Mesothelioma And Asbestos

The cause of a number of ailments and diseases, including the deadly cancer mesothelioma, asbestos has actually been in use for centuries. The name asbestos was given to this mineral by the Ancient Greeks, and the word literally means inextinguishable. The Greeks gave it this name because of its amazing fireproof qualities, although they also noted the harmful effects that asbestos had upon workers.

Asbestos is a soft and flexible, which has been widely used for many years for a variety of things. The modern use for this mineral is for insulation, and it has been used in a wide range of items and structures, from ceilings and walls to toasters and hairdryers. This mineral became popular during the industrial revolution as an effective and safe form of insulation – safe in that it was fireproof, but certainly not safe in any other sense. Although the risks involved in using and working with asbestos had been observed several hundred years earlier, these risks were not taken into account when asbestos became widely used for insulation.

It was not until the 1900s that the facts regarding the risks involved to workers began to re-emerge. An English physician carried out a post-mortem on a man who had worked with asbestos for many years, and he found traces of fibres and dust in the man’s lungs. The doctor stated that the man had died due to his exposure to this mineral. Over the next twenty or so years professionals in many countries began to notice the fact that disease, illness and death was uncommonly high amongst asbestos workers.

In the mid 1920s, an English doctor made the first diagnosis of asbestosis, and this was followed by a study which showed that 25% of English asbestos workers showed signs of a related lung disease. Laws were then stepped up in England to provide better ventilation and more protection to workers who were regularly exposed to asbestos. These steps were slowly followed by other countries over the next decade.

This protection was slow to be implemented and did not prove all that effective. Although asbestos manufacturers and companies that used the mineral were now aware of these studies and the risks involved to workers, they continued to use asbestos widely, exposing many workers to the hazards associated with it. These employees continued to work with asbestos, totally oblivious of the harm that it was capable of causing. Asbestos continued to be widely used until the mid-seventies, by which time many workers has been exposed and were already unknowingly affected by what we now know as mesotheliom

Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesotheliomais a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells around the heart, lungs or abdominal organs. The most common type of mesothelioma is the one which affects the pleura, the thin membrane between the lungs and the chest cavity. This type of the disease is known as Pleural Mesothelioma, and sufferers can experiencesymptoms which include: shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, chest pains, weight loss, and trouble swallowing.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is another form of this disease but is not as common as Pleural Mesothelioma. This type of the disease affects the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen. These tumors can also be found in the stomach and abdominal organs. Sufferers of Peritoneal Mesothelioma can experience symptoms which include: stomach pains and abdominal swelling, nausea, loss if appetite, vomiting, bowel obstruction, and blood clotting abnormalities.

The third and the rarest type of mesothelioma is Pericardial Mesothelioma, which affects the tissue and cavity surrounding the heart. Patients of this type of the disease may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, persistent coughing and palpitations.

Malignant mesothelioma is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos. A form of cancer, this disease can affect the sac lining, the chest or the abdomen. An unusual aspect about this disease is that it does not manifest itself for years following the asbestos exposure – in fact, the average manifestation time is 35-40 years later, and in some cases even 50 years later.

In previous years, asbestos was widely used in many places. Many people worked with this deadly material, unaware that several decades later it would be the death of them. Workers such as insulaters, plasterers, electricians, mechanics, bricklayers, carpenters, and other tradesmen were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis as it was contained in many insulation and construction materials.

However, it is not only those that were regularly exposed to asbestos that are at risk. There have been many cases of mesothelioma manifestation in people that were only exposed to asbestos for a short period of time. In fact, the disease has even been known to affect people who have had only minimal contact, such as wives that used to wash their husbands overalls after they had worked with asbestos.

The long latency period attached to mesothelioma means that the symptoms of this disease can take many years to manifest, making both diagnosis and effective treatment very difficult. And even when the symptoms do become evident, which can take several decades, the symptoms are so generalised and non-specific that they could be put down to any number of more common diseases. This makes it hard for even experienced doctorsto make a quick and conclusive diagnosis with mesothelioma patients. The symptoms of this disease can often be confused with pneumonia during its early stages.

