Virtual Terminal for Credit Card Payments
Payment Circle
Virtual Terminal Payment Processing for Businesses
Accept card-not-present payments without requiring a physical card reader. A virtual terminal allows eligible businesses to securely enter customer payment information through a web-based payment environment for supported phone, invoice, remote, and other transactions. Payment Circle helps eligible U.S. businesses explore virtual terminal payment processing based on their business model, transaction needs, and existing payment setup.
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 web-based payment tool that allows eligible businesses to manually enter customer payment information and process supported card-not-present transactions. Unlike a traditional POS terminal, a virtual terminal does not require the customer's physical card to be inserted or tapped at the point of sale.
This can be useful for businesses accepting payments by phone, invoice, email, or other remote channels. Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore virtual terminal solutions that fit their payment processing setup and transaction requirements.
Virtual terminal availability, supported payment methods, transaction limits, and processing terms depend on the applicable provider and processor.
A Practical Way to Accept Remote Payments
A virtual terminal can give eligible businesses a flexible way to process card-not-present payments when customers are not physically present. Depending on the solution, businesses may use a virtual terminal for phone orders, invoices, remote sales, and other supported transactions.
Browser-Based Access
Access the virtual terminal through a supported web browser without requiring a traditional physical card terminal.
Manual Payment Entry
Enter eligible customer card information manually to process supported card-not-present transactions.
Invoice Payment Support
Use compatible payment tools to support eligible invoice and remote payment workflows.
No Physical Terminal Required
Process supported remote transactions without requiring the customer to use a physical POS terminal.
Transaction Management
Access available tools for processing and managing eligible payment transactions.
Available Security Controls
Use applicable authorization, verification, and security features provided by the virtual terminal and processing environment.
Built for Businesses Accepting Card-Not-Present Payments
Virtual terminals can be useful for businesses that need to accept payments when customers are not physically present. Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore solutions based on their industry, transaction type, sales channel, and payment requirements.
Explore Virtual Terminal OptionsPhone Payments
Accept eligible card payments when customers provide payment information over the phone.
Remote Orders
Process supported card-not-present transactions for customers purchasing remotely.
Invoice Payments
Use compatible payment tools to collect eligible customer payments associated with invoices.
Professional Services
Support remote payment collection for eligible service-based businesses.
B2B Payments
Explore virtual terminal solutions for eligible business-to-business payment requirements.
Mail & Telephone Orders
Process eligible card-not-present transactions through supported MOTO environments where available.
How Does a Virtual Terminal Payment Work?
A virtual terminal allows a business to process an eligible card-not-present transaction through a supported web-based payment environment.
Receive Payment Information
The customer provides the required payment information through an eligible remote payment channel.
Enter Transaction Details
The business enters the required transaction and payment information into the supported virtual terminal.
Submit the Payment
The transaction is submitted through the applicable payment processing system for authorization.
Receive the Result
The transaction receives an approval or decline response, and approved transactions proceed according to the applicable settlement and funding terms.
Protect Your Remote Payment Transactions
Card-not-present transactions require appropriate payment security and verification practices because the customer's physical card is not being presented at the time of payment. Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore virtual terminal solutions with applicable security and transaction controls.
Card-not-present transactions can carry different risk and security considerations than in-person payments. Available controls and requirements vary by processor and payment solution.
Use available verification methods to help confirm transaction information where supported.
Transactions are submitted for authorization through the applicable payment processing environment.
Some virtual terminal and processor solutions may provide tools designed to help identify potentially fraudulent activity.
Use supported payment environments designed to handle payment information according to applicable security requirements.
Access available transaction information to help manage and review processed payments.
Applicable rules and controls may apply specifically to remote card transactions.
Information That May Be Needed for Virtual Terminal Setup
Setting up virtual terminal payment processing may require information about your business, products or services, expected transaction activity, and how you plan to accept remote payments. The applicable processor or financial institution may request additional documentation during review.
Legal business name, business structure, contact details, and ownership information.
Information about where your business operates.
Details about the products or services you provide.
Estimated monthly processing volume and average transaction size.
Information about whether payments are accepted by phone, invoice, online, or other remote channels.
Previous merchant account or payment processing history, where applicable.
Information about how customers place orders and provide payment information.
Website and ecommerce information where relevant to your payment setup.
Additional documents may be requested depending on the processor and business type.
Requirements vary by processor, business model, transaction type, and payment setup.
What is a virtual terminal?
A virtual terminal is a secure, web-based payment screen that lets your team key in a customer’s card or bank details from any computer or tablet, with no card reader required. Businesses use it to take payments over the phone, by mail or telephone order (MOTO) or by email, and to charge invoices, deposits and recurring payments remotely.
How to set up a virtual terminal
Apply
Complete one merchant account application with your business, owner and banking details.
Underwriting
A processing partner reviews your application and confirms approval, pricing and limits.
Connect
We set up your NMI or Authorize.net virtual terminal and link it to your merchant account.
Take payments
Log in from any browser to key in payments, send receipts and schedule recurring charges.
How much does a virtual terminal cost?
A virtual terminal is available on approved accounts, including high-risk and supplement accounts where the processor supports it.
- Processing — interchange-plus, with the markup quoted after underwriting.
- Monthly account fee — shown in your quote.
- Keyed-in payments — usually priced as card-not-present transactions, which typically cost more than in-person card payments.
- See the full breakdown on our merchant account pricing page.
Virtual terminal vs payment gateway
With NMI and Authorize.net, one account gives you both. Learn more about payment gateways.
Is a virtual terminal secure?
Card details are encrypted and processed by the gateway rather than stored on your computers.
- Fraud checks — address verification (AVS) and CVV checks help reduce fraud on keyed-in payments.
- Good practice — never write card numbers down or send them by email, and give each team member their own login.
- Chargeback protection — keep invoices and customer authorizations. See chargeback management.
Businesses that use virtual terminals
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 web-based payment tool that allows eligible businesses to manually enter customer payment information and process supported card-not-present transactions.
The business enters the customer's eligible payment information into the virtual terminal, submits the transaction for authorization, and receives an approval or decline response. Approved transactions then follow the applicable settlement and funding process.
Eligible small businesses can use virtual terminal payment processing when their business model, transaction activity, and processing requirements meet the applicable provider's criteria.
A virtual terminal can support eligible phone-based card-not-present transactions. Businesses must follow applicable payment-processing and card-network requirements when accepting payments remotely.
No. A virtual terminal is designed to process supported transactions through a web-based environment rather than requiring a traditional physical card terminal.
Virtual terminals use applicable payment security and authorization controls, but card-not-present transactions have their own risks and requirements. Available security features vary by provider and processing solution.
Virtual terminals may be suitable for eligible businesses that accept remote payments, including certain service businesses, B2B companies, businesses taking phone orders, and businesses collecting invoice payments.
Ready to Accept Remote Card Payments?
Explore a virtual terminal solution built around your business and payment needs. Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore card-not-present payment processing for supported phone, invoice, remote, and other transactions.
Virtual terminal availability and activation are subject to provider eligibility, technical, compliance, and underwriting requirements.