We have the early termination terms of 33 of 33 processors. "Not published" counts as data: it tells you the vendor doesn't disclose it.
A lower rate can cost more if leaving the contract is expensive. Some processors have no term at all; others run for years, renew on their own unless you send a notice in time, and charge an early termination fee or liquidated damages for every month left. Equipment leases can keep billing you even after you change processors.
The table puts every processor's term, renewal and early termination fee in the same template, with the source. "Not published" counts as data: it tells you the processor doesn't disclose it. Ask for the full contract, in writing, before you sign.
Contract terms by processor
| Product | Initial term | Auto-renewal | Early termination fee | Price increases during the term | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdyenSource: Adyen (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Adyen (opens in a new tab)No fixed term: it runs until either side ends it with two months' written notice, unless your agreement sets a term. | No auto-renewalSource: Adyen (opens in a new tab)No renewal term. | No closure fee; you give two months' written notice. | Adyen can raise its prices with three months' notice, and you can leave before they start. Once every 12 months it can also raise them up to the previous year's inflation with one month's notice, without that exit window (you can still leave with two months' notice and no closure fee). Increases passed on from acquirers or card networks, or caused by changes in law or card network rules, come without the notice or the exit window.Source: Adyen (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| Authorize.netSource: Authorize.net (Visa) (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination fee for the gateway; when you end it, you still owe the fees already incurred, with no prorated credit. If you signed up for the All-in-one plan, its merchant account may have separate terms that you review at signup, not published. | Authorize.net can change the fees in its fee schedule at any time with prior notice in the merchant interface (no minimum period stated); you can end the gateway agreement at any time with written notice. The All-in-one merchant account may have separate terms, not published.Source: Authorize.net (Visa) (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| Bank of America Merchant ServicesSource: Bank of America (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | None: Bank of America says there's no penalty for closing the merchant account. | Its website disclaimer says programs, rates, terms and conditions can change without notice; its Merchant Services agreement isn't public. | No data |
| BraintreeSource: PayPal (Braintree) (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination fee: you can end the agreement with one day's notice. PayPal can end it with 30 days' notice, or right away for risk or breach. | PayPal can change its fees with 30 days' notice. It can revise the agreement by posting the new version; changes that reduce your rights come with notice, at least 5 days ahead if you had already accepted the agreement. | No data |
| CardConnectSource: CardConnect (Fiserv) (opens in a new tab) | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | No data |
| Chase Payment SolutionsSource: Paymentech, WePay and JPMorgan Chase Bank (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | None in QuickAccept's terms: you only owe fees already accrued. Standalone terminal accounts: not published. | Chase can change QuickAccept's fees with 30 days' notice; using the service after that means you accept them. | No data |
| CloverSource: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 36 monthsSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover's hardware promotion requires a 3-year contract. Terms vary by bank or reseller; a CardConnect agreement filed in court in 2021 also set three years. | Quote only | Quote only | Quote only | No data |
| Dharma Merchant ServicesSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab) | 36 monthsSource: Priority Payment Systems and Synovus Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab)Both bank program guides Dharma publishes (Synovus Bank and Wells Fargo Bank) set a 3-year initial term (§24.2), even though Dharma's FAQ says its accounts carry no long-term commitment and it charges no early termination fee. Same rule for every vendor: when the published contract and the vendor's page disagree on the term, the contract governs (as with Elavon); the exit cost still counts no early termination fee, only the $49 closure fee. | No auto-renewalSource: Priority Payment Systems and Synovus Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab)No renewal term: it continues until either side ends it in writing. | No early termination fee; Dharma charges $49 when you close the account. | The bank can raise or add fees for any reason with notice (20 days in the Synovus Bank guide, 30 days in the Wells Fargo Bank guide), and you can leave without a fee before they start. It can also adjust your rates without notice if your volume or average ticket differ from your application, and pass on card network increases when they happen.Source: Priority Payment Systems and Wells Fargo Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| Durango Merchant ServicesSource: Durango Merchant Services (opens in a new tab) | Quote only | Quote only | Quote only | Unconfirmed | No data |
| FinixSource: Finix (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Finix (opens in a new tab) | No auto-renewalSource: Finix (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with no renewal term. | $0 termination fee. | Finix can change its fees, effective upon notice; it will try, but isn't required, to give 30 days' notice, and card network and other pass-through charges change when those third parties change them. You reject a change by closing your account. (Finix's newer Pathward version of its terms promises at least 30 days' written notice, except for pass-through increases.)Source: Finix (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| HeartlandSource: Heartland Payment Systems (opens in a new tab) | 36 months | Renews for 12 months60 days' notice to cancel renewal | $295 per location if you end the agreement before the term is over, charged at Heartland's discretion in one ACH debit (§11.4). A separate $100 applies if you rent equipment and end the equipment agreement early.How it's calculated: Flat $295 | Heartland may amend its fee schedule with at least 15 days' written notice, pass on card network and third-party cost increases with 15 days' notice, and change your discount and transaction fees without notice if your volume or average ticket differs from your application (§6.2, §6.3, §6.5). | No data |
