In 2026, 96% of small U.S. merchants accepted credit or debit cards. Customers expect to pay in ways that fit how they shop, whether at a counter or online.
Our Merchant Services for Small Business help owners accept in-person, online and mobile payments. The right setup depends on where sales happen and which tools a business already uses. Payment processing affects checkout speed, records and the cost of each sale, so it deserves a careful look.
We help businesses assess how they take payments, what they need at checkout and what support they expect. A useful starting point is to identify where customers pay and what the business needs at each checkout.
Key Takeaways
- Match payment channels to the way customers buy.
- A merchant account temporarily receives card proceeds during settlement.
- Transaction charges can apply even when an account has no monthly fee.
- Compare total costs, not just the listed rate.
- Check account setup, security and support before choosing a provider.
- Use recent sales records to request pricing for your real transaction mix.
What Do Merchant Services Include?
A neighborhood shop might use a register and card reader, while an online seller needs a checkout gateway. Merchant services connect these tools with the financial steps that move a payment toward the business bank account.
A merchant account is an account that temporarily receives card proceeds during settlement before funds move to the business bank account. A merchant services provider connects the tools and financial services used to accept and process electronic payments. In banking, merchant services mean the systems and services that help a business take electronic payments.
Authorization approves a card sale, while settlement moves the proceeds through the merchant account before they reach the business bank account.
POS systems and card readers
POS systems combine checkout hardware and software. The software can calculate sales tax, apply discounts, process payments, track purchases and run reports. A card reader is one part of that system, not the whole setup.
A card reader handles the payment interaction, while the POS system can also manage checkout records and sales reports.
What providers connect behind the sale
When a customer pays, the terminal or gateway sends the transaction for authorization. The acquiring side routes the request through payment networks to the card issuer. The issuer approves or declines it, and the response returns to checkout.
After approval, electronic card settlement typically takes 24-48 hours. The acquiring side sends proceeds to the merchant account during settlement, then funds move to the business bank account. The New York Fed payment glossary defines settlement and related payment terms.
- Terminal or reader
- POS software
- Online gateway
- Settlement account
An online gateway securely passes payment details from a checkout page for processing. The provider links that gateway, in-store tools and financial services, so sales can be handled across the systems the business uses.
Which Payment Methods and Sales Channels Should You Offer?
A retailer with a counter and a website needs to consider both tap-at-checkout and online checkout options. Match payment options to the way customers complete a sale, rather than assuming every business needs every method.
Small U.S. merchants accepted credit or debit cards at a 96% rate in 2026, digital wallets at 92%, and cash at 78%. Card, wallet and cash acceptance each reach a large share of small merchants, but your sales mix should guide your choices.
A business accepting credit cards can also consider debit cards, contactless payments and digital wallets. In-person acceptance covers card-present sales, where a card or device is presented at checkout. Online orders are card-not-present transactions because the card is not physically presented.
In-person tools can support chip, swipe or tap transactions. An online checkout may take card details or a wallet payment through a gateway. A mobile seller may need a portable reader or phone-based checkout, while a service business may collect payment after a job.
Elavon accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, along with contactless payments, Apple Pay and PayPal. These payment types can suit different customer habits, but accepting more options can also mean more checkout tools and transaction types to manage.
For a small business seeking credit-card acceptance, the key question is where card sales happen. A shop with most sales at a counter may prioritize chip and contactless checkout. A business that takes orders through its website needs an online payment path, even if it also serves customers in person.
Mobile acceptance can help businesses that sell at events or visit customers. It is less useful when every payment happens through a fixed checkout. Consider the channels that already bring in sales and the ones the business plans to add soon.
Choose payment types by checking which channels actually drive sales, rather than adding tools customers are unlikely to use.
How Much Do Merchant Services for Small Business Cost?
Elavon’s listed starting rate is 2.60% + 12¢ for a qualified in-person swipe or chip payment. Online processing starts at 3.30% + 30¢ per qualified transaction.
Rates can depend on transaction qualification and payment channel. The table compares listed starting rates, not a promise that every transaction will receive the same rate.
Elavon’s listed rates and fees
| Provider | Channel and starting rate | Transaction basis |
|---|---|---|
| Elavon | In-person, 2.60% + 12¢ | Qualified swipe or chip |
| Elavon | Online, 3.30% + 30¢ | Qualified transaction |
| Bank of America | In-person, 2.65% + 10¢ | Listed rate |
| Square | In-person, 2.6% + 15¢ | Listed rate |
| Square | Online, 2.9% + 30¢ | Listed rate |
Bank of America lists online e-commerce pricing at 2.99% + 30¢. Elavon lists $0 annual, batch, additional authorization, cancellation and early termination fees. A $0 annual fee does not remove transaction charges.
A free merchant service is not the same as free card processing. A $0 annual fee or account fee can still come with charges for each transaction. Free services may mean no fixed account charge, not that sales cost nothing to process.
