In order for business owners to qualify for credit card processing service, they need to first qualify for a credit card merchant account. The qualification process for a credit card merchant account is like trying to qualify for a loan or business fund. The merchant account provider could become liable for any fraudulent charges or unpaid debts, so this process is very important.
Usually, a credit card processing company will start by requesting financial information about your business. In addition to a credit report, most account providers will also seek credit references from any vendors your business has purchased from in the past.