Phone & Remote Card Payments
Accept credit and debit cards by phone, mail order or payment link through a secure virtual terminal.
Credit Card Processing for High-Risk & Online Businesses
Payment Circle
CREDIT CARD PAYMENT PROCESSING
Credit Card Processing for Small & Growing Businesses
Accept credit and debit card payments with reliable credit card processing built around your business. Payment Circle helps eligible U.S. businesses explore payment processing solutions based on their industry, transaction volume, sales channels, and business needs.
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Flexible Processing Options
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Built for High-Risk & Online Brands
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Secure Payment Technology
Availability, approval, rates, limits, settlement schedules, and account conditions are determined by the applicable processor or financial institution.
Credit card processing allows businesses to accept card payments from customers and receive funds through the payment network. Behind every card transaction, a credit card processor works with the merchant, acquiring bank, card networks, and issuing bank to authorize and settle the payment.
Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore credit card processing solutions that fit their operating model, transaction volume, and sales channels. Whether you run an e-commerce brand, a subscription or SaaS business, a professional service, or another eligible online business, we can help you explore suitable processing options.
The right processing setup depends on your business model, transaction profile, sales channels, and applicable processor requirements.
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING SOLUTIONS
Credit Card Processing Built Around Your Business
Accept payments across the channels your customers use with flexible credit card processing solutions for eligible businesses.
Secure Card Processing
Process customer card payments through supported payment technology designed around your business and transaction requirements.
EMV & Contactless Payments
Support compatible chip, tap-to-pay, and other modern card payment methods where available.
PCI-Compliant Payment Options
Explore payment solutions designed to support secure card transactions and applicable payment security requirements.
Online Credit Card Processing
Accept card payments through eligible ecommerce websites and online sales channels using compatible payment processing solutions.
Transaction Management
Access payment processing capabilities that can help businesses manage transactions across their supported sales channels.
BUSINESS-SPECIFIC PROCESSING
Credit Card Processing for Different Business Needs
Credit card processing requirements can vary significantly between businesses. Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore solutions based on their industry, transaction volume, average ticket, sales channels, and payment requirements.
Explore Processing Options
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Supplement & Nutraceutical Brands
Card processing for vitamin, sports nutrition and wellness brands, including supplement merchant accounts with subscription billing.
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Subscription & Auto-Ship Businesses
Recurring billing for subscription and auto-ship models, with clear renewal terms that help keep chargebacks low. See subscription payment processing.
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Ecommerce Businesses
Process credit card payments through supported online stores and ecommerce payment systems.
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Professional Services
Accept card payments for eligible professional and service-based businesses.
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Growing Businesses
Explore processing solutions that can accommodate changing transaction volumes and business requirements.
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Multi-Channel Businesses
Support payments across eligible online, phone, invoice and remote sales channels.
HOW IT WORKS
How Does Credit Card Processing Work?
When a customer pays by credit or debit card, the transaction moves through several parties before the payment is approved and funds are transferred to the business.
Customer Payment
The customer enters, taps, or swipes their card through a compatible payment method.
Authorization
The payment request is sent through the appropriate processing network to verify whether the transaction can be approved.
Transaction Processing
The credit card processor facilitates communication between the merchant, payment networks, and financial institutions involved in the transaction.
Settlement & Funding
Once the transaction is processed, funds are settled and transferred to the merchant according to the applicable processing and funding schedule.
PROCESSING RATES & FEES
Understanding Credit Card Processing Rates & Fees
Credit card processing costs can vary depending on factors such as transaction type, processing volume, average ticket size, card type, business model, and the applicable processing agreement. Small businesses may have different pricing considerations than larger or higher-volume businesses.
Processing Rates
Rates can vary based on transaction characteristics, pricing structure, and applicable processor terms.
Processing Fees
Businesses may encounter different fees associated with payment processing, account services, transactions, or other applicable services.
Your Business Profile
Transaction volume, average ticket, sales channels, industry, and processing history may influence available pricing and terms.
YOUR PROCESSING PARTNER
What Does a Credit Card Processor Do?
A credit card processor facilitates the electronic communication and processing required to authorize and settle card transactions. It connects the various parties involved in a card payment and helps move approved transactions through the payment network toward settlement.
Explore Merchant Account SolutionsTransaction Authorization
Helps facilitate communication required to authorize card transactions.
Payment Network Connectivity
Supports the movement of transaction information between relevant payment participants.
Settlement & Funding
Facilitates the processing of approved transactions through to merchant funding.
