Credit card processing should make it easier to run your business, not harder to understand your fees. Valued Merchant Services helps businesses accept credit and debit cards, compare processing rates, choose compatible payment equipment, and access personal support.
Whether you're opening a new business, reviewing an expensive merchant account, or updating your point-of-sale system, we'll help you evaluate processing options that fit how your customers pay.
Rates, equipment, funding options, approvals, and available features depend on the business, provider, and merchant agreement. Rate reviews are free and carry no obligation to switch.
A merchant account affects more than the amount deducted from each sale. It also influences how you accept payments, when deposits arrive, which software can connect, and who you contact when something goes wrong.
For example, a business accepting hundreds of small in-person purchases has different priorities from a contractor collecting large invoices remotely.
Likewise, a restaurant may prioritize tipping, split checks, and tableside service, while an ecommerce business may need a payment gateway, fraud controls, and recurring billing.
Therefore, VMS evaluates the entire payment setup: transaction pricing, equipment, software, settlement, compatibility, and support.
If your existing arrangement is already serving you well, we'll tell you that too.
Select a payment method that matches where customers pay, how transactions are entered, and which operating tools your business needs.
Accept eligible chip, contactless, and other card transactions with compatible standalone terminals.
Best for: Merchants needing straightforward checkout without a full POS register.
Check: Connectivity, receipt options, hardware compatibility, and transaction costs.
Combine card processing with supported retail, restaurant, or service software.
VMS can help evaluate eligible Clover, Square, SkyTab, and other POS options.
Check: Software subscriptions, integrations, processor restrictions, and equipment costs.
Accept card payments through compatible online checkout, payment gateways, and website integrations.
Eligible configurations may support APIs, tokenization, and subscription payments.
Check: Gateway costs, fraud tools, integration support, and card-not-present pricing.
Accept eligible card payments at events, customer locations, job sites, or tableside using approved portable devices.
Check: Network coverage, battery life, hardware, and receipt delivery.
Authorized staff can collect eligible payments through supported secure virtual terminals and compatible invoicing tools.
Check: Staff permissions, secure entry procedures, invoicing fees, and accounting integrations.
Approved gateways and compatible software may support authorized recurring transactions and tokenized payment credentials.
Check: Customer consent, recurring billing rules, cancellation procedures, and software charges.
Compatibility comes first. Not every terminal works with every merchant processor. Likewise, different POS systems impose different software, hardware, and processing requirements.
VMS can review existing equipment before recommending replacements.
A quoted percentage is not necessarily your total cost. Compare transaction charges, network costs, software, equipment, and merchant account fees together.
Interchange-plus pricing generally separates issuing-bank interchange, card-brand fees, and processor markup.
It can make the sources of processing expenses easier to review.
Evaluate: The markup, per-item charges, monthly fees, and resulting total effective cost.
Flat-rate plans generally combine multiple costs into a simpler transaction rate.
This may be convenient, although the total can vary in competitiveness depending on your card mix and volume.
Evaluate: The complete fee schedule rather than the advertised rate alone.
Eligible programs may allow properly disclosed cash and card prices or a genuine cash discount.
These arrangements may help offset certain merchant processing expenses.
Evaluate: Applicable laws, card-network requirements, customer disclosures, and the remaining fees.
Surcharging is different. Credit card surcharging has separate network and legal requirements. Surcharges cannot be applied to debit or prepaid cards under major card-network rules.
For more detail, read our guide to surcharging, cash discounting, and dual pricing .
Processing costs differ because card types, transaction amounts, sales channels, and account agreements differ.
For example, a retailer accepting mostly in-person debit payments may have a different effective rate from an online business accepting rewards cards.
An effective rate is calculated by dividing applicable processing fees by corresponding card volume, then multiplying by 100.
For example, $900 in processing fees on $30,000 of card volume equals a 3.00% effective processing rate.
However, a meaningful comparison must use matching transaction periods and include the appropriate recurring and per-item charges.
Payment gateways, equipment leases, software subscriptions, PCI programs, and occasional fees may materially affect the complete cost.
Start with real numbers. Your processing statement gives us a more reliable starting point than an advertisement. A free rate review helps identify which pricing differences actually matter.
Valued Merchant Services believes business owners deserve clear explanations of what they pay to accept cards.
Let us review your current processing statement. If we cannot beat your current rates and fees, VMS offers $500, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements and offer terms.
We'll evaluate your card volume, transaction profile, effective rate, and available alternatives.
If the numbers support a better arrangement, we'll explain the comparison. If your current provider is already a good fit, we'll tell you.
You do not need to switch processors to request a review.
The best equipment and pricing arrangement depend on how the business operates.
Evaluate tipping, split checks, tableside payments, restaurant software, and kitchen workflows.
Priority: Reliable checkout and predictable full POS operating costs.
Compare countertop checkout, mobile wallets, returns, inventory, and gift or loyalty tools.
Priority: Equipment compatibility and transaction-volume pricing.
Collect payments in the field, through invoices, or via supported remote payment tools.
Priority: Larger-ticket costs and invoicing integration.
Review front-desk transactions, remote collections, specialty payment eligibility, and security obligations.
Priority: Practice software compatibility and secure payment procedures.
Accept payments for parts, repairs, and service invoices using supported terminals and software.
Priority: Service integration, disputes, and higher-ticket transactions.
Evaluate hosted checkout, gateways, fraud controls, recurring billing, and integrations.
Priority: Card-not-present pricing and secure online payments.
