I represent a Korean online retail company that wants to move their CC processing out of Korea. I would like to incorporate in the US, and use a US merchant account. For incorporation in the US, we will have a US citizen as an employee who will handle everything on the financial side.
We sell all sorts of products from beauty, health, even auto products, and it's low risk. However, if things go as planned, turnover will be high, possibly over US$1 million per month, maybe more. If we incorporate in the US with low risk/high turnover, what kind of rates can we expect? Would it be possible to get below 2%?
Also, to get a merchant account, I have heard it is better to go directly to a bank. What is the primary purpose of getting a merchant account through a 3rd party processor, and are their rates going to be higher than going directly to a bank?

Also, I've been reading this forum, and a lot of US merchants are talking about moving offshore to, say, Panama. If they're in a low-risk category, why move offshore? Would it be advantageous for us to move someplace other than the US?

i do not think you can get rates below 2% in US or outside US.
Another thing you should consider is that incorporating in US mean you will have to pay taxes there most probably, so you can save much incorporating somewhere offshore.

Rates below 2% would be very hard to get as you are going offshore. Rates tend to get higher then but there are several other benefits. Not least huge tax advantages in some jurisdictions.