Some of the most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (which is the most common form of the disease) are shortness of breath and chest pains. This may be accompanied by a persistent cough, and all of these symptoms stem from the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. This type of the disease starts in the chest cavity and can then spread to other parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma sufferers may also begin to display severe breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever as well as trouble swallowing and even swelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop a rasping voice and start coughing up blood. However, there are other patients that may not show any significant symptoms at all.

The symptoms for patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma(a rarer form of the disease) are slightly different. This type of the disease starts in the abdomen and can spread form there. Patients of peritoneal mesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathing problems, and chest pain in addition to these symptoms. These symptoms result from tumors that lean against the abdominal wall. Bowel obstruction, anemia, fever and problems with blood clotting may also affect peritoneal mesothelioma patients.

The rarest form of this disease is pericardial mesothelioma, which starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial mesothelioma, the tumors grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can spread from there. Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.

what is Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that is becoming more and more common. Affecting the mesothelial cells that make up the mesothelium – the outer lining that protects the body’s major organs such as the heart, stomach and lungs – this form of cancer is a direct result of regular and unprotected exposure to asbestos. The symptoms and the latency period of this disease mean that it is difficult to diagnose. Treatment for mesothelioma is still being investigated through clinical trials and research, but as a rule it responds poorly to the treatments that are currently used.

The people most at risk from being carriers of this cancer are those have worked with asbestos over the past thirty to fifty years. Because of this, the disease is most common in men between the ages of sixty and seventy as this is the group that commonly worked with asbestos during those years. Because of the lack of protection and regulations in those days, these workers were constantly exposed to the dust and fibres from the asbestos, which caused the cells of the mesothelium to become abnormal. However, because the disease takes decades to develop fully and manifest, many of them were oblivious to this until thirty to fifty years later. It is these men who are now lodging multi-million dollar lawsuits against the unscrupulous companies that exposed them to the dangers of asbestos, even though they were aware that it could cause harm to the employees.

There are also other people at risk from the disease; namely those who have had regular contact with a person who has worked with asbestos. Because these workers regularly carried dust and fibres on their clothes, skin and in their hair, they fibres and dust could be ingested by family members, who were then at risk of developing mesothelioma, respiratory problems or another asbestos related disease.

The organs most affected by mesothelioma are the lungs and the surrounding tissue. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the type affecting the lining of the lungs, is the most common variation of this cancer with symptoms which include breathing and swallowing difficulties, coughing, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss. The abdomen is another area affected by this cancer, and this variation is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is not as common as pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include nausea and vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite, fever, bowel obstruction and pain or swelling of the stomach area. The last variation of the cancer is pericardial mesothelioma, which is where the cancer affects the heart and the tissue surrounding it. This variation is a rare one, and symptoms can include palpitations, breathing difficulties, and persistent coughing.

The symptoms of mesothelioma are very common to a number of other diseases which are more well-known in society. Therefore, it is not unusual for the patient to be misdiagnosed when he or she goes in displaying any or all of these symptoms. People who have worked with asbestos should always let their doctor know this so that the doctor is more aware and more conscious of the possibilities in the event that the symptoms do manifest. A speedy diagnosis is important to the effective treatment of mesothelioma, and without being aware of the facts your doctor may not be able to make the diagnosis as quickly as he would if he is aware of the situation.

Although there are treatments for mesothelioma, they do not have a high success rate particularly on patients in whom the cancer is in its later stages. The faster the mesothelioma is diagnosed and treated, the more chance of success, which is why it is important to get as fast a diagnosis as possible.

Current treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy, palliative therapy and chemotherapy. The National Institute of Cancer along with a variety of other organizations and sponsors are currently conducting research into mesothelioma and carrying out clinical trials to try and find a treatment that will not only be more effective but will enable the successful treatment of the disease even in its later stages.

What are the risks of home remodeling without a permit?

Building permits are required by law, so there are some legal consequences if you are caught working without one. The building inspector will normally order that work be stopped until it is determined exactly what is being done, how much work has been completed, and if any building codes have been violated. You will then be required to get the necessary permits and correct any unsafe work, usually at a higher rate than if the proper permits had been obtained in the first place. Inspectors may require that you remove already competed work to make it accessible to them for inspection, such as tearing out new drywall to access concealed electrical wiring.

