One of the more vital and difficult decisions a business can make is what provider it will utilize for payment processing.

To find the best provider for your specific business needs, consider a vendor's rates, service, terms, solutions and incentives before making any decision. In a Vantage's Merchant Poll Survey, we found that rate, meaning interchange and price structure, is the most important consideration for many businesses, followed by payment solutions and then merchant service considerations. However we always caution merchants with advice to not ignore the fine print.  Being too focused on flashy marketing can lead to a bad decision.  Always read the fine print legalese to avoid hidden fees and early termination fees.  

"The best credit card processor is one designed with your small business's unique needs in mind," Business News Daily writes. "It not only allows you to pick and choose the types of services that are best suited for your products and services, but is also budget friendly."

At Vantage, we believe that your business deserves more than a generic "rate-as-low-as" rate quote, which is why we offer a detail proposal with a customizable rate structure depending on your specific needs. Furthermore, updating an old, outdated system can be a confusing process for a small company.  As a best practice it is best to avoid 'proprietary' solutions tied to a single processor and recognize there are always other options with similar features.  Look for open platforms.  Once you are locked into a particular software, leverage on processing rates is lost unless there is a willingness to endure the pain to start over with a new system. 

Before finalizing your decision, NerdWallet suggest you should search on the Better Business Bureau's website to know whether or not a vendor is accredited.  A Google search on the company name + 'complaints' can also be insightful into other merchants' experiences.

Vantage offers the best value package of rates, service, terms, technology and incentives in the payments industry.  We provide free consultations to answer your questions and help you understand what systems will fit your company best.  Contact us today to learn more about how we've served merchant clients located in all 50 states for nearly 20 years.