When you accept credit cards over the Internet, you have two options.  One is to obtain the customer's credit card number and authorization information, and then print it out and process the charge manually through your normal credit card processing method.  This is very similar to processing a phone or mail order--although you do not have the customer's signature to verify the validity of the order.  And, as with any other order of this nature, you need to be sure to obtain the credit card company's authorization before shipping to the customer.

The second option is to use automated online credit card processing.  If you choose to use this method, you will need an account with an online payment processor in addition to the merchant account you have now for accepting credit cards.  Your online store will also have to use software which supports online credit card processing (the stores we create do this).