Costs may be incurred in the future if you buy a home that was renovated without permits. For example, you plan to remodel the kitchen and attempt to obtain the required building permits. If a city building inspector finds code violations from past work when he's inspecting the kitchen remodel, you may have to correct these violations before the inspector will sign off on the kitchen project. You may also be liable for penalty fees.

Appraisers often want to know that major renovations were done with building permits. If you add a room or do any significant projects without a permit, the additional square footage and value for remodeling improvements may not receive full value. Without permits, the appraiser may not be willing to give full value for the improvements, so the property will appraise for significantly less than the purchase price. The effort to save money by going around the permit process can end up costing much more in the long run.

What are some home remodeling tips

Any remodeling project can seem overwhelming, but it can go more smoothly if you know a couple of insider tips.

• Plan ahead - Selecting products early can prevent delays later. Proper planning can also help keep you on budget.

• Focus on the big picture - Continued maintenance, loss of energy, and repair expenses add up quickly. Make sure to include them in your calculations when comparing prices.

• Find good help - Hire a remodeler that has three years or more of experience, membership in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), a good Better Business Bureau record, and positive customer references. Most important, select a remodeler you trust.

• Check on the job site - When evaluating a remodeler, visit current job sites. The best remodelers keep clean and organized work sites, take measures to ensure safety, and keep a low profile in a neighborhood.

• Insist on a detailed contract – Never begin a remodeling project with an ambiguous contract or no contract at all. The contract needs the right address, a start date, a completion date, and a detail of what is and is not going to be done.

• Be aware of what lies ahead - Remodeling can be exciting, but there are unforeseen problems, delays, and inconveniences that come from living in a construction zone. You'll handle the frustrations better if you know they're coming.

• Communicate - Remodelers can do some remarkable things, but they are not mind readers. Let the supervisor or project lead person know if anything is unacceptable so they can deal with the issue. They may not be aware that something is wrong

How do I get started on home remodeling

Home remodeling can be a smart investment and your home value will often increase when the job is done right. Whether you’ve decided to build an addition, open up an existing living area, or update a kitchen or bath, remodeling has become a popular way to create a more pleasant living environment. Ideas are sought from magazines and home improvement stores all in the quest for a home that will look better, be more comfortable and function better. Both homeowners who hire contractors as well as do-it-yourselfers can take a more informed approach to remodeling and renovation with the following steps.

• Create a preliminary drawing. You do not need to be an artist to sketch out the lines that indicate just what you would like your new project to look like.

• Look for constructive criticism. An architect, designer or experienced builder can help you determine whether to reuse existing space or build an addition and whether your house can structurally support the changes you have in mind.

• Have preliminary designs drawn by a professional and review them with that designer. To prepare these designs, your professional will measure your existing residence, research local building and zoning requirements, and prepare floor plans.

• Determine your budget. A construction budget will help you decide if what you want is in line with what you have to spend. The drawings can be used to determine accurate material and labor estimates and to confirm a usable budget.

• Allow time for the preparation of working drawings. Construction drawings are the diagrams and calculations necessary to acquire building permits and to receive subcontractors' bids.

• Pay for the building permit obtained by the contractor. The contractor must show proof of workers' compensation insurance and a city business license to receive the permit.

Put Sleep at the Top of Your To-Do List

To do today: work projects, school activities, sports practice, music lessons, neighborhood meeting, household chores, and family time. Oh -- and somewhere on your list, tryto find time for a good night's sleep.

"We all have too much to do, so be sure to derive the greatest benefit from your time in bed," stated Andrea Herman, director of the Better Sleep Council. "How well you sleep at night can make all the difference in how productive and stress-free you'll be the next day, whether you're scrubbing the bathrooms before houseguests arrive or rushing to the grocery store to stock up."

Like proper nutrition and exercise, sleep is essential to feel your best. Because we all want to stay healthy, it's important that we get the best night's sleep possible every night.

To help ensure relaxing days and sleep-filled nights, the Better Sleep Council offers the following tips:

1) Give yourself "permission" to go to bed. As hard as it may be to put away your "to do" list, make sleep a priority. You'll thank yourself in the morning.

2) Take care of yourself. Cut back on alcohol, caffeine and smoking, all of which can make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep. Regular exercise can help relieve tension and stress.