| HelcimSource: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination or cancellation fee. | Helcim can change its rates and fees with at least 30 days' notice on its platform; continuing to use the service after that accepts them. Card network fees change when the networks change them.Source: Helcim (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| Merchant OneSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab) | 36 months | No auto-renewal | Quote only | Merchant One's processor may raise fees or add new ones at any time with 30 days' notice, and you may end the agreement without penalty before they take effect; card network changes are passed through as they happen (§26.4, §26.5, §31.3). | No data |
| North (Payanywhere)Source: Payanywhere (North) (opens in a new tab) | 36 months | Renews for 1 month30 days' notice to cancel renewal | Leaving within the 3-year term: all monthly fees for the rest of the term (minimum monthly fees included), which North may calculate from your volume and average ticket; never less than $295 and never more than state law allows. Under the Payanywhere user agreement (below $100,000 in 12 months on every card network) there's no termination fee.How it's calculated: 100% of the fees left in the term, processing included | North can change any fee with notice, including a statement message; you can leave without the termination fee within 30 days of the first statement that shows an increase not passed through from the card networks. | No data |
| Payment DepotSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Payment Depot (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, per Payment Depot and Merchant Maverick (July 2026). | No auto-renewal()Source: Merchant Maverick (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with no renewal term. | No cancellation fee. | Unconfirmed | No data |
| PaymentCloudSource: PaymentCloud (opens in a new tab) | Quote only | Quote only | Quote only | Unconfirmed | No data |
| PayPal POSSource: PayPal (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination fee: you can close the account without cost. | PayPal can amend its fees at any time under the user agreement, with notice (at least 5 days for business accounts; 30 days before a risk-based rate increase of up to 5%).Source: PayPal (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| PayrocSource: Payroc WorldAccess, LLC (opens in a new tab) | 48 months | Renews for 24 months90 days' notice to cancel renewal | Quote only | Payroc or its bank may amend, add to or modify rates and fees at their discretion with 30 days' notice, sent by mail, email or with your statement; processing after the effective date means you accept. Interchange and card network pass-throughs change without notice. You can leave without the termination fee within 60 days after notice of an increase that isn't a pass-through. | No data |
| PaysafeSource: Paysafe Payment Processing Solutions, LLC and PNC Bank (opens in a new tab) | 36 months | No auto-renewal | Quote only | Paysafe may change its fees with 30 days' written notice, and you may then leave without the early termination fee within 90 days; it can adjust fees without notice if your volume, average ticket or way of doing business differ from your application, and pass on card network changes with or without notice (§14.2-14.4). | No data |
| pmtboxSource: pmtbox (Payment Box Inc.) (opens in a new tab) | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | No data |
| Priority CommerceSource: Priority Commerce (opens in a new tab) | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | No data |
| Shift4Source: Shift4 (opens in a new tab) | 36 months | Renews for 12 months90 days' notice to cancel renewal | Liquidated damages: a base monthly amount per device, set by your estimated monthly card volume ($100 under $10k up to $750 over $250k), times the number of terminal IDs, times the months left in the term (MPA §8.5.5). Unreturned equipment is charged on top.How it's calculated: $100 to $750 per device for each month left, depending on your card volume | From the first anniversary, Shift4 may raise total fees each year by the greater of CPI-U + 1% or 7% (MPA §12.15), and the agreement says the bank or Shift4 can change the fees at any time (§12.7); continuing to use the service 30 days after notice counts as accepting. The Service Agreement lets Shift4 change its rates and fees with 30 days' written notice (§3.e) and raise them each year by the greater of CPI-U + 1% or 4% (§3.g). | No data |
| Shopify PaymentsSource: Shopify (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination fee; plan fees already paid aren't refunded. | Shopify can change its fees with 30 days' notice by email or in the Shopify admin. | No data |
| SpotOn PaymentsSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab) | 36 monthsSource: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)Same rule for every vendor, the longest binding term among the software and processing agreements. SpotOn's published processing terms set a 3-year initial term (§4.1). The All-In plan also has a 2-year software minimum, and POS Essentials software is month to month. | Renews for 12 monthsSource: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)Renewal of the processing agreement.30 days' notice to cancel renewal | Software: all monthly subscription fees left in the term (Merchant Terms §10.4), and if you leave within two years you may be charged the difference between the hardware list price and the discounted price you paid (§1.4). Processing: 30 days' notice plus an Account Closure Fee whose amount is in your application (§5.2.C). | Processing: the bank can amend fees with 30 days' written notice (Processing Terms §3.5), or sooner if the details in your application change (§3.3); leaving early costs the Account Closure Fee (§5.2). SpotOn's software and hardware fees: at least 30 days' notice, and you can end that contract before the change takes effect (Merchant Terms §3.3).Source: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| SquareSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Square (opens in a new tab) | No auto-renewalSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Month to month, with no renewal term. | No early termination fee. Subscription fees already paid are not refunded. | Square may change its processing fees with reasonable advance notice (Payment Terms §4), and its terms at any time with the notice it considers reasonable (General Terms §2).Source: Square (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| StaxSource: Stax (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with 30 days' notice to cancel. | No auto-renewalSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with no renewal term. | No penalty for canceling; you give 30 days' notice and may owe that month's processing fees and subscription. | Stax can change its own rates and fees at its discretion with at least 30 days' written notice, which can come on your statement; card network and other third-party charges change when they do.Source: Stax (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| StripeSource: Stripe (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Stripe (opens in a new tab)Month to month, with no closure fee: the agreement runs until you or Stripe end it, and you end it by closing your account in the Dashboard. | No auto-renewalSource: Stripe (opens in a new tab)No term to renew. | No early termination fee: Stripe charges no closure fee. | Stripe can change its fees with at least 30 days' notice of any increase or new fee.Source: Stripe (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| SumUp()Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: SumUp (opens in a new tab)Month to month with the $0 plan (card readers or POS Lite), which is the one that covers card processing: the terms have no term and no closure fee. The optional paid POS plans require 12 months and renew automatically (per NerdWallet). Above $1,000,000 a year in credit card sales, card network rules may require a separate agreement with SumUp's acquiring bank. | No auto-renewalSource: SumUp (opens in a new tab)Nothing renews on the $0 plan; the paid POS plans' contracts renew automatically (the period isn't published). | No early termination fee on the $0 plan. On a paid POS plan, SumUp charges no cancellation fee but you pay what's left of the 12-month contract (per NerdWallet, citing SumUp). | SumUp can change its fees and plans at its discretion; revised terms take effect when posted, not retroactively, and if you don't agree you must stop using the service.Source: SumUp (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| Toast PaymentsSource: Toast (opens in a new tab) | Quote only | Renews for 12 months30 days' notice to cancel renewal | The software subscription fees left in the term; on a pay-as-you-go plan such as the Starter Kit, $150 for each month left. Plus any processing fee tied to software financing (Merchant Agreement §8.4). If Toast raises your card rates and you terminate before they take effect, the fee doesn't apply (§6.2).How it's calculated: 100% of the fees left in the term | Software fees stay the same during the initial term. Toast may change card rates and other non-software fees at any time with 30 days' written notice, and any fee at or during a renewal. If it raises card rates or the core POS fee, you can terminate without the early termination fee (Merchant Agreement §6.2). | No data |
| U.S. Bank Payment Solutions (Elavon)Source: Elavon (opens in a new tab) | 36 monthsSource: Elavon (opens in a new tab)Elavon's Terms of Service, which govern U.S. Bank Payment Solutions, set a 3-year initial term, even though U.S. Bank's POS page says its plans carry no long-term commitment, its smart terminal page says "Short-term commitment" and Elavon publishes $0 early termination fees. The terms give you no early exit right: you leave at the end of a term with written notice, for an uncured material breach by Elavon or for force majeure; Elavon can end the agreement at any time. | Renews for 24 monthsSource: Elavon (opens in a new tab)30 days' notice to cancel renewal | $0, as published on Elavon's pricing page. Its terms still set a 3-year term that renews for 2 years unless you give written notice at least 30 days before it ends, and they don't give you a right to leave early; the application you sign isn't public. | Fee changes take effect upon notice unless a later date is given, and Elavon can pass on fee increases from card networks and other third parties (§17.12).Source: Elavon (opens in a new tab) | No data |
| Wells Fargo Merchant ServicesSource: Wells Fargo (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | None, per Wells Fargo's pricing page. | Unconfirmed | No data |
| WorldpaySource: Worldpay, LLC (opens in a new tab) | 36 months | Renews for 36 months90 days' notice to cancel renewal | Quote only | Worldpay may amend the agreement or change rates at any time with notice, and you accept a change if you keep processing or don't contest it within seven days; card network changes can be passed on without notice. Volume or ticket changes from your application also let it raise fees. | No data |
| Xplor Pay (formerly Clearent)Source: Xplor Pay (Clearent, LLC) (opens in a new tab) | 36 months | Renews for 12 months45 days' notice to cancel renewal | Termination fee: the amount in your fee schedule per location (or the maximum allowed by law), or $395 if your fee schedule lists none, on top of any other damages the bank and Xplor Pay may claim. No fee if you leave at the end of the term or a renewal with 45 days' written notice. The same fee is due if the bank or Xplor Pay ends the agreement for cause (including if they decide your processing activity could result in a loss) or because your settlement account closed, and if, for 90 days in a row, you don't process the volume and average ticket you projected in your application (unless you're registered as seasonal).How it's calculated: Flat $395 | Xplor Pay and the bank can amend the agreement with 15 days' notice (less when the law, card rules or your finances or volumes require it). If an amendment raises your fees (other than pass-through costs such as interchange), you can end the agreement before it takes effect; that clause doesn't waive the termination fee. | No data |
This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.
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