Merchant accounts and approval

Merchant Account Examples for a US Small Business: The phrase sounds abstract until you see it in use. Here are four everyday setups, plus what each processor's own page says about pricing and funding.
What a Merchant Account Solution Actually Is: A merchant account holds the money from card sales. A gateway moves the data. Here is how the two pieces fit and what one processor charges for them.
How to Get a Merchant Account, Step by Step: A gateway account clears on its own once the form is right. A merchant account is judged on your industry, your credit and how fast you answer questions.
How to Open an Authorize.net Merchant Account: A merchant account is the bank piece behind every card sale. Here is what Authorize.net's own pages say about getting one, from the two plans to the fees.
What a Clover Merchant Account Actually Is: You have seen the name on a card reader. Here is what Clover's own pages say a merchant account is, who approves it, and what happens after you apply.
How Do I Set Up a Merchant Account?: A merchant account is where card money lands before it reaches your bank. Here is what it is, what an underwriter checks, and the steps to get one live.
Setting Up an American Express Merchant Account: What an American Express merchant account is, whether your business needs a separate one, and what processor pages say about taking Amex cards.
What a Credit Card Merchant Account Really Is: The account that holds card money before it reaches your bank is not the same piece as the gateway that moves the data. Here is how the parts fit, and what you will see on pricing pages.
What a Merchant Service Account Actually Is: On Authorize.net's page, card money passes through a merchant account. Here is what that account does and what it costs.
Naming Every Merchant Account Fee on the Sheet: A pricing page reads like fine print until you can name each fee. Here is the full list, with Authorize.net's own published numbers as the worked example.
Merchant Account Charges, Named One by One: A merchant account statement can read like a puzzle. Here is each fee type named and sorted by when it hits your bill.
What a Merchant Account Provider Actually Is: The phrase bundles two things: the account that holds your card money, and the company that sets it up. Here is how to tell them apart, and what each processor's own page says.
What a Merchant Account Processor Does and Charges: A merchant account processor moves your card money from the sale to your bank. Here is the role explained, plus what five processors' own pages say they charge.
How the Merchant Account Process Works: A merchant account is what lets a business take cards. Here is what it is, what an underwriter checks, and how the setup steps run.