3) Unwind early in the evening. Finish chores and run errands early in the evening so you can clear your mind and relax before bedtime.

4) Keep regular hours. Go to bed around the same time each night and wake up close to the same time each morning to keep your biological clock in check.

5) Create a restful place to sleep. Be sure your bedroom is cool, quiet and dark, and that you are sleeping on a comfortable, supportive mattress and foundation. A bed that's too small, too soft, too hard or too old can rob you of sleep.

Spiritual well-being

Healthy spirit:

• Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself to others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
• Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
• Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
• Don't let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live up all the days of your life.
• Don't give up when you still have something left to give, Nothing is really over . . . till the moment you stop trying.
• Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.
• Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances, that we learn to be brave.
• Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
• Don't dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.
• Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but where you are going.
• Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

Mind And Body

The body and mind are interconnected and emotions play a big part in determining one's health status. Stress and its negative effect on the immune system remains the major challenge to good health. The immune system with its holistic nature is significantly affected by its close associations with psychology, neurology, endocrinology, nutrition and the environment. Recent studies show 70-80% of all physician visits are stress related; 80% health problems are stress related; 100 million people "out" everyday due to stress; and 40% employee turnover due to stress. Chronic stress depletes the body's resources and ability to adapt. Over a long period coping functions are compromised and illness results.

A comprehensive approach to maintaining good health includes increasing self-responsibility for wellness, healthy lifestyle choices, health-promoting diet and a positive mental attitude. The concept of "Don't Worry. Be Happy," is not new. By the end of the 1970's several studies had shown that negative emotions suppress immune function. The 1979 book, Anatomy of An Illness, by Norman Cousins was a personal account of his experience using positive emotional states (humor and laughter) with guided imagery and meditative states to enhance immune system function in the face of serious, life-threatening disease.

That was then, this is now. Research at the Institute of HeartMath (IHM) shows negative emotions of anger, frustration and fear cause disorder in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and positive emotions of care, appreciation and love create harmony in the ANS, increase the efficiency of the heart and boost the immune system. IHM is situated in the Santa Cruz mountains in Boulder Creek, California. Since 1991, the research and education organization has developed simple user-friendly tools people can use in the moment to relieve stress and break through into greater levels of personal balance, creativity and intuitive insight. The tools and technologies developed at IHM offer hope for new, effective solutions to the many daunting problems that currently face our society, beginning by restoring balance and maximizing the potential within the individual. IHM mission is to put the heart back into the people business and to facilitate a fundamental cultural shift in how organizations view people and how people view each other and themselves.

Today the heart is recognized as a symbol for love and compassion, through the ages it has been known as the "seat of compassion, joy and love". HeartMath researchers believe love is a physical state that we can be taught to create in ourselves; that it is created within this 10 ounce muscle (heart) by changing our heartbeat rhythms; and that simply by focusing in the heart with feelings of love and appreciation, this change in rhythm occurs.

Recent research at IHM has shown that the electricity generated by the heart can be detected and measured in the brain waves of-another person when people are near each other or touching. Electrically, the heart generates 40 to 60 times more amplitude than the brain and the electricity it produces can be measured several feet away from the body.
HeartMath research has proven that WHEN WE LOVE:

• The stress response in our bodies is reversed within seconds.
• The electromagnetic energy generated by the heart(about 2.5 watts of power) changes from a state of chaos into an ordered, harmonic pattern of waves.
• Many systems in our bodies that were operating independently of each other begin to function together in a state of order and harmony called entrainment.
• The ANS that runs the unconscious functions of the body changes from a state of conflict and imbalance into an ordered, efficient, balanced state.

Exercise Your Brain

We all have little lapses in memory like leaving the keys in the door, forgetting someone's name or missing an appointment. Rarely do we think we are getting old or senile. Most times it's due to too much going on in that brain of yours. You have too much on your mind or you're stressed out. Maybe you didn't concentrate enough on what it was you were supposed to remember.

Research shows that brainpower can increase with mental activities in older people. Aging does not mean automatically losing mental capacity. The National Institute of Aging has conducted a series of tests that prove most dramatic memory decline occurs around age 70, if it occurs at all. Even though memory may fade with time, thinking ability remains strong. Vocabulary and reasoning skills often improve with age.

