underwriters often request superficial and even structural changes to the merchant's website to protect the latter's interests.

The merchant account provider should be adept in dealing with high-risk accounts. These businesses include pharmacy accounts; adult accounts; travel accounts; telemarketing accounts, etc. They are high risk in nature because of their potential for unnecessary charge backs, legal violations, or they can simple give the merchant account provider bad publicity for accepting their kind of business.

Today, it is essential for someone wanting to become a merchant account provider to have some experience and knowledge with e-commerce doctrine, terminology and workings. Proficiency with computers is imperative.