Patent ID: 7953627
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, by a computer-based system for determining desired industry segments, a first data set related to a group of merchants in an industry segment, wherein the first data set includes a cost of goods sold associated with at least a subset of the merchants within the industry segment, and at least one of: a number of the merchants associated with the industry segment, and a raw materials and inventory cost of goods sold associated with at least the subset of the merchants within the industry segment, and wherein each of the data in the first data set is weighted; receiving, by the computer-based system, a second data set related to a group of merchant account holders in the industry segment, wherein the second data set includes an average amount of spending for the merchant account holders within the industry segment, and at least one of: a percentage of merchant account holders actively spending on raw materials and inventory in the industry segment, a merchant account holder penetration in the industry segment, and a total estimated amount of spending for transaction accounts in the industry segment, and wherein each of the data in the second data set is weighted; receiving, by the computer-based system, a third data set related to the group of merchants in the industry segment, wherein the third data set includes data acquired through interviews with industry experts and small business owners, and data associated with industry reports and census data; generating, by the computer-based system, a first ranking of the industry segment based upon the first data set; generating, by the computer-based system, a second ranking of the industry segment based upon the second data set; generating, by the computer-based system, a third ranking of the industry segment based upon the third data set; combining, by the computer-based system, the first ranking, the second ranking, and the third ranking to generate a combined ranking; and determining, by the computer-based system and based upon the combined ranking, at least one of: that the industry segment is available for an increase in charging by the group of merchant account holders and a potential for new account holders in the industry segment.