--- title: Virtual Terminal Credit Card Processing | PayJunction description: This comprehensive guide contains everything you need to know about virtual terminal credit card processing. Learn more here! image: https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/virtual-terminals-everything-to-know.svg --- [tel:1-800-601-0230](tel:1-800-601-0230) 800-601-0230 - Features - Solutions - Developers - [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) - Resources [See a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/tour-payjunction) Features - EXPLORE PRODUCTS [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) - ACCEPT PAYMENTS [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH Electronic Checks](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - EXPLORE CAPABILITIES [Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integration Marketplace](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Remote Signature](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) Solutions - [Veterinary Streamline payment workflows and get paid faster with up-front deposits and payment schedules for high-cost procedures. 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Get automated reports for simplified end-of-day close and save on processing fees.](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) Developers - [API Documentation See how to embed omnichannel payment features into your software, using your choice of our intuitive integration methods.](https://developer.payjunction.com/) - [Developer Experience Explore the developer journey and learn how our full-service partnership model helps you maximize merchant payment adoption rates.](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) - [No-code Payments Integration® Rapidly integrate payment acceptance features into any SaaS application in minutes using our easy-to-use Chrome browser extension.](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) - [Integration Marketplace Check out our growing marketplace of integrated solution partners that streamline payment acceptance and help businesses automate and scale.](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) Resources - [About Us Learn how our people-first culture at PayJunction helps us earn widespread recognition and awards.](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) - [Careers Join us in our pursuit to deliver exceptional experiences to customers and partners.](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) - [Support Get helpful information about how to use features, troubleshoot problems and contact us.](https://support.payjunction.com/) - [Blog Gain useful insights into payment industry trends and PayJunction solutions.](https://blog.payjunction.com/) - [Guides Up your payment processing knowledge with our in-depth eBooks and White Papers.](https://guides.payjunction.com/) - [Tutorials Read articles and watch videos about how to use valuable features on the PayJunction platform.](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/pj-university) # Virtual Terminal Credit Card Processing: A Complete Guide ![Virtual Terminal Credit Card Processing: A Complete Guide](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/virtual-terminals-everything-to-know.svg) [![Picture of PayJunction Team](https://blog.payjunction.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PayJunction%20Logo%20Cropped%20-%20Vertical%20Grey.png?width=48&height=48&name=PayJunction%20Logo%20Cropped%20-%20Vertical%20Grey.png) PayJunction Team](https://blog.payjunction.com/author/payjunction-team) 2/22/2022 ## What Is a Virtual Terminal? A Merchant Services Virtual Terminal turns any browser-connected device – desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone – into a cloud-based credit card terminal. Unlike a stand-alone credit card terminal and paper receipts, a Virtual Terminal allows you to accept payments from customers in person, over the phone, online and via mailed or electronic invoices. Transaction details are paired with customer information and stored digitally, giving you quick access to payment history. And you can access records and conduct business from anywhere: in the office, at home and on the go. This guide contains everything you need to know to get started: How a Virtual Terminal works, the types of businesses that benefit from a Virtual Terminal, important features to look for, the benefits of using a Virtual Terminal, what to look for when assessing payment processing providers that offer Virtual Terminals and Payment Gateways, and how PayJunction can help. ## How Does a Virtual Terminal Work? A Virtual Terminal integrates with your Merchant Service Provider’s [Payment Gateway](https://blog.payjunction.com/payment-gateway-process) and is typically accessed by logging into a secure online portal to take payments, issue voids and refunds, view transaction history, run reports and manage customers. Getting started is simple. Most businesses use a computer with a compatible browser and enter credentials provided by their merchant payment processor to log in, activate their account and begin using the Virtual Terminal. Account administrators can add users, assign roles, and set security and display settings to meet their business’ needs. They can define fields such as tips, tax, invoice number, billing/shipping information, and customer ID. Running a transaction is as simple as manually keying payment details into an online form. Once approved, receipts can be printed or emailed to customers.  It’s important to note that keying in transactions is considered a card-not-present (CNP) transaction, even for face-to-face interactions. The card brands rate CNP transactions riskier, and therefore they carry higher interchange fees. To help you reduce costs and run your business better, choose a Virtual Terminal that supports a connected Smart Terminal for in-person payments, as well as a provider that offers [ACH processing](https://blog.payjunction.com/ach-payment-processing). ## Payment Processing Demo Schedule 15 minutes with a payments expert Get a customized PayJunction product walk-through Understand requirements and pricing Determine your SAVINGS! GET DEMO NOW ## What Are the Best Advanced Features of a Virtual Terminal? There’s so much more you can do with a Virtual Terminal beyond using it to run one-time credit card transactions. Before you decide on a Virtual Terminal, it’s worth getting a detailed understanding of what a provider’s solution offers to ensure that it aligns with your business needs. The best Virtual Terminals support [omnichannel payments](https://blog.payjunction.com/omnichannel-payments), boost productivity, lower transaction costs, and improve the customer experience. Here are some of the most critical advanced features to consider: Payment Processing Capabilities - ACH Processing - If you sell high-ticket goods and services, [ACH payments](https://blog.payjunction.com/how-to-recieve-ach-payments) will save you money by bypassing credit and debit card processing rails and debiting funds directly from a customer’s bank account. - Commercial Cards – If you conduct business with businesses (B2B) or government agencies (B2G) that buy goods or services using corporate cards, purchasing cards or business cards, find a provider that supports Level 2 and [Level 3 processing](https://blog.payjunction.com/level-3-credit-card-processing). You can significantly lower interchange fees by sending line-item details on eligible transactions. - Remote Signature Capture – Digital signatures and receipts are efficient, and a signature can be important in case you have to deal with a disputed charge made from a payment taken online or over the phone. [Remote