Query re accepting payment by laser or credit card

Hi all,

If I am accepting payment from a client for a gig as a band, what exactly would I need set up to be able to accept payment via credit or laser cards?

A paypal account?

What info should I ask for from them when they go to pay,

is there any other way they can pay via the above without having some sort of online account?

Thanks for any help with this.

regards
Morph