Question 1

What does switching processors actually involve?

Accepted Answer

Underwriting, account setup, and equipment or gateway configuration. We handle the paperwork and coordinate the cutover so you are never without the ability to accept payments. Most of the work happens on our side, not yours.

Question 2

What documents do I need to apply?

Accepted Answer

Typically a government ID, a voided check or bank letter, and recent processing statements if you accept cards today. Some businesses also provide articles of incorporation or licenses. Your statements matter most — they let us analyze what you actually pay before you commit to anything.

Question 3

How long does approval take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your business type and how complete your file is. Standard-risk merchants generally clear underwriting quickly; high-risk categories take longer because the sponsoring bank reviews them more carefully. We stay on the file until it is done and tell you exactly where it stands.

Question 4

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

Accepted Answer

Read any agreement before you sign it — ours included. Ask specifically about term length, early termination fees, and equipment leases, which are the three places merchants get trapped. We will walk you through every clause in plain language before you commit.

Question 5

What is an effective rate?

Accepted Answer

Your total processing fees divided by your total card volume for the month. It is the only number that captures everything you pay — interchange, assessments, markup, and incidental fees. A headline rate like "1.9%" tells you almost nothing; the effective rate tells you the truth.

Question 6

What is the difference between interchange and markup?

Accepted Answer

Interchange is set by the card networks and paid to the card-issuing bank. It is the same for every processor and is not negotiable. Markup is what the processor adds on top — and that is the only part anyone can actually discount. Our statement analysis separates the two so you can see what is fixed and what is not.

Question 7

Why did my rate go up without notice?

Accepted Answer

Processors can raise markup, add new fees, or reclassify transactions into more expensive tiers, often disclosed only in fine print on a statement. This is why we run quarterly effective-rate reviews and AI-assisted fee-anomaly detection on client accounts. Drift gets caught and corrected instead of compounding.

Question 8

Will you review my current statement before I switch?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Send us a recent statement and we will break it down line by line — interchange versus markup, per-item fees, and anything that looks out of place. If we cannot improve your economics, we will say so. Start through the quote or contact form and we will take it from there.

Question 9

What makes a business "high-risk"?

Accepted Answer

Usually the industry, not the owner. Categories with elevated chargeback exposure, regulatory complexity, or delayed delivery — think supplements, CBD, firearms, travel, or subscription billing — get flagged regardless of how well the business is run. High-risk is a banking classification, not a judgment of your company.

Question 10

What is a rolling reserve?

Accepted Answer

A percentage of your sales the sponsoring bank holds for a set period as a cushion against chargebacks and refunds, released on a rolling schedule. Reserves are common in high-risk underwriting and are negotiable in size and duration. We push for terms that reflect your actual chargeback history, not a category stereotype.

Question 11

Why do high-risk accounts get terminated?

Accepted Answer

Most terminations come from chargeback ratios exceeding network thresholds, undisclosed business activity, or a bank exiting a category altogether. The last one is why bank diversification matters: we place merchants across multiple sponsoring banks, so one bank's policy change does not take down your ability to process.

Question 12

I was declined or shut down elsewhere. Can you still help?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. A prior decline or termination narrows the field but rarely closes it — the file just needs to go to the right bank with the right presentation. Be candid with us about your history; underwriters find everything eventually, and honesty up front is what gets marginal files approved.

Question 13

Who handles it when something breaks?

Accepted Answer

We do. Clients work with people who know their account, not a queue — every client gets a direct line to the person who owns their file. If an issue needs the processor or bank involved, we make that call and stay on it until it is resolved.

Question 14

What terminals and point-of-sale systems do you support?

Accepted Answer

We fit the equipment to the business rather than pushing one brand: countertop terminals, mobile readers, full point-of-sale systems, and e-commerce gateways. One caution — avoid equipment leases. A terminal that costs a few hundred dollars to own can cost thousands over a lease term.

Question 15

How does funding work, and what is next-day funding?

Accepted Answer

After settlement each day, your batch is deposited to your bank account. Next-day funding means deposits arrive the following business day, usually contingent on batching out before a daily cutoff time. Funding speed depends on your bank, your batch time, and your account setup — we will tell you what your specific schedule looks like.

Question 16

What is PCI compliance and an SAQ?

Accepted Answer

PCI DSS is the card industry's security standard for any business that handles card data. Most merchants demonstrate compliance through a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) — the version depends on how you accept cards, from SAQ A for fully outsourced e-commerce to SAQ D for more complex setups. We help you identify the right SAQ and complete it, which also avoids monthly non-compliance fees.

Asked often, answered plainly

Getting started

Pricing & statements

High-risk & underwriting

Support & equipment

Send one statement. Get a straight answer.