Key Takeaways
- Credit card processing lets a business accept card payments, face to face or remotely through a payment link. It is convenient for customers, makes installment deals possible and saves you chasing bank transfers.
- A card payment is business income like any other payment, and every payment you receive needs a receipt. An Osek Patur issues a receipt, not a tax invoice, because only an Osek Murshe may issue tax invoices.
- Card money does not reach your account at the moment of the sale: the credit dates are set in your agreement with the processing company, and installment deals are usually credited in parts, by the installment dates. Earlier crediting is sometimes available, subject to the processor's approval and for a fee or interest.
- Even when processing, documents and bookkeeping are handled in a digital system, the legal responsibility for reports, tax payments and keeping books stays with the business owner.
- With Keep, every plan lets you send payment requests and links, charge by card and Bit, issue documents automatically and see income, expenses and profit on the dashboard. The basic plan for an Osek Patur costs 39 NIS a month plus VAT.
Why Credit Card Processing Matters for Your Business
When it comes to managing your business, one of the most critical topics is credit card processing. It is not just a payment tool - it is a key component in improving customer experience and increasing sales.
When you allow your customers to pay by credit card, you are effectively opening the door to a wider audience and making the purchase process easier. Credit card processing gives your business a professional and trustworthy appearance while providing a convenient solution for maintaining continuous cash flow.
Credit card processing also enables smarter business management, thanks to accurate tracking of payments, expenses, and customer data. Additionally, it allows flexibility in customizing promotions and payment plans, so you can offer your customers a personalized purchasing experience.
Using credit card processing also helps build trust with customers and suppliers, as a business that offers credit card payment is perceived as more professional and reliable. The ability to process installment payments makes it easier for customers on a limited budget, thereby increasing the chances of closing larger deals.
Installment deals are convenient for customers, but the business usually receives the money from them in parts, by the installment dates, rather than all at once. Before you offer installments, it is worth checking in your processing agreement how such deals are credited, and whether you can receive the full amount up front and at what cost.
Benefits of Credit Card Processing
Using credit card processing provides numerous advantages for your business:
- Customer convenience - The ability to pay anytime and anywhere via credit card or digital payments. This convenience increases the likelihood of closing a deal and provides a quality service experience.
- Predictable cash flow - Funds go directly to your bank account on the credit dates set in your agreement with the processing company, so you can plan your cash flow ahead. This is a particularly significant advantage for small businesses.
- Fraud protection - Processing systems include mechanisms that help protect against fraud and counterfeiting.
- Tracking and control - You can see the status of every transaction and know which payments have come in and which are still open.
- Flexible payment options - You can take a one-off payment or installments, face to face or remotely through a payment link.
- Improved customer experience - Convenient and fast payment options create a smooth and inviting service experience that builds customer loyalty.
- Process efficiency - Implementing smart processing systems reduces the need for manual work, saving time and resources.
These benefits come at a price: usually a fee on transactions, plus a separate charge for early crediting if you ask for it. To see whether processing pays off, it is worth working out how much the fee takes from your average sale and comparing that with the time you now spend following up on unpaid invoices.
How Keep Simplifies the Process
At Keep, we offer a credit card processing solution integrated into our digital accounting management system. Our system is easy to use and secure.
The system is built for freelancers and small businesses, both Osek Patur and Osek Murshe, and includes tools for managing payments:
- Payment requests and links - You send a customer a payment request or payment link, and they pay by credit card or Bit.
- Dashboard and payment tracking - Income, expenses and profit for any date range, the status of documents and payments, and which customers still owe you money.
- Automatic documents - When a customer pays through a payment request, the receipt is issued automatically as a digitally signed PDF.
- Simple interface - Everything from a payment request to an issued document is in one place.
- Customer service - A professional support team that answers questions about the system.
The system is also available as a mobile app, so you can send a payment request or check whether a customer has paid when you are away from your desk.
