By definition, shopping cart software is a computer script that allows a business and their customers to see what items they have selected for purchase. Just like a shopping cart in a traditional store, this cart holds the items you plan to buy until you reach the payment gateway. The gateway works as the store’s cashier and actually processes the sales transaction, approves the funds, and transfers the money between accounts.

Shopping cart software does have more functions than a standard store shopping cart, however. Not only can you view the exact items your customers are selecting as they shop, the software will help you track your sales and manage your inventory. You can easily compare the products in your system against the items you have sold to ensure an accurate inventory and many shopping cart software programs provide features for handling gift certificates, tracking donations, and even managing coupons.

If you are interested in boosting your sales through affiliate advertising, there are shopping carts available that will help you enroll in the services, as well as track your performance. Participating in affiliate programs usually requires a fee, but the results are usually well worth the expense and, with shopping cart software, you can easily view your sales, your payment, and even your expenses.

Another useful option included in many shopping cart software programs is the ability to promote other products through the cart, thus increasing your sales. When a customer selects an item and places it in the cart, you can designate other related products that the customer may enjoy. You can even offer a discount on a combination of items through the shopping cart. Some of today’s shopping carts can calculate sales tax and include shipping and handling charges in the total. You can also use your shopping cart software to manage your newsletters and email marketing campaigns. Some programs feature stationary functions as well.

The wide variety of shopping cart software currently available can make the task of choosing the right one for you and your business rather challenging. There are many different features and functions to choose from in several price ranges. There are a number of shopping carts that are offered free of charge, but there are often other hidden charges that may arise so always read the terms and conditions before deciding on the right shopping cart solution. PayPal is a great option for businesses looking for a basic payment solution. They offer shopping carts, complete with merchant accounts and a payment gateway, at no charge.

Choosing the right shopping cart software is crucial to the success of your business, so research your options and select the cart that will best meet your business needs. Remember to consider your future needs as well.

PayPal began several years ago as a free method of personal money transfers using email addresses. Over time, PayPal has improved their system to include business payment services as well. Now, PayPal operates as not just a payment gateway, but a merchant account, as well as a shopping cart.

Anyone with a checking account or credit card and an email address can become a member of PayPal at no charge. PayPal business accounts allow your customers to pay for their purchases with no additional fees and a small percentage of the transfer is deducted from your account. Many businesses use PayPal as their only payment method, while others integrate PayPal into the payment system already in use. Either way, PayPal operates as a shopping cart, assisting your customers with shopping on your site, then as a payment gateway that processes the transaction, and then returns the customers to your website.

PayPal Merchant Services offer a great deal of flexibility for businesses and their payment needs. Through these services, you can accept a variety of payment methods including electronic transfers and both credit and debit cards. Your customers don’t need a PayPal account to make purchases through your PayPal shopping cart; they can use any major credit card to make their payment. It is easy to sign up for PayPal Merchant Services and your account will be active and ready for use the very same day in most cases. Credit card transactions can be processed online, by phone or fax, person to person, or even by mail.

There are two types of PayPal accounts that offer useful business services. Both PayPal Pro accounts and Merchant accounts provide a flexible shopping cart that can function alone or with other shopping cart software. You can customize the shopping cart based on your usage needs, set up subscriptions and scheduled payments, and accept donations and gift certificates. Both accounts feature Buy Now buttons, Direct Payment API, a virtual terminal, and Express Checkout. PayPal Pro accounts, however, provide your customers with a simple, three step payment process and they never leave your website.

PayPal shopping carts are very versatile and are simple to set up. Your business doesn’t even need a website to use PayPal, you can request payment through your PayPal account or by email. PayPal provides excellent security and fraud protection and offers a number of options to suit a variety of situations. Your PayPal shopping cart can be integrated into your Outlook or Quick Books software or can function on its own. You can use PayPal to generate invoices and can choose between standard checkout or express. There are many different shopping carts available but, for the value, PayPal shopping carts are often the best option for many businesses.

1CartPlus.com provides a simple interface, plus all the ecommerce features that aren’t offered by PayPal