Transaction Support
Provides processing infrastructure and services according to the applicable agreement.
SECURE CARD PAYMENTS
Secure Credit Card Payment Processing
Businesses need payment processing that supports secure transactions across their sales channels. Payment Circle helps eligible businesses explore compatible processing solutions with security features and requirements appropriate to their payment environment.
Security features and capabilities vary by processor, payment technology, and business setup.
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EMV-enabled payment options
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Contactless payment support
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Secure online payment options
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Tokenization where supported
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Fraud-prevention capabilities where available
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PCI-related payment security considerations
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Information You May Need for Credit Card Processing
When applying for credit card processing, the applicable processor or financial institution may review information about your business and payment activity to determine eligibility, pricing, and account terms.
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Business Information
Legal business name, business structure, contact information, and business details.
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Business Location
Information about where your business operates and where customers make purchases.
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Products & Services
Details about the products or services you sell.
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Processing Volume
Expected monthly processing volume and average transaction size.
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Sales Channels
Whether you accept payments online, by phone, through payment links or on a recurring schedule.
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Processing History
Previous merchant account or payment processing history, where applicable.
What is the cheapest way to take card payments?
For most small businesses with steady monthly sales, interchange-plus pricing on a dedicated merchant account is the most cost-effective option, because you pay the card networks' actual cost plus one clearly stated markup. Flat-rate pricing is simpler and can suit very low volumes, but often costs more as sales grow.
Interchange-plusYou pay interchange at cost plus a fixed markup (interchange plus a set percentage and per-transaction fee). Transparent and usually the lowest overall cost for growing businesses.
Flat-rateOne percentage for every card type. Easy to understand, but you pay the same rate on low-cost debit cards as on premium rewards cards.
TieredTransactions are grouped into qualified, mid-qualified and non-qualified rates. Hard to compare and often more expensive than it first appears.
See our published credit card processing pricing and plans.
Card fees
Can you pass credit card fees to customers?
In most U.S. states, businesses can add a surcharge to credit card payments, but the rules are strict.
- Network rules — card networks cap the surcharge amount and require clear disclosure before checkout and on the receipt.
- Debit cards — surcharges are not allowed on debit or prepaid cards, even when run as credit.
- State laws — a few states restrict or prohibit surcharging, so check your state’s rules first.
- Alternatives — cash discount programs and convenience fees are other options, each with its own requirements.
Getting paid
How small businesses accept card payments
Most online and service businesses use a mix of these, all connected to one merchant account.
- Online checkout — customers pay on your website through a payment gateway such as NMI or Authorize.net.
- Phone and mail orders — your team keys in payments with a virtual terminal.
- Invoices and payment links — send a secure link by email or text and get paid online.
- Recurring billing — charge customers automatically for subscriptions and payment plans.
- Bank payments — add ACH or eCheck for larger invoices with lower fees.
Quick fee estimate
How much could ACH save you?
Enter your monthly card sales and see a rough yearly saving from moving part of them to ACH bank payments. It takes 10 seconds.
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Example fees: cards at a 2.9% + $0.30 flat rate; ACH at $0.50 per payment plus $10 a month, including typical chargeback and return costs. Your actual rates depend on your business and underwriting. Nothing you type is saved.
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FAQS
Common Questions About Credit Card Processing
Review common questions about how credit card processing works, pricing, applying, and eligibility.
Ask a Payment SpecialistCredit card processing involves authorization, transaction processing, and settlement between the merchant, processor, card networks, and financial institutions involved in the transaction.
Credit card processing costs vary depending on factors such as transaction volume, average ticket, card type, sales channel, pricing structure, and applicable processor terms.
Credit card processing rates are the costs associated with processing card transactions. The applicable rate and pricing structure depend on the processor, business profile, transaction characteristics, and agreement.
Businesses can contact Payment Circle to provide information about their business and payment needs. Eligible businesses can then explore available processing options with the applicable provider.
Yes. Eligible small businesses can explore credit card processing solutions based on their industry, transaction volume, sales channels, and other applicable requirements.
Yes. Eligible subscription and membership businesses can accept recurring card payments through a compatible payment gateway with stored cards and scheduled billing.
Contact Payment Circle with information about your business, expected processing volume, average transaction size, and sales channels to explore available processing options and applicable pricing.
GET STARTED
Ready to Accept Credit Card Payments?
Explore credit card processing options built around your business needs. Tell Payment Circle about your business and payment requirements to explore available merchant account and processing solutions.
Credit card processing is subject to provider eligibility, authorization, compliance, technical, and underwriting requirements.