All the tools in this list are available on every plan, including the basic plan. For an Osek Murshe, 123 NIS a month including VAT is added to the plan price. The recommended plan, at 105 NIS a month plus VAT for an Osek Patur, also adds uploading expenses in a click and a personal accountant for professional guidance and representation before the tax authorities.
Getting Started
Joining Keep's credit card processing service is simple:
- Fill in your details - Your business details and the questionnaire the card companies require. Processing opens only after Keep and the card companies have checked and approved your details.
- Choose a plan - Plans come with no commitment, and you can switch between them at any time at no cost.
- Start processing - Send customers payment requests or payment links, and the money is transferred to your bank account on the credit dates set in your processing agreement.
You can contact our support team with any question along the way.
Before your first payment request, make sure your business details in the system are correct. Your business name and identifying number (your dealer number or ID number) appear on every receipt, along with a serial number, the date, the payer's name and the amount. A mistake in your business details repeats on every document you issue.
Data Security
One of the most significant advantages of Keep's processing service is the high level of security. We take care to protect the sensitive information of your business and your customers.
Every transaction is carried out securely. Bear in mind, though, that a processing system does not take over your legal duties: reporting, paying taxes and keeping books remain your responsibility as the business owner, even when a digital system or an accountant handles them.
When you choose a processing provider, it is worth asking whether it complies with PCI DSS, the card industry's data security standard. It is not an Israeli law but a requirement the card brands and acquirers impose by contract. In Israel, anyone holding a database of personal information, including customers' payment details, also has security duties under the Privacy Protection Law and the Privacy Protection (Data Security) Regulations. So it is best not to keep customers' card numbers in a file, a message or on paper.
Connecting Processing to Documents and Your Website
Keep connects processing to your documents, your bookkeeping and the website you sell on:
- Bookkeeping - Card payments and the documents issued for them are kept in the same system, in Keep's digital bookkeeping, and appear on the dashboard.
- E-commerce websites - An API for card clearing on your website on every plan, and plugins for Wix and Shopify on the recommended plan.
This way, your payments, documents and business data are in one place.
When processing and documents run in two separate systems, every payment has to be matched to its document by hand, and a payment with no document is easy to miss. So it is worth checking in advance whether the document is issued straight from the payment, with no extra typing.
Summary
Credit card processing is an integral part of efficient business operations in the modern world. With Keep's solutions, you can enjoy a simple and secure processing experience tailored to your needs.
Keep's integrated system connects credit card processing, digital bookkeeping, and invoice generation - all in one place. We are here to make sure your business continues to grow and thrive.
The first step is to look at how your customers pay today. If most of them pay by bank transfer after receiving a bill, you can start by adding a payment link to the bills you send and see how many switch to card or Bit. After a few months, the numbers will show whether processing shortens the time it takes to get paid and what it actually costs you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Card Processing for Businesses
How long does it take for credit card money to reach my bank account?
It depends on your agreement with the processing company. In practice, regular transactions are usually credited on a fixed date, for example weekly or monthly, while installment deals are credited in parts, by the installment dates. Some processing companies also offer early crediting, subject to their approval and for a fee or interest.
How can I accept credit card payments without a terminal?
You send the customer a payment request or payment link, and they pay by card from their phone or computer. This lets you get paid by customers who are not in front of you, for example after a consultation or a delivery. With Keep, you can send payment requests and links and charge by card or Bit on every plan.
Can an Osek Patur accept credit cards?
Yes. An Osek Patur can accept card payments like any business, and issues a receipt, not a tax invoice, for each payment. Card income counts toward annual turnover, and if you go above the Osek Patur ceiling, 122,833 NIS as of 2026, you must register as an Osek Murshe.
Can I connect credit card processing to my website?
Yes. Keep offers an API for card clearing on a website on every plan, and the recommended plan also includes plugins for Wix and Shopify. If you sell without a website, a payment link does the same job.
Do I need to issue a receipt for a credit card payment?
Yes. Israel's bookkeeping rules require a receipt for every payment a business receives, and a card or Bit payment is a payment like any other. With Keep, the receipt can be issued automatically when a customer pays through a payment request.
