i dont host public clients but would like a cheap alternative payment system on my site for my local clients to pay.

CDGCommerce.com seems to be pretty popular around here. If you're looking for a cheap solution (i.e. without monthly fees), why not choose the PayPal route?

You can check E-Gold.com, MoneyBookers.com , SafePaySolutions.com too .they have easy to implement payment system

With you being in Texas, you have a hundred of merchant account providers to choose from - Chase, Cardservice, CDG, Paymentech, etc.

If you are doing more than $1,000 a month do consider a merchant account. It will be cheaper for you in the long run and you will have a virtual terminal to actually key in the CC transactions and if you desire, you can even add it to your web site

Wellsfargo

Thanks for the mention, CyanoX and Corey.

One other item - just food for thought - to toss your way, Texas-Bob, is this... do you meet frequently with most of your local clients? And what is the average transaction that you do with them?

If you do large ticket amounts from time to time and they are all local, you might even benefit from a card present option on your merchant account. This would only apply if you do a lot of sales for development work and would see your clients often.

Without knowing the typical monthly sales and average transaction amounts and scenarios, it is hard to suggest a best course of action so the above may totally not apply to you.