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Card processing review

Dharma Merchant Services

Dharma's interchange-plus pricing for restaurants: interchange + 0.15% + 8¢ in person and + 0.20% + 11¢ online, with a $20 monthly fee; 0.10% and $15 above $100,000 a month or with an average ticket of $25 or less. No PCI, batch or annual fee, no early termination fee and $49 to close the account, plus an optional credit card surcharge for $25 a month.

By Dharma Merchant ServicesParent company: Dharma Merchant Services (private)

RTC SCORE

7.8

#2 of 16 with enough data

Our verdict

A fit for established full-service and quick-service restaurants that want a published interchange-plus markup and can pay a $20 monthly fee, especially with tickets of $25 or less. Read the bank program guide for your account: both versions set a 3-year initial term even though Dharma charges no early termination fee.

What we like

  • Published markup for restaurants: interchange + 0.15% + 8¢ in person, and 0.10% for high volume or tickets of $25 or less.
  • A public table of every fee, with no PCI, batch, annual, AVS or monthly minimum fees.
  • No early termination fee; leaving costs $49.
  • Works with Clover and POS systems on the First Data or TSYS networks, such as Aloha and Micros.
  • Next-day funding for in-person sales.

What to watch

  • A $20 monthly fee, and Dharma says it doesn't make sense below a few thousand dollars a month.
  • The credit card surcharge costs $25 a month extra (or 0.12% on Clover), and debit stays at the normal rate.
  • Both bank program guides it publishes state a 3-year initial term and let the bank set a reserve at its discretion and adjust your rates without notice if your volume or ticket change.
  • Support isn't 24/7: phone 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific on business days.
  • Doesn't take high-risk businesses.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score7.8out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness98%

We could verify 98% of the scoring data

Strongest points
12-month cost of the reference restaurant, What leaving in month 12 costs, Standard deposit speed
Weakest point
24/7 support

Score by criterion

  • 12-month cost of the reference restaurantWeight 37%Strongest9.1 out of 10

    $2,866 over 12 months

  • Standard deposit speedWeight 11%Strongest8.0 out of 10
  • What leaving in month 12 costsWeight 9%Strongest9.8 out of 10

    $49 to leave in month 12

  • Price increases during the contractWeight 8%7.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 7%10.0 out of 10
  • 24/7 supportWeight 6%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • Contract termWeight 4%2.5 out of 10
  • Support channelsWeight 4%6.0 out of 10
  • No equipment lease you can't cancelWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Works with restaurant POS systemsWeight 3%3.3 out of 10
  • Automatic renewalWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Equipment works with another processorWeight 2%No data
  • Offers dual pricing or a surcharge programWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Works without the vendor's own POSWeight 1%10.0 out of 10

Before you pass the card fee to your customers

This vendor offers a program that passes the card cost to your customers. Card network rules cap credit card surcharges (Visa 3%, Mastercard 4%) and never allow them on debit, and some states ban or limit them.

This is general information, not legal advice. Card network rules and state laws change, and how they apply depends on your business: check with a lawyer and with your processor before adding a surcharge or a cash discount.

