Virtual Terminal |
Payment Circle
Effective Date: July 29, 2026
Virtual Terminal Payment Processing for Businesses
Accept authorized card payments through a secure, browser-based virtual terminal without requiring a physical card reader. Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore virtual terminal options suited to remote, telephone, invoice, and service-based payments.
Availability, approval, pricing, transaction limits, security tools, and account features depend on the applicable processor, gateway, merchant account, and underwriting requirements.
Accept Payments Without a Physical Card Terminal
A virtual terminal is a browser-based payment interface that allows an authorized business user to manually enter customer payment information and submit a transaction through a compatible payment gateway and merchant account.
It can be useful for businesses that accept authorized payments over the phone, from remote customers, through invoices, or in situations where the customer and card are not physically present.
Businesses should collect, enter, transmit, and store payment information only through authorized systems and according to their provider’s security and compliance requirements.
A Practical Way to Accept Remote Payments
Virtual terminal capabilities can help eligible businesses accept authorized payments when a physical card reader or customer-facing online checkout is not the right fit.
Browser-Based Access
Access an available virtual terminal through a compatible web browser using authorized account credentials.
Manual Payment Entry
Enter authorized customer and transaction details directly into the available payment interface.
Invoice Payment Support
Process authorized payments related to invoices, service orders, reservations, or remote customer requests.
No Physical Terminal Required
Accept supported remote payments without relying on a countertop card machine for every transaction.
Transaction Management
Review available transaction details, payment status, references, and related account activity.
Available Security Tools
Use the verification, access-control, monitoring, and fraud-management tools included with the selected provider configuration.
Designed for Businesses Accepting Card-Not-Present Payments
A virtual terminal may suit businesses that receive customer authorization through telephone calls, invoices, reservations, service agreements, or other remote payment workflows.
Discuss Your Payment WorkflowProfessional Services
Accept authorized payments for consulting, agencies, accounting, legal, and other professional services.
Telephone Orders
Enter authorized payment information for eligible customer orders received by telephone.
Invoice-Based Businesses
Process authorized customer payments connected to issued invoices or completed service work.
Travel and Reservations
Accept eligible remote payments related to reservations, bookings, and approved service requests.
Wholesale and B2B
Support authorized payments for business orders, services, and established customer accounts.
Remote Service Providers
Accept payments from customers who are not physically present at the business location.
How a Virtual Terminal Payment Works
The exact workflow depends on the selected provider and account configuration, but a manual virtual terminal transaction generally follows these stages.
Receive Payment Authorization
Confirm the transaction details and obtain appropriate customer authorization before entering a payment.
Enter Transaction Details
Sign in to the authorized virtual terminal and enter the required customer and transaction information.
Submit the Payment
Submit the transaction through the connected gateway and processor for authorization and applicable checks.
Review the Result
Review the available transaction response, maintain suitable records, and provide confirmation when appropriate.
Protect Remote Payment Transactions
Card-not-present transactions can involve different risks from in-person payments. Businesses should follow their provider’s procedures and use available verification, access-control, documentation, and fraud-management tools.
Never collect or store complete card information in email, unsecured notes, spreadsheets, chat messages, or other unauthorized systems.
Limit virtual terminal access to authorized team members and avoid sharing login credentials.
Maintain suitable authorization and transaction records according to provider requirements.
Check customer, payment, order, billing, and service details before submitting a transaction.
Apply available address, security-code, monitoring, and fraud-management features where appropriate.
Enter payment information only into the authorized provider interface and approved systems.
Regularly review transactions, user access, refunds, disputes, and unusual payment activity.
Information That May Be Needed for Virtual Terminal Setup
Requirements vary according to your provider, merchant account, business model, transaction profile, and underwriting conditions.
Virtual terminal access may be part of a compatible payment gateway and merchant account arrangement. Submission of an application does not guarantee approval or activation.
Common Questions About Virtual Terminals
Review important information about remote payment entry, merchant accounts, equipment, recurring payments, and provider approval.
Ask a Payment SpecialistA virtual terminal is a browser-based payment interface that allows an authorized business user to manually enter and submit customer payment information through a compatible gateway and merchant account.
A physical card machine is generally not required for manually entered virtual terminal payments. Access is typically provided through a compatible web browser and authorized account.
Virtual terminal access commonly works with a compatible merchant account, payment gateway, and processor. The exact arrangement depends on the selected provider.
Eligible businesses may use an available virtual terminal to enter authorized payments received through a telephone-based payment workflow, subject to provider requirements.
Recurring billing may be available through the connected gateway or account configuration. Availability depends on the provider, service plan, business model, and approval.
No. Eligibility, approval, pricing, transaction limits, reserves, funding, gateway access, and account conditions are determined by the applicable processor or financial institution.
Ready to Explore a Virtual Terminal Solution?
Tell us about your business, payment workflow, transaction volume, and remote payment requirements. Our team will help you understand the available virtual terminal options and application requirements.
Virtual terminal availability and activation are subject to provider eligibility, technical, compliance, and underwriting requirements.