What changes the total processing cost
Flat-rate pricing applies a set percentage and transaction charge to payments in a pricing plan. Interchange-plus pricing separates interchange and network costs from the processor’s markup. Interchange fees range from 1% to 3% and are nonnegotiable.
Card-network assessment fees have base costs of 0.13% to 0.15%. Interchange and assessment fees make up roughly 70% to 90% of processing costs. Processor fees account for about 20% to 25% of total transaction costs, in addition to fees imposed by issuing banks and card networks.
Flat-rate pricing may suit a business processing $8,000 or less per month, or with average transactions under $50. A business with higher volume or larger sales may want to compare an interchange-plus offer. A flat-rate pricing threshold gives owners a starting point for that comparison.
Other costs can include a gateway, minimum processing charge or equipment expense. Businesses with online sales may need a gateway, while a storefront may need compatible terminals or readers. Ask how each item appears on the monthly statement.
Compare the full statement, including per-transaction charges and any gateway, minimum or equipment costs, before judging a rate by its headline percentage.
Is a Free Account the Same as Free Processing?
“Free” can describe an account’s monthly or setup charge without making each card transaction free. Transaction charges can still apply each time a customer pays by card.
A free merchant account can have no monthly fees or setup costs while still charging transaction-processing fees. Check which costs a zero-fee offer removes, since it may leave processing and dispute charges in place.
Dedicated and aggregated account structures
An aggregated merchant account groups multiple merchants under a payment facilitator’s primary merchant account. Square and PayPal use aggregated merchant accounts. The payment facilitator manages the shared account arrangement for its merchant clients.
A dedicated merchant account is held separately for one merchant. That structure gives the business its own merchant account rather than placing its transactions under a shared primary account. The account setup is one part of the offer, separate from transaction pricing.
Monthly fees, transaction charges and dispute costs
Square lists a $0 monthly merchant-account fee and flat-rate pricing. Its chargeback fee is waived up to $250 per month. A chargeback occurs when a cardholder disputes a payment through their card issuer.
Helcim lists a $0 monthly fee, interchange-plus pricing and automated volume discounts. Its $15 chargeback fee is refundable. Payment Depot lists no paid-plan starting fee, custom interchange-plus pricing and a $25 chargeback fee.
| Provider | Monthly or starting fee | Pricing structure | Chargeback fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | $0 monthly account fee | Flat-rate pricing | Waived up to $250 per month |
| Helcim | $0 monthly fee | Interchange-plus with automated volume discounts | $15, refundable |
| Payment Depot | No paid-plan starting fee | Custom interchange-plus pricing | $25 |
Stripe lists a $15 chargeback fee. Dispute costs matter because a business may pay them even when the disputed transaction was processed months earlier.
Monthly account charges, transaction rates, equipment and chargeback terms can sit in different parts of a provider’s offer. One free item does not make the other costs disappear. Look at each cost on its own rather than treating “free” as a complete pricing description.
Ask whether a quoted zero-fee offer applies to the account, the transaction, the equipment or only one of those costs.
Can You Add a Card Surcharge or Convenience Fee?
A surcharge and a convenience fee are not interchangeable ways to label the same extra charge. The trigger differs: a surcharge is tied to credit-card use, while a convenience fee relates to a nonstandard payment channel.
State and card-network rules control when a surcharge is allowed and how it must be disclosed. Check the rules that apply before adding a charge at checkout.
Credit-card surcharges have location and network rules
Credit-card surcharges are generally permitted in the United States, subject to state and card-network rules. Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico prohibit credit-card surcharging.
Visa caps surcharges at 3%, while Mastercard caps them at 4%. A surcharge must be disclosed before the customer completes the transaction. A business should not add one to debit-card payments under the credit-card surcharge rules described here.
The charge must be handled as a surcharge, not renamed to avoid the rules. The Arkansas Attorney General’s credit-card guidance distinguishes percentage-based surcharges from fixed convenience fees.
Convenience fees use a different trigger
A convenience fee applies when a customer uses a nonstandard payment channel. It does not apply specifically because the customer uses a credit card. It is typically a flat amount that the business discloses before payment.
Elavon’s convenience-fee program applies to card-not-present payments. The program charges a flat amount regardless of payment value and requires disclosure before the transaction is completed.
Visa is the only card brand Elavon says requires registration for its service-fee program. Registration may take up to 45 days. That program has its own conditions, so a business should not treat a convenience fee as a substitute for reviewing those terms.
Confirm the applicable state and network rules and provide the required disclosure before a customer completes payment.
What Must You Set Up Before Accepting Payments?
Before taking a first payment, a business needs its legal and banking setup in place. Start by checking federal, state and local requirements, then confirm which registrations fit the company’s actual work.
An EIN is a nine-digit IRS number that a business may need for a bank account, payroll and tax filings. Business registration can involve federal tax steps, state LLC or corporation formation, and a local business license.
Register the legal business and obtain its EIN
Use this five-step checklist to prepare the business:
- Confirm federal, state and local business requirements.