No matter what your age, exercising your brain may make the difference between using it and losing it. Or if you are young and have older family members or friends who seem to be losing memory, encouraging brain activity can help.

Activities such as doing crossword puzzles, playing word games or cards strengthens the synapses between brain cells in memory transmission areas. Physical exercise can increase mental abilities 20% to 30 %, according to recent studies. Journal writing and working with your hands to build or create can help as well.

For older adults who sense memory loss occurring, use mental helps such as calendars, calculators, list making, and group discussions. And relax. Worrying about what you're going to forget can cause a mental block.

Ten Tips for Mental Health

Build Confidence - Identify your abilities and weaknesses together, accept them, build on them and do the best with what you have.

Accept Compliments - Many of us have difficulty accepting kindness from others but we all need to remember the positive strokes when times gets tough.

Make Time for Family and Friends - These relationships need to be nurtured; if taken for granted they will not be there to share life's joys and sorrows.

Give and Accept Support - Friends and family relationships thrive when they are "put to the test".

Create a Meaningful Budget - Financial problems cause stress. Over-spending on our "wants" instead of our "needs" is often the culprit.

Volunteer - Being involved in community gives a sense of purpose and satisfaction that paid work cannot.

Manage Stress - We all have stressors in our lives but learning how to deal with them when they threaten to overwhelm us will maintain our mental health.

Find Strength in Numbers - Sharing a problem with others who have had similar experiences may help you find a solution and will make you feel less isolated.

Identify and Deal with Moods - We all need to find safe and constructive ways to express our feelings of anger, sadness, joy and fear.

Learn To Be At Peace with Yourself - Get to know who you are, what makes you really happy, and learn to balance what you can and cannot change about yourself.

Avoid Credit Card Fraud

Merchants need to avoid credit card fraud at all costs. This goes without saying getting hit by fraudulent orders affects the bottom line of any business. I was reading an article a while back about one of the bigger travel agencies on the Internet who wasn't able to get out of the red ink simply because they are getting so many fraudulent orders. Now this company may think they are too big to monitor all their transactions, but if they are in the red because of it, well then it's time to make some changes.

Smaller merchants with big-ticket items can be wiped out with just a few fraudulent orders; sometimes it only has to happen once. I wrote an ebook, "Protect Your Merchant Account from Fraud & Chargebacks" that goes into great detail on this subject. I will highlight some of it here.

Chargebacks happen when a cardholder disputes a credit card purchase. There are a variety of reasons a cardholder may dispute a charge. Some examples of these are:

• Never receiving the item ordered

• Not getting what they thought they were buying

• Their credit card was stolen and they did not authorize the charge

• They could just be a thief and use the chargeback clause to their advantage

In the event of a chargeback, the card-issuing banks will initiate a chargeback against the merchant. The funds for that sale are pulled from the merchant's bank account and the merchant may or may not be notified of the chargeback and be given the opportunity to dispute the chargeback. I was told by one really big acquiring bank that they were not obligated to notify the merchant of a chargeback. Anyhow, the merchant and merchant bank knows nothing of the chargeback until it is over and done with. Keep in mind, the customer's card issuing bank is the one who initiates chargebacks.

The most important part in accepting a credit card is to do your best to verify the cardholder is actually placing the charge. On the Internet, this can be done with AVS (Address Verification System). Not a 100% guarantee, but it is the best available right now. AVS will attempt to match a portion of the customer's credit card statement billing address against the billing address the customer placed during the order. If you get an address and zip code match, well chances are the actual cardholder or someone authorized to use the card placed the order. If you get a match of one or the other, then it is your call if you want to accept the credit card. I have a merchant who does between 13,000 and 15,000 online transactions per month and will accept a partial match, but rejects all that come back with no match. His chargeback rate is pretty low and this seems to work for him. If you do not get any match, then you need to sit on the order, jump up and down on it, and chew on it for a while and try your best to get in touch with the customer. If you cannot, then it is in your best interest to reject the order. Now the limitation of the AVS system is that it only works in America with American orders. There is no system in place, as of yet, for accepting International orders. As the attorney I interviewed in my ebook says, "You accept International credit card orders at your own risk."

