Cheap SSL Certificate sites?

[Shredder1]

Hey everyone,

This is a two part question.  So hopefully some web gurus here can help me out.

As of current, our signup form for our website buisness dosn't accept credit cards because we do not have a secure connection for people to enter their information with.  We take money orders or paypal only.  Would it be worth the $125 a year or so charge for a secure site to accept credit card offers to help increase buisness?

Also,

Even though I currently do it manually, is there a way I can learn how to automate the entire signup process?  So when we get Server 2003, a customer can enter in their account information, and the Server will automatically set it up for them?  That way they can log in to their account and start uploading files instantly...

Any information will be greatly appreciated.  It's more of a hobby to help friends out than a buisness, so I'm learning as I go along .

Thanks!
neil

[rampy]

As of current, our signup form for our website buisness dosn't accept credit cards because we do not have a secure connection for people to enter their information with.  We take money orders or paypal only.  Would it be worth the $125 a year or so charge for a secure site to accept credit card offers to help increase buisness?

You can get cheaper certs... and there was recently an article on slashdot about free certs... You can always self sign an SSL cert, but your customers will get the little grey alert box about the cert and if they want to accept it.  It will still be SSL and secure, which is good, but can scare away timid customers into thinking you have a less legitimate system...

linux article on free ssl
slashdot article ... 

I've used quickssl/geotrust before... alot of times you can get discounts (59 bucks/year) by ordering from your webhost...

You did NOT mention if you are processing credit cards offline currently.  If you are planning on taking online "automagic" credit card processing... the SSL cert will be the least of your cost concerns... with their monthly fee, per transaction charges, and percentage fleecing...

You'll have to decide, based upon your current sales and type of sales and margins to think if you had a seemless payment system that sales would increase enough to warrant the changes (also how many customers don't use or like paypal but would use a CC)

Even though I currently do it manually, is there a way I can learn how to automate the entire signup process?  So when we get Server 2003, a customer can enter in their account information, and the Server will automatically set it up for them?  That way they can log in to their account and start uploading files instantly...

Any information will be greatly appreciated.  It's more of a hobby to help friends out than a buisness, so I'm learning as I go along .

Are you not using a shopping cart presently?  what's your business selling? confused... Server 2003? *shudder*

rampy

[Shredder1]

You can always self sign an SSL cert, but your customers will get the little grey alert box about the cert and if they want to accept it.