The use of cash in today’s world is increasingly being an exception instead of being the norm. Merchant Services is that area of financial sectors that makes non-cash related transactions possible.

Merchant Service Cash Advance has a vague definition but can be loosely defined as those services that permit a business to conduct non-cash related transactions, including credit card transactions. These merchants are renowned for their credit card business. However, the term has now broadened to encompass check guarantees and automated clearinghouses. These services also have a gift card programme and also a loyalty card programmes.

The popularity of the credit card has grown leaps and bounds in the recent years. No retail business can totally do away with them. In order to approve a credit card, one must have a means to approval, which is provided by the merchant service cash advance in the form of automated card approval terminals. These services handle the entire credit card transaction process of their client leaving him to do little.

Over the years, the use of checks has changed. Earlier there used to be a great risk involved in the acceptance of personal checks by a merchant. Now, electronic terminals can guarantee a check right at the point of sale, thereby reducing the risk. The debit card differs from a credit card in terms of the amount of money in an account can be used. The debit card terminals can check a balance and subtract the amount debited from the account at the time of sale.

A merchant wants to handle his transactions at the point of sale with immense security and reducing the risk involved. The lesser the worry about the risk, the more they concentrate at the needs of the business and ways of fulfilling them. These merchant services help ease the responsibilities and the commitments of the business owner’s right at the time of completion of sale.

By having merchant account capabilities, it attracts and encourages a large number of customers who would rather do business using "plastic" than cash.  If the ATM and Debit News EFT Data Book is to be believed, more and more people are using their credit cards to purchase products and services. This number is greater than it has ever been before and is only showing signs of going up further. According to the study conducted, in 2007 alone, about 27.2 million credit card transactions will be made.

The use of credit and debit cards was earlier resisted by the small merchants. Even checks were not accepted by some. They have not embraced these, thereby assuming greater risk. Although cash transactions still represent the most profitable way of being paid, the consumer has insisted on the right to use non-cash means to make purchases and pay bills. These services help the merchant to carry out functions with minimum risk and hassle.