Interchange
Paid to the bank that issued your customer's card. It is the largest part of every statement, and it varies by card type: a debit card costs less than a premium rewards or business card.
Card processing
Credit card processing for small businesses
How a card sale reaches your bank account, what each fee pays for, and what we set up: a merchant account with Clover at the counter, or a gateway for online and phone payments.
Two-minute request. Our team in Newnan follows up.
Registered ISO · Office in Newnan, Georgia · Serving businesses nationwide
How it works
What happens when a customer pays by card
Authorization
The customer taps, inserts or swipes, or enters a card online. The sale goes through the card network to the bank that issued the card, which approves or declines it in seconds.
Settlement
At the end of the day your approved sales are sent as a batch. The issuing banks pay out, and the card networks route the money to your merchant account.
Deposit
The money from your card sales is deposited into your business bank account. Your processing agreement states the funding schedule and when fees are taken.
What you pay for
Two kinds of fees on every statement
Some fees are set by the card brands and are the same at every processor. Others are set by the processor. Knowing which is which is how you compare quotes.
Card-brand assessments
The card networks' own small percentage on sales, plus per-authorization network fees. Like interchange, they are the same whichever processor you use.
Processor markup
What the processor charges on top: a percentage, a per-item fee, or both. This is the part a quote can actually change.
Account fees
Monthly service, statement, PCI and gateway fees, and sometimes a monthly minimum. Add them in, or the rate you compare is not the rate you pay.
Know what you would pay before you switch
Send a two-minute request and a recent statement. We separate the card-brand fees from the processor's, and quote the part we can change.
- Send a two-minute requestWhat you need is already selected.
- Confirm your emailThen finish a short checklist.
- Get approvedUnderwriting reviews it and we keep you posted.
- Get set upWe set up your account and devices, and test a live sale.
In person or online
Card-present and card-not-present sales
How a card reaches you changes the risk and the cost. A tap or chip at the counter usually costs less than a card number typed in, because the card itself is verified.
At the counter
Tap, chip and swipe on a Clover device. Your customer's card is read by the device and the card data goes straight to the processor.
At the table or on the move
Handheld Clover devices take the payment where the customer is: tableside, in the bay, at the curb or at a market stall.
Online and by phone
A payment gateway takes card payments from your website, invoices, payment links and phone orders, through the processor's hosted forms.
What we set up
Your merchant account, set up with the tools you take cards on
- A merchant account matched to how you sell, priced on a model we name before you sign
- Clover devices at the counter, on the floor or on the move, installed and tested
- An NMI or Authorize.net gateway for online and phone payments
- 3.5% off for cash on in-person sales, if it fits your business
- Deposits to your business bank account, with reporting you can reconcile
- Card entry only on Clover devices and hosted processor forms; we never handle raw card numbers
Applying
What you need to apply
Every merchant account goes through underwriting. Having these ready keeps the review moving.
- Business name, address and tax ID, and the owners' details
- A voided check or bank letter for the deposit account
- A recent processing statement, if you take cards today
- Your website, with refund and contact policies, if you sell online
You upload documents through the secure checklist after you confirm your email. Please don't send statements or IDs by text or email.
FAQ
Questions owners ask
What is a merchant account?
The account that lets your business accept card payments. Approved card sales settle into it, and the money is then deposited into your business bank account. Every merchant account is subject to underwriting approval.
Is interchange-plus or flat rate better?
Flat rate is simpler to read; interchange-plus shows every card's real cost plus a set markup, which is easier to check. Which costs less depends on your card mix and your average sale, so we compare both against your own statement.
Can I take cards on my phone?
Yes. The Clover Go card reader pairs with a phone or tablet for taking payments on the move. For a full handheld with a printer, most businesses choose a Clover Flex.
Can I accept payments online and in person on one account?
Yes. We set up Clover for the counter and a gateway for online, phone and invoice payments, so in-person and online sales are handled by one team.
What is PCI compliance?
The card industry's security standard for businesses that accept cards. Many processors charge a monthly fee if the yearly security questionnaire isn't completed. Using Clover devices and hosted payment forms keeps card data off your own systems.
See what you could save.
Send a two-minute request. We read your current statement and quote your processing with the model and rates named. Our team is based in Newnan, Georgia, and we work with businesses nationwide.
See what you could saveCall (770) 629-0928
Approvals usually come back within hours, three days at most.
Book a call with our team- Call our team: (770) 629-0928
- Registered ISO; every account is subject to underwriting approval
- Based in Newnan, Georgia, serving merchants nationwide
- Card details go on the processor’s secure hosted forms; we never handle them