There are a few hotspot countries you would be best to avoid unless you have an established relationship with your client. Let me preface this by saying, I draw this conclusion from my own personal experience and the feedback I get from my merchants, so take it for what it is worth. This is not gospel! The countries are; any country that was part of the former Soviet Union, and Malaysia. They seem to have a larger than average amount of fraudulent orders placed from there.

Now for my most controversial comment, never accept an order placed with a FREE email address! I have been laughed at and scoffed at over this comment simply because there are so many honest people who use free email and this means losing orders. Simply put, you are correct. You will lose orders and sales and maybe even money if you follow this rule. However, I don't think you will lose as much as you would if you accepted orders from free email addresses though. I know one merchant doing $45,000+ in credit card orders per month from the Internet that was following this rule. Then one day, he decided to throw the rule out and increase sales, as a result he almost lost his merchant account due to excessive chargebacks. Take it for what it is worth. Statistics show that more then 50% of orders placed from a free email address will be fraudulent.

There is more to a chargeback than meets the eye. Not only does a merchant lose the actual inventory and the purchase price, but there are also chargeback fees assessed to the merchant each and every time. These fees add up because they are anywhere from $15 to $50 a pop. Consult your merchant account provider if you do not know what fees you can be hit with. That is not all. Merchants who have excessive chargebacks, this is again defined by the provider, range from ½% to 2 ½%; a merchant can lose their merchant account. That is, get terminated without warning and could end up on the MasterCard Match List, a.k.a. Terminated Merchant File, which is looked at by other providers and if you show up on it, this means you will not get a merchant account. You can expect to stay on the list for 5 years too. There are new rules and regulations that have cropped up with the card associations. Visa has an International Fine for excessive International chargebacks and MasterCard has a fine for excessive chargebacks for high volume merchants. These fines are in the several $1,000's to over $100,000.

100 Best Merchant Accounts

When searching for a merchant account and other merchant services, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the myriad of merchant account providers, banks, resellers, and others who are vying for your business.

Our goal at 100 Best Merchant Accounts is to help our viewers find the right merchant account and merchant services by providing an exhaustive supply of information on each merchant service provider.

We have compiled a database of merchant accounts, e-commerce web hosts, shopping carts, and other merchant services, and are continually adding to and updating this information. We have provided summaries, statements from the company and information on features and fees to help our readers make educated decisions about the services they're searching for.

Shopping Carts
Shopping carts automate the e-commerce process. They provide storefronts, signup and purchase forms, and integration with payment gateways and other merchant services. Shopping cart systems will range from basic, limited-feature systems, to capable-but-simple systems for merchants with limited technical knowledge, to very advanced systems that enable detailed branding and customization.

Small Business Loans

If your business is blossoming with everything but the extra cash you need for growth and improvements, you may want to consider a small business loan. Today's simple online applications and fast, same-day approvals make getting the cash you need even easier. Check out your options.

Traditional Merchant Accounts
Traditional Merchant Accounts offer businesses of all kinds the ability to accept payment by credit card. In the past, these services were offered almost exclusively to storefront business, but today the most progressive companies are actively working to accommodate Internet-based businesses.

Accepting Credit Cards Online

Accepting online credit card orders is a must for everyone who does business on the Internet. If you do not accept credit card orders you could lose at least 85% of your potential orders. Most online businesses report that 95% of their orders are through online order forms.

Accepting online credit card orders is easier than it appears. To accept online credit card orders, you need three basic things:

• Merchant Account
• Software
• Internet Service Provider

Merchant Account:

A Merchant account is a special account that you have with a financial institution in order to accept credit cards. Even if you already accept credit cards for your offline transactions, that may not be enough. Credit card companies consider Internet transactions to be riskier than other standard transactions; so, not all accounts permit Internet transactions. If your current account does not allow Internet transactions, you have to contact your financial institution to correct this.

There are many brokers available who can open a Merchant account for you. Their conditions for opening an account may vary drastically, which can make it difficult for you to decide which account is best for you. Most brokers will offer to sell or lease expensive equipment to you, when they open your account. Do not be fooled; That is how they make their money. You do not need any software or equipment to open a Merchant account. . To open an account, all you should have to do is pay is processing fee, which should not be more than $100. That should be enough for you to start accepting credit cards.