Cash flow matters. VMS helps eligible merchants evaluate instant, same-day, and next-day funding arrangements where available.
Funding timing depends on the processor, merchant account, settlement cutoff, bank, and applicable underwriting conditions.
For example, a card transaction may receive authorization immediately but still require clearing and settlement.
Additionally, holidays, account reviews, reserves, or unusual transaction activity may affect deposit timing.
We'll explain the available deposit schedule and any related charges before you rely on it.
A secure payment environment depends on equipment, software, business procedures, and employee practices.
Eligible solutions may use EMV chip acceptance, encryption, tokenization, and other security controls.
However, using a modern terminal does not automatically make an entire business PCI compliant or eliminate fraud risk.
Merchants remain responsible for applicable PCI DSS requirements, safe handling of payment information, and relevant dispute procedures.
VMS can help merchants evaluate available payment security tools and identify the appropriate support resources.
A good proposal makes the real costs, obligations, and service arrangements clear.
| Area | What to Ask | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fees | What are the rates, per-item fees, and recurring charges? | The advertised rate may exclude other costs. |
| Hardware | Can I retain my terminal? Who owns new equipment? | Replacement and leasing can add long-term costs. |
| Software | What subscriptions, gateways, and apps are required? | Recurring software fees may materially affect the total. |
| Deposits | What are the cutoffs, deposit schedule, and possible holds? | Funding conditions affect cash flow. |
| Agreement | What is the term, renewal policy, and cancellation cost? | Future obligations matter beyond today's pricing. |
| Support | Who handles disputes, technical issues, and account questions? | Clear accountability is important when problems arise. |
Whether you already process cards or are opening a new business, our process starts with understanding your requirements.
Share your industry, payment channels, estimated volume, and current equipment.
Existing merchants can provide a statement.
Review pricing, compatible terminals, POS systems, gateways, and funding options.
If you choose VMS, the appropriate provider reviews the merchant application and documents.
Coordinate approved equipment, configuration, settlement details, and available training and support.
Start with a free statement review. We'll evaluate your actual fees before recommending any change.
Valued Merchant Services has served businesses nationwide since 2006. Our solutions include merchant accounts, POS systems, ecommerce payments, and related services.
Chris Del Grande, President and Co-Founder of VMS, has worked with merchants on payment technology since founding the company.
Our philosophy is people before profits. We believe merchants deserve straightforward advice about rates, equipment, and business requirements.
Rather than recommending changes just to sell a new account, we look at whether a different solution actually helps.
Get to know Valued Merchant Services beyond the numbers. Then explore how our team can help your business evaluate credit card processing options, equipment, and pricing.
This is an existing VMS video. Product availability, equipment, processing rates, and promotions should be confirmed against current VMS offers.
This is the VMS credit card processing service page. Our separate articles explain the underlying financial details in greater depth.
Learn where processing fees appear, how to calculate effective rates, and which statement charges deserve further review.
Understand different pricing arrangements, customer-facing disclosures, and applicable card-network rules.
Answers about merchant accounts, processing costs, payment equipment, funding, and getting started.
Costs depend on transaction volume, card types, payment channels, pricing model, and account fees. They may include interchange, card-brand assessments, processor markup, transaction charges, software, and equipment. A complete statement provides a stronger comparison than an advertised percentage.
VMS offers a free statement analysis to evaluate existing costs and available alternatives. Eligible merchants may qualify for different rates or pricing arrangements. Actual savings depend on processing activity, current costs, and applicable terms.
Interchange-plus generally separates issuing-bank interchange, applicable card-brand fees, and processor markup. It can make costs easier to review, although total pricing still depends on the agreement.
Eligible cash discount or dual pricing programs may help offset some traditional processing expenses. However, underlying network costs remain, additional fees may apply, and programs must comply with relevant rules. No universal elimination of costs is guaranteed.
Possibly. Compatibility depends on the device, processor, software, and provider restrictions. VMS can review your model before recommending replacement equipment.
Yes. VMS helps eligible merchants evaluate multiple POS options, including supported Clover configurations. Clover through VMS requires an eligible Fiserv-connected processing arrangement. Other systems have separate compatibility terms. Visit our Clover POS systems page for details.
Eligible instant, same-day, and next-day funding programs may be available. Actual funding depends on processor, bank, settlement cutoff, account status, and program terms. No timing is guaranteed for every transaction.
Eligible terminals and POS systems support contactless cards and compatible wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Availability depends on the device, processing configuration, and card support.
Approval varies by provider, industry, underwriting requirements, documentation, and integration needs. Some accounts may be approved quickly, while others require additional review.
No processing provider or terminal alone automatically establishes a merchant's full PCI DSS compliance. Merchants remain responsible for applicable requirements throughout their payment environment.
No. Our statement analysis is free and carries no obligation to change providers. VMS reviews your actual costs, explains possible alternatives, and will tell you if your current arrangement is a better fit.
You can contact VMS without a prior merchant statement. Share your industry, expected card volume, payment channels, location, and equipment needs. We can help you explore suitable new merchant account arrangements.
Compare processing costs, understand equipment options, and work with a merchant services company serving businesses since 2006.
Whether you're already accepting cards or opening a new business, VMS can help you evaluate your next step.
New merchant? Contact VMS to get started.
Free rate reviews carry no obligation to switch. Processing approvals, pricing, equipment, available funding, potential savings, and service conditions depend on applicable provider and merchant terms.
Review related services and educational resources from Valued Merchant Services.