- Apply for an EIN when needed.
- Register a DBA when operating under a different name.
- Check local and industry permits.
- Determine whether the company’s actual activities make it an MSB.
A business with a U.S. Social Security Number, address and phone number can apply for an EIN free through the IRS website. Fax or mail applications can take up to four weeks.
A sole proprietor or LLC often needs to file a DBA when it uses a name different from its legal name. A DBA records the business name used with customers, while the legal entity remains the owner or company.
Permits can vary by state, county and city. A local business license may be separate from an industry permit, so check both before opening. The bank may also ask for business records when the company sets up its bank account.
Check whether the activity is an MSB
A money services business, or MSB, has separate FinCEN registration rules. Payment processing alone does not establish MSB status. The company should classify its actual activities with FinCEN or qualified counsel.
An MSB generally files FinCEN Form 107 within 180 days of establishment and renews its registration every two years. An MSB acting solely as an agent of another MSB is not required to register with FinCEN.
An MSB must keep its registration form and supporting documents at a U.S. location for five years. Certain ownership or control changes can trigger re-registration within 180 days.
Triggers include a transfer of more than 10% of voting power or equity, or an increase of more than 50% in agents. A business should record changes in ownership and agent count so it can spot a filing deadline.
For general guidance, our legal and tax disclaimer explains that website information is not a substitute for professional advice. The company’s specific activity and location can shape its requirements, so keep the final classification tied to its operations.
Check the relevant state, county and city licensing rules as well as federal obligations before launch.
How Do You Choose the Best Provider for Your Business?
A provider is a good fit when its channels, systems and support match the way a business actually sells. Best means a practical match, not a universal ranking.
Elavon is a fit for a small business needing integrated in-person, online and mobile acceptance. Elavon is a U.S. Bank company, and its solutions can integrate with an existing POS system. Confirm that the provider supports the business’s required channels and current tools before signing.
Match the provider to sales channels and integrations
Square may fit an owner who prefers an aggregated account arrangement. Helcim may fit a business considering interchange-plus pricing and automated volume discounts. These are use-case matches, not claims that one provider suits every business.
Start with a short list of needs:
- Required sales channels
- Compatibility with existing POS or accounting tools
- Support, security and dispute-management needs
A store that sells at a counter and online needs systems that can keep those sales connected. A service business may need mobile acceptance or a way to take payments remotely. Check whether the provider’s software can share useful records with the accounting tools already in place.
Integration can depend on the POS model, software version and payment hardware. Confirm integration and hardware compatibility before signing, especially when the business plans to keep its current terminal or register.
Compare support, security and operating needs
PCI DSS is the payment-card security standard businesses should account for when comparing payment systems. Ask how the provider helps the business protect payment data and handle security tasks. Also review how staff will manage refunds, disputes and daily deposits.
Support matters most when a payment issue blocks a sale or delays access to funds. Compare available support hours and the ways a business can reach a real person. A small shop with limited staff may need a different level of help than a business with its own finance team.
Growth changes the fit over time. More online orders may call for new checkout tools, while a second location may need added terminals and shared reporting. A setup that works today should not make those changes needlessly hard.
Do not sign until the provider confirms that its payment tools work with the POS hardware and software the business plans to keep.
Compare the provider against a written list of must-have tools and the business’s expected growth, not just the initial checkout setup.
How Do You Reach Support and Check an Unexpected Call?
A support route should be clear before a payment, settlement or account issue disrupts a business day. Use a provider’s listed customer-support channel for account questions, and use its sales contact options for a new service inquiry.
Elavon’s locally based, multilingual customer-support team is available 24/7. Elavon sales are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. EST. Prospective customers can request a callback through Elavon’s contact options.
Get the right support route
Merchant One customer service is available at 800-910-8375. Its accountant team can be reached at 800-610-4189, and international-client support is at 305-535-8557.
Keep the right contact details with account records, so staff can find them during a busy shift. A statement can also help identify the account and the service tied to a question. Do not assume every provider uses the same number for sales and service.
Verify unexpected sales calls
A merchant-services call may be a sales approach or an account-related contact. An unexpected caller may offer a new service, ask about a payment issue or claim to need account details. The call alone does not prove the caller represents the provider.
Verify an unexpected caller through a number you find independently on an account statement or the provider’s official website.
After you reach the provider through that separate number, ask whether the caller works with your account. A real account issue can still be checked without using the contact details given during the call.
Do not share login credentials, one-time codes or cardholder data with an unverified caller.
Conclusion
A payment setup should fit both today’s sales and the costs a business can sustain as it grows. The right choice balances sales channels, total transaction costs and dependable support.
Before requesting a quote, gather recent sales records and list the channels the business needs. A real transaction mix gives providers a clearer basis for pricing than a general estimate. It also helps reveal whether the current checkout tools can stay in place.
Gather a recent processing statement and request pricing against the business’s real transaction mix.