Shopping Cart Requirements

Minimum Requirements

You can purchase a domain name from a domain registrar such as GoDaddy.com. Always purchase your domain name in your own name; don't ask someone else to do it for you. Your domain name is an irreplaceable business asset, so it's vital that it be owned by you. If you've been in business for a while, and are certain you won't be changing your domain name, you may consider getting the .net, .biz, .us etc. extensions, rather than just the traditional .com.

Real-time Credit Card Processing (Optional)

The minimum installation assumes you will be using PayPal or another third-party payment processor to accept credit cards, or accepting only checks as a payment method. However, if you wish to accept credit card payments on your web site, without your customer having to leave your web site and go to a third-party payment site, then an SSL certificate is required. You can purchase this as an option when purchasing ClearCart. The SSL certificate automatically gives you a dedicated IP address as well.

Merchant accounts allow you to accept credit card payments. Payment gateways are the interface between your cart and your merchant bank, so that you can authorize a credit card immediately over the internet when someone makes a purchase.

These are usually sold together as a package. You may obtain a merchant account from the bank of your choice, as long as they support one of the payment gateways below. We also have some merchant account and payment gateway recommendations here.

For our recommended merchant account/payment gateway provider, as well as a list of payment gateways supported by ClearCart, visit our page about accepting credit cards online.