Merchant services for retail
Retail card processing that funds inventory, not float.
Every day your card sales sit in settlement is a day that money isn't buying inventory. Next-day funding is the standard here, and your rate is interchange-plus so you can see the markup on every statement.
- ✓Next-day funding on every batch, no payout fee
- ✓Countertop terminals, PIN pads, and POS-integrated readers
- ✓Interchange-plus pricing with the markup disclosed
- ✓Underwritten by a person in 24 to 48 hours
$3.9B
Annual volume
5.2M
Annual transactions
65K
Clients
2001
In business since
PCI DSS Level 1
A-LIGN certified
HIPAA
A-LIGN certified
Partnering with industry leaders
Retail margins are thin. Your processing rate matters more than most.
On a 40 percent gross margin, a half point of unnecessary processing cost is real money off the bottom line every single month. Flat-rate pricing hides exactly how much.
Pricing
See the markup, every month
Interchange-plus means you pay true card cost plus a disclosed markup. Flat-rate processors charge everyone the same blended rate and keep the difference.
Cash flow
Faster inventory turns
Sales today deposit tomorrow, so working capital cycles back into stock instead of sitting in settlement for two business days.
Card mix
Debit routing that helps
PIN debit is materially cheaper than running the same card as credit. Correct terminal configuration puts that saving where it belongs.
No surprise holds
Seasonal peaks reviewed upfront
Holiday volume that dwarfs your monthly average is discussed during underwriting rather than flagged as anomalous in December.
Counter, curbside, and online on one account.
However the sale happens, it settles into the same merchant account and the same next-day deposit.
At the register
Countertop terminals
Chip, swipe, contactless, and PIN debit at the register. Prints receipts, batches automatically at your cutoff time, and connects over ethernet or wifi.
Multi-station retail
POS-integrated readers
Readers that plug into your existing retail POS so inventory, tickets, and payments stay in one system.
Off the floor
Tap to pay on a phone
Accept contactless cards and wallets on a phone for sidewalk sales, markets, pop-ups, and line busting on busy days.
What switching looks like for a retail store.
Five steps, and the cutover almost always happens outside store hours.
Send a recent statement
We read your real effective rate, including the per-item fees and monthly charges that never appear in a headline rate quote.
A person underwrites it
Typically 24 to 48 hours. Seasonal retail patterns are reviewed by a human upfront instead of triggering a hold later.
Equipment is prepared
Terminals arrive preconfigured, or existing equipment is reprogrammed where it can be.
You cut over after close
Most stores switch overnight. No lost selling hours.
You close the old account
Month-to-month here means no cancellation fee on our side. We'll tell you what to check for on theirs.
What retail processing actually costs
Retail has one of the most favorable card mixes in the industry, which is exactly why flat-rate pricing hurts retailers more than most. If everyone pays 2.9% but your true cost is well below that, the processor keeps the difference.
Why your rate should be low
Card-present discount
Cards physically present, dipped or tapped, carry meaningfully lower interchange than keyed or online transactions. Retail earns that discount and flat-rate pricing gives none of it back.
Debit
PIN debit routing
Debit run as PIN typically costs less than the same card run as credit. Terminal configuration determines whether that saving reaches you.
Average ticket
Per-item fees on small tickets
On a $12 sale, a 10 cent per-item fee is nearly a full percentage point. Low average tickets make per-item structure matter more than the percentage rate.
Effective rate
What to compare
Divide total fees by total card volume on your last statement. That effective rate is the number to compare, not the rate you were quoted.
Common questions for retail.
Common questions
Anything else, ask a person: (615) 943-9373.
What equipment do I need?+
It depends on how you sell. A single-register shop usually needs one countertop terminal; multi-station retail is generally better served by readers integrated with your existing POS. We spec it around your setup.
Is PIN debit actually cheaper?+
Yes, for most retail transactions. Debit routed as PIN typically costs less than the same card run as credit, and correct terminal configuration is what makes that saving reach you.
Will holiday volume cause a problem?+
Not if it was reviewed upfront. Seasonality is part of underwriting here, which is exactly why we do it before you go live rather than algorithmically afterward.
How much does credit card processing cost?+
There is no single number. You pay interchange set by the card networks, small assessment fees, and our markup. Interchange-plus means the markup is visible on every statement; send us a statement and we will show you your real effective rate.
Are there setup fees or contracts?+
No setup fee, no monthly minimum, and no hidden fees. Accounts are month-to-month with no cancellation fee, so nothing locks you in beyond the month you're in.
Do you support multiple locations?+
Yes. Locations can report separately while settling into one account, or run as separate accounts, depending on how your ownership and bookkeeping are structured.
What happens if I get a chargeback?+
You're notified the day we receive it, with the reason code and deadline in plain language. You upload your evidence and our team reviews it with you before submission. A chargeback doesn't put your funding on hold.
See merchant services and credit card processing for every business type, or use the effective rate calculator on the main page.
Find out what you're actually paying.
Send a recent statement and we'll show you your real effective rate, line by line. No cost, no switch required.
Or email sales@corecommerce.com