Business lender referral partnerships with Valued Merchant Services help qualifying commercial lenders, business loan brokers, and financing professionals connect clients with merchant processing reviews and relevant payment solutions.
When a business is preparing for funding, expanding after approval, or evaluating its ongoing operating costs, payment acceptance may be part of the conversation. Explore an additional client resource and potential referral revenue without changing your lending role.
VMS payment services referrals are separate from credit decisions, underwriting, loan pricing, and financing approvals.
Lenders and finance brokers see different sides of a business's financial operations. Some clients are preparing to open; others are purchasing equipment, funding expansion, or managing cash flow. A payment services referral should respond to a specific business need, not be attached to loan approval.
During a financing discussion, a business owner may mention payment acceptance challenges, outdated POS equipment, or concerns about processing expenses. These can suggest a separate, optional merchant services conversation.
Approved financing may support a new storefront, additional equipment, expanded service capacity, or another business initiative. The merchant may need payment technology to support the project.
Lenders and brokers may stay connected with business owners after a transaction closes. If a client independently seeks operational improvements, VMS can evaluate available processing or payment solutions.
The appropriate model depends on your licensing, financing products, contractual duties, and the businesses you serve. VMS considers each proposed partnership individually.
Brokers helping businesses compare financing options may work with restaurants, retailers, and service companies that also need payment technology.
Direct lenders may maintain ongoing relationships with business borrowers and can evaluate whether an optional, separate referral benefit fits their client-service model.
Financing equipment purchases can coincide with a new store, restaurant renovation, or operational upgrade involving payment hardware or POS software.
Brokers helping merchants evaluate working capital may encounter requests for separate operating-cost reviews or payment options.
Advisers supporting financing, growth, or business acquisitions can explore approved introductions when clients request help with merchant services.
Providers serving specific commercial markets may explore an appropriate referral model, subject to underwriting separation, business practices, and applicable requirements.
These discussions should arise from the client's stated interests. A lender should not imply that using VMS will improve credit eligibility, reduce loan payments, or influence the financing outcome.
A business borrower may be evaluating operating expenses and asks about its merchant processing costs. VMS can review merchant statements that the business owner voluntarily provides, explain applicable fees, and discuss available alternatives. The review does not replace a credit analysis or guarantee savings.
A company financing an expansion may need terminals, POS technology, ecommerce tools, or mobile payments. VMS can discuss payment needs independently of the loan and assess available solutions and compatibility.
An acquisition can require a new merchant application or payment setup for the buyer. Existing merchant accounts should not be assumed transferable. VMS can help the new operator explore appropriate options subject to provider underwriting.
Capital and payment acceptance solve different problems. A lender helps a business evaluate financing; a merchant services provider helps it evaluate how customer payments are accepted and processed.
VMS may be able to help eligible referred merchants explore processing rates, POS solutions, terminals, ecommerce gateways, ACH options, and other business services.
The business remains free to choose whether to participate. A merchant services referral is not a condition for financing.
Finance providers handle sensitive business information and have obligations that may vary by company, jurisdiction, financing product, and licensing status. VMS referral partnerships should respect those responsibilities from the outset.
A merchant's decision to use, decline, or terminate VMS services should not influence loan approval, financing terms, interest rates, underwriting, or collection activity. The appropriate separation belongs in the partnership procedures.
A merchant referral can begin with business contact information and an expressed need. Credit applications, tax returns, bank statements, underwriting notes, and confidential lending files should not be forwarded simply to generate a referral.
The lender or broker should assess whether referral compensation is permitted under its contracts, policies, licensing rules, and applicable law. Relevant financial relationships may require disclosure.
A financing agreement and a merchant services agreement serve different purposes. Each needs its own applicable terms, approvals, and service responsibilities. Neither should be presented as automatically approving the other.
We start by learning how your financing business operates, which merchant clients you serve, and what non-financing questions those clients already ask. The process then focuses on consent, eligibility, responsibilities, and written terms.
Identify common business types, financing milestones, and recurring payment needs among your customers.
Confirm the intended model, compliance boundaries, client authorization, compensation, and support roles.
Make approved introductions that are voluntary and independent of the client's financing decision.