See the rules by state

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Type of processor and pricing
Data pointValue
Type of processorInterchange-plus or subscription processorSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Pricing modelInterchange-plusSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Published pricing (points out of 100)100Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Same rubric for every vendor: in-person rate (25), online and keyed rates (15), markup and monthly fee (20), a stated $0 early termination fee with a $49 closure fee (20) and its other fees in a public table (20).
Card rates
Data pointValue
In-person rate0.15%Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Markup over interchange for restaurants under $100k a month with an average ticket over $25; 0.10% with high-volume pricing.
In-person fee per transaction8¢Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Online rate0.2%Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)0.10% with high-volume pricing.
Online fee per transaction11¢Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Keyed-in rate0.2%Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Keyed-in (phone and mail) payments are card-not-present, at the online rate.
Keyed-in fee per transaction11¢Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
American Express pricingAmerican Express's cost plus a markupSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)American Express's OptBlue cost plus Dharma's markup: 0.25% + 8¢ in person and 0.30% + 11¢ online (0.20% with high-volume pricing). OptBlue is for businesses under $3 million a year in American Express sales.
American Express rateN/ASource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)American Express doesn't have an all-in rate of its own here: you pay its cost plus Dharma's markup.
Rates by monthly volumeStandard: interchange + 0.15% + 8¢ in person, + 0.20% + 11¢ online, $20 a month. High-volume pricing (over $100,000 a month, over 5,000 transactions a month, or restaurants with an average ticket of $25 or less): interchange + 0.10% + 8¢ in person, + 0.10% + 11¢ online, American Express + 0.20%, $15 a month. Our calculator applies it by volume only.Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Monthly and other fees
Data pointValue
Monthly account or plan fee$20/moSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)$15 a month with high-volume pricing. Dharma's FAQ still says $15 for every account and that it covers statements and support.
Annual fee per account$0/yrSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Annual fees per device or location$0/yr per deviceSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
PCI compliance fee (yearly)$0/yrSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
PCI non-compliance fee (monthly)$39.95/moSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Statement fee$0/moSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Statements are covered by the monthly fee.
Monthly minimum$0/moSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Fee per batch$0Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Chargeback fee$25Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Other fees$49 to close the account. MX Advantage surcharging: $25 a month; with Clover surcharging, Dharma's bank partner adds 0.12%. Terminal tariffs passed on at cost. Optional PIN pad: $185. 4G on Clover Flex: $35 a month. No AVS, regulatory, gross funding, bank change or account update fees.Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Equipment
Data pointValue
How you get the equipmentYou buy itSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Price of a countertop terminal$295 one-timeSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)First Data FD-150 countertop terminal; tariffs are passed on at cost.
Equipment lease you can't cancelNoSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Equipment lease termN/ASource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma sells terminals; it doesn't lease them.
Equipment at $0 upfront: what it commits you toN/ASource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma doesn't offer equipment at $0 upfront: you buy it.
Equipment only works with this processorUnconfirmedSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)The FD-150 only works on the First Data (Fiserv) platform; Dharma doesn't say whether it can be moved to another processor on that platform.
Getting your money
Data pointValue
Standard deposit speedNext business daySource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Next day for in-person sales batched before the platform's cut-off; online and keyed sales take two days, and new merchants may start with two-day funding for a few months.
Instant payout feeUnconfirmedSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma doesn't publish an instant payout option.
Holds and reservesThe program guide lets the bank set up a reserve in an amount it decides at its sole discretion, funded from your settlements or accounts (including those of guarantors), and keep it for at least 10 months after the agreement ends.Source: Priority Payment Systems and Synovus Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab)
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Contract term36 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.
Automatic renewalMonth to monthSource: 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.
Notice to avoid renewal0 daysSource: Priority Payment Systems and Synovus Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab)No renewal to opt out of.
Notice to cancel0 daysSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Written notice, with no notice period.
Early termination feeNo early termination fee; Dharma charges $49 when you close the account.Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
How the early termination fee is calculatedNo early termination feeSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)No early termination fee, but Dharma charges $49 when you close the account, whenever you leave (its FAQ says seasonal merchants don't pay closure fees).
Liquidated damages clauseNoSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)The program guide only charges early termination damages if the application sets a fee, and Dharma says it charges none.
Price increases during the contractWith notice, and you can leave without a feeSource: Priority Payment Systems and Synovus Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab)Dharma publishes two bank program guides, and which one applies depends on your account's platform. Synovus Bank (TSYS and First Data North accounts): 20 days' notice. Wells Fargo Bank (First Data Omaha accounts): 30 days' notice. In both, you can leave without a fee before an increase starts, and the bank can adjust your rates without notice if your volume or average ticket differ from your application.
Right to raise pricesThe 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)
Personal guarantee by the signerYesSource: Priority Payment Systems and Synovus Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab)The program guide refers to the guarantors who sign the application; the application itself isn't public.
Dual pricing and surcharges
Data pointValue
Dual pricing or surcharge programYesSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)MX Advantage credit card surcharge, also on Clover since July 2025. Dharma lists Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and California as