To maintain your merchant account, you must pay the following monthly fees:

• Discount fee - For Internet sales, this fee should be between 2.5% and 2.9%. You should be suspicious of any discount rate that is less than that.
• Transaction fee - This fee should be between $0.20 and $0.30 per transaction.
• Address Verification Fee (AVS) - This fee should be $0.05 per transaction. Some (very rare) financial institutions may not require this service, but it is a must for you because it helps to prevent fraud.
• Statement fee - This fee is usually between $10 and $15 per month.

For example, if you sell software applications for $20 , and you sell 20 applications per month, your fees are only $25-30 per month, which is approximately 7%. So, even with a small sales volume of $400 per month a Merchant account is not expensive. We will discuss how to select the best account in one of the next issues of our newsletter.

Software:

Most brokers who open Merchant accounts offer software or hardware to process credit cards. If you want to accept credit cards over the Internet, you need a software solution, not a hardware solution. Even though a hardware solution saves you $50-$100, you will have to enter all your transactions manually. With a software solution, you will never have to enter your transactions manually.

Be aware! Some brokers offer software solutions for as high as $2,000, which is way overpriced. The software should cost about $400. Sometimes, brokers may also offer you programming or software setup services at an additional cost. Do not pay for these services. All of the software comes with technical support from the manufacturers, and the bank will give you all the information you need.

Instead of selling you a processing software, you may be offered a processing software lease at a certain price per month. The lease may seem like a good solution, but it's not. For example, if you pay $29.95 during 3 years (sometimes 4), you will pay $1,078.20. Isn't that too much to pay for $400 software?

You don't have to lease or buy your own software if you decide to do real-time processing by plugging into an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that has the processing software on its server. However, you may end up spending too much on an ISP. You must calculate all of the costs and benefits carefully before making that decision.

Merchant Account Basics

Boost Your Business With A Merchant Account

It's a fact. Companies who accept credit card payments for goods and services tend to generate higher revenues than those who only accept cash. According to industry statistics, the average credit card sale is $40 versus just $9 for the average cash sale.* If that isn't enticement enough, consider the disadvantage you may face if competitors offer credit card payment options and you do not.

"These days, the credit card payment option is a must, whether you have a physical retail outlet, take telephone orders or sell products over the Internet," says Diann Joblonski, a relationship manager, at Michigan Bankard Services, a leading merchant card processor serving over 30,000 businesses nationwide. Besides the potential revenue boost, credit cards may well be a cheaper alternative to cash and checks. In a case study prepared by Coopers & Lybrand, credit card processing costs average 2.7% of any transaction, checks 4.0% and cash 4.8%.** These figures make sense when you consider how many times paper money and coins must be counted and recounted by different individuals. While each business would vary in that respect, cash and checks still require more handling than plastic alternatives.

Establishing A Merchant Account

To offer the credit card payment option, you need to set up a merchant account-a bank account established by your company to receive the proceeds of credit card purchases. Typically, along with the account, you will also need to lease equipment and software to facilitate the transactions and ensure payments flow to your operating account. The process is slightly more complicated if you wish to accept credit cards online. In particular, you will need to sign-up with a payment gateway such as CyberCash or VirtualNet. These services allow for real-time credit card authorization for online transactions. It is essential that the payment gateway you choose is compatible with your software and financial institution so transactions flow properly.

Any number of financial institutions offer merchant accounts, but you should look for a provider who has demonstrated expertise in working specifically with small and growing businesses. These organizations can often structure accounts faster and at better rates than those who cater to larger companies. As you shop around, you should also look for institutions that work with customers to combat fraud and reduce chargebacks. And if you are conducting online transactions, you will want to work with a provider who has expertise in setting up and processing Internet merchant accounts.

The next step is the application process which can take anywhere from 48 hours to two weeks or more. Your chances of being approved relate to the nature of your business and the credit rating of your business and/or its principal owner(s). While existing retail establishments are the easiest to be approved, mail order and Internet businesses, with their higher rates of chargebacks and fraud, pose more of a challenge. "We look at the merchant, the nature of the business or the product, the refund policy, and the business financials or a sole proprietor's own credit history," states Joblonski. The cost of a merchant account will vary based on the perceived risk a business poses.

A Word About Costs