A merchant is any business or individual who accepts payments in exchange for goods or services. Merchants can operate online, in-store, or both — and typically rely on a merchant account, payment processor or acquirer, and a gateway to accept credit cards, debit cards, or other payment methods. The type of merchant you are (e.g., high-risk, subscription-based, cross-border) impacts your account setup, fees, and fraud risk.
Understanding your classification as a merchant helps you make smarter decisions about technology, pricing, and compliance. At AltoPay, we work with a wide range of merchants — from startups to enterprises. Whether you need a full-stack payment solution or just smarter chargeback prevention, we can create a strategy that’s a perfect fit for your business.
For more than a decade, Jessica Velasco has been a thought leader in the payments industry. She aims to provide readers with valuable, easy-to-understand resources.