VMS evaluates eligible payment needs. Any tracking, reporting, and compensation follow the signed agreement.
Founded in Idaho in 2006, Valued Merchant Services serves businesses across the United States with merchant processing, payment technology, and related business solutions.
Led by co-founders Sean Ruppel, CEO, and Chris Del Grande, President, VMS emphasizes consultative service and long-term merchant relationships.
Financing professionals are often asked for recommendations that extend beyond capital. We believe those introductions should be relevant, optional, and grounded in clear responsibilities for each party.
Learn more about the VMS Business Referral Partner Program and our Bank Referral Partnerships .
Illustrative image, not a photograph of an actual lending referral partner.
These answers address referrals during financing relationships, merchant statements, client consent, compensation, and the distinction between lending and payment processing.
Business lender referral partnerships are arrangements where qualifying lenders or finance brokers introduce clients to complementary business services. With VMS, the focus is on merchant processing and payment-related needs, subject to approved written terms.
VMS considers qualifying commercial loan brokers serving businesses that accept customer payments. Any arrangement must comply with relevant licenses, agreements, company policies, and applicable law.
Potentially. Eligible agreements may include one-time referral compensation or recurring revenue-sharing arrangements. Availability depends on the lender's obligations, qualifying merchant activity, and written terms. Income is not guaranteed.
An optional introduction may be considered when a client independently requests payment services information. Using VMS should not be presented as affecting loan approval or financing terms.
No. A typical merchant services introduction does not require the lender's confidential underwriting file, credit analysis, or loan application. Relevant payment documents should be shared only through an authorized process.
Yes. With proper merchant authorization, VMS can evaluate processing statements, pricing, and available alternatives. A review does not guarantee lower fees or financing approval.
Potentially. A business financing new equipment may also be purchasing terminals, evaluating POS technology, or establishing payment acceptance for a location. An approved, optional introduction may be appropriate.
VMS considers eligible referrals from working capital brokers. Merchant processing solutions remain separate from the financing product and its underwriting or repayment terms.
No. Merchant processing and business credit are distinct services with different eligibility, approvals, provider obligations, and contracts. The proposed referral should be evaluated on its own terms.
This proposed program is designed for voluntary merchant introductions. VMS participation should not be made a condition for obtaining financing through the referring lender or broker.
No automatic sharing is assumed. Any data transfer should follow the relevant consent, confidentiality, contract, privacy, and security requirements. Sensitive loan application materials should not be repurposed for referrals.
VMS can discuss the merchant's specific situation. Depending on eligibility and availability, the merchant may wish to review its current pricing, explore another business service, or take no action.
Not necessarily. A referral-only partnership may allow approved introductions while VMS conducts the relevant merchant services discussions. Responsibilities are defined by the agreement.
Requirements depend on the specific financial relationship, business recommendations, applicable law, licensing, institutional policy, and contractual obligations. Each prospective partner should assess its duties.
This page focuses on business loan brokers and commercial finance providers. Banks and credit unions may have additional institutional, supervisory, and regulatory requirements. VMS also provides separate informational pages for those institutions.
Complete the inquiry form below or call 208-243-0818. Describe the kinds of financing you provide, the businesses you serve, and the payment services questions your clients encounter. An initial discussion is nonbinding.
Whether you operate a commercial loan brokerage, business funding company, equipment finance firm, or another eligible financing business, we'd welcome a conversation about your clients and the merchant needs you encounter.
Form not displaying? Open the partnership inquiry form directly.
A referral inquiry is not a financing application or credit offer. It does not establish a partnership, guarantee merchant savings, or guarantee referral revenue.
Valued Merchant Services provides or facilitates business services subject to eligibility, provider availability, underwriting where applicable, and contractual terms. Merchant services referrals are independent of any lender's credit decisions, financing terms, loan approval, or collection activity. A lender or finance broker must evaluate its own licensing, privacy, consent, contractual, disclosure, and regulatory duties. Referral income and merchant processing savings are not guaranteed. Any available compensation is governed by an approved written agreement. VMS is not represented on this page as an underwriter or approver of the referring company's loans. This page does not constitute legal, credit, or compliance advice. Images are illustrative.