signature](https://developer.payjunction.com/hc/en-us/articles/217584168-Remote-Signature-Capture-Email) lets you capture this needed information via email and store it with the transaction history. Back Office Management Features Using a Virtual Terminal to accept payments offers multiple advantages over a traditional stand-alone credit card terminal. Here are some of the benefits you’ll realize: - **Convenient Access** – Connect to your Virtual Terminal from anywhere using your preferred browser like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. - **Consolidated Payments History View** – Streamline all payments, no matter how transactions are captured—in-person, online, over the phone, invoices, recurring billing. - **Elimination of Paper** -  Virtual Terminals store everything digitally so you can say goodbye to inefficient paper invoices, receipts, and manual billing processes. Plus, it’s good for the environment. - **Tracking Capabilities** – User activity can be logged with transactions and refunds so business owners have an audit trail. Limiting refund capabilities to supervisors or managers can guard against fraud, and tracing transactions to specific users can help business owners resolve issues faster. - **Sales Monitoring Capabilities** – Reconciling paper batch reports against the reflected bank deposit amount can be a major headache. A  Virtual Terminal lets you click into each individual batch to see the list of transactions by terminal, location or other criteria. - Streamlined Bookkeeping - Virtual Terminals [expedite bookkeeping](https://blog.payjunction.com/business-reporting-upgrade) by automatically generating batch, deposit and cumulative reports. If you’ve set up separate fields by department and location, you can generate specific reports to gain insight into your company’s sales trends and even compare year-over-year records. - **On-the-Go Access** – Manage your business and take payments from anywhere you have internet connectivity. Business owners who frequently attend trade shows or travel to different offices benefit from this flexibility. - Improved Cash Flow – Setting up [recurring billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) is simple and easy to customize. Obtain customers’ card or bank account information once, and set a payment schedule to collect payments on a weekly, monthly or custom basis. For one-off payments, a digital invoice request can be sent via email. - **Up-to-Date Technology** – Because a  Virtual Terminal is in the cloud, new features and enhancements can be introduced and available for all users immediately. No technology upgrades or swaps needed. What To Look For in a Virtual Terminal Merchant Account There are many Virtual Terminals, payment gateways and merchant providers in the market today. Do your homework to make sure that the providers you’re considering don’t lock you into unethical contracts and billing terms. Here are a few things to consider: - **End-to-End Provider** – Work with a payments provider that offers an end-to-end solution that includes an omnichannel Virtual Terminal, payment gateway and merchant processing, not one that uses third-party solutions. This will streamline processing, reports and customer service. It will also reduce costs. - **All-Inclusive Pricing** – Your processor makes money on the transactions that are processed. Look for a provider that does not charge product- or gateway-level fees. - **Great Customer Service** – If anything goes wrong, make sure that your processor gets high ranks for taking care of customers. You can simply Google “Payment Processor Name customer reviews” to see how other businesses like yours rate their provider. ## How PayJunction Can Help PayJunction provides businesses unparalleled service. That might simply mean getting professional advice from one of our payment specialists so you can better understand how you can improve your business operations with your current provider, or by switching to PayJunction. Either way, we are here to help your business succeed. ## Want to see a Virtual Terminal in action? That was a lot of information! What questions do you have about Virtual Terminals now? We'd love to explain this helpful solution in more detail! *Editor's Note: This post was originally published in December 2017 and has been updated for comprehensiveness and accuracy.* [Virtual Terminal](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/virtual-terminal) --- ##### [![4 Ways to Increase Customer Trust With Your E-commerce Checkout Process](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/ecommerce-checkout.svg) 4 Ways to Increase Customer Trust With Your E-commerce Checkout Process](https://blog.payjunction.com/ecommerce-checkout) ##### [![PCI DSS Compliance Requirements and Checklist](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/pci-dss-compliance-checklist.svg) PCI DSS Compliance Requirements and Checklist](https://blog.payjunction.com/pci-dss-compliance-checklist) ###### About Author ![Picture of PayJunction Team](https://blog.payjunction.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PayJunction%20Logo%20Cropped%20-%20Vertical%20Grey.png?width=200&height=200&name=PayJunction%20Logo%20Cropped%20-%20Vertical%20Grey.png) ### PayJunction Team Content written by the PayJunction team encompasses broad business topics including marketing, brick-and-mortar business operations and management. ###### Related Posts ## [![How Dr. Hrach Obtained Premier Merchant Services for Medical Offices](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/merchant-services-for-medical-offices-dr-hrach.svg) How Dr. Hrach Obtained Premier Merchant Services for Medical Offices It can be challenging to manage patient payments, especially if you operate a membership or concierge model for your medical practice.](https://blog.payjunction.com/merchant-services-for-medical-offices-dr-hrach) ## [![What Does Credit Card Processing Cost?](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-processing-cost.svg) What Does Credit Card Processing Cost? There are a number of payment providers that enable you to accept credit cards. Whether you interact with them directly or not, there are a handful of fees you have to pay for the privilege of accepting plastic.](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-processing-cost) ## [![Credit Card Payment Processing Fees Explained](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-processing-explained.svg) Credit Card Payment Processing Fees Explained If you’re running a business, you could be leaving a lot of money on the table by not accepting credit card payments. According to Intuit, not accepting credit cards can cost the typical business $7,000 in annual sales. At the same time, it’s easy to understand how the various fees and requirements of accepting credit card payments can make the prospect seem daunting and complex – and most of all, potentially costly.](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-processing-explained) ## Meet a Payment System You’ll Love - ###### FEATURES [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) - [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) [Remote Signatures](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) - ###### RESOURCES [Product Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Blog](https://blog.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Support](https://support.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) - [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) - ###### RESOURCES [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) ##### 800-601-0230 SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER  Become a better advocate for your business. 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