There are a number of payment options for your online stores.  If you are already accepting payments through an off line business, then this may not be quite as big of an issue because you already have a payment processor that can be used online.  Most people tend to look for some type of 3rd party payment processor that is naturally designed to integrate with your website easily.  The three most popular payment options are Paypal, Google Checkout, and 2Checkout (2CO).  Here is a quick overview what they have to offer.

Paypal

Paypal is probably the best known online 3rd party payment processor.  Over the years, there have been a lot of complaints about Paypal, especially by people selling digital products, however it seems like they are consistently becoming a more reliable service.  If you are dealing with a market that is not very internet savvy, then you can still feel comfortable using Paypal because it is a well known name and will instill a sense of trust.  Plus, it accepts a wide variety of different payment methods.

The biggest benefits of using Paypal as a payment option for your online stores is that it has been proven to be extremely reliable and accurate.  Plus, it is extremely fast in getting you your money.  Another benefit is that integrating it is extremely easy.  Keep in mind that it is normally a good idea to not use the standard account, but rather a business or pro account.  Additionally, some people recommend to not keep more than a few thousand dollars in the account at any given time in case there is a problem, because if there is, the account will be frozen (and that includes accepting payments).

Google Checkout

Google Checkout is another very reliable payment option for your online store.  Like Paypal, the Google brand is extremely well known and is trustworthy.  Using this processor will have a little higher transaction fee and in some cases will hold your funds a bit longer before they clear.  There have also been some customer service issues, however they also seem to be improving as well.  One of biggest benefits of Google Checkout is that it offers excellent charge back and fraud protection.  The largest drawback is probably that it only allows you to accept credit cards.

2Checkout

2Checkout has proven to be an excellent payment processor for online stores as well.  The initial difference is that it is the only option out of these three at has an initiation fee.  2CO is the only payment processor out of this group that offers a built in affiliate program.  Creating an affiliate program is one of the best ways to drive traffic and sales, so this can prove to be a critically important feature that a lot of people need.  One thing to keep in mind is that the more transactions you do per month, the more expensive the transaction fees will become.  If you have a very high volume online store then this may not be your best bet.  Do some specific cost comparisons to find out whether you do enough transactions for this to matter.

Read ecommerce shopping cart reviews to learn more about these services.