PayPal and other payment processing companies catered well to mainstream merchants, but fell behind when it came to less serviceable markets.

"We saw this particularly with multi-level marketing," he says. "Some clients simply need more time and attention when it comes to payments."In 2004, Patel launched Montreal-based AlertPay to make online payments easier.

AlertPay.com simplifies bank transfers, bank wires, direct deposits and other payment methods - everything except cash. AlertPay's team of 25 works to ensure extra security for all transactions.

Back-end flagging services alert banks to security breaches, and automated fraud-tracking tools lock down accounts when activity is abnormal.

The introductory rate for AlertPay is 2.5% per transaction. But if your company is off the beaten path and requires more service, be prepared to pay 3.9%.

What do you use for your e-commerce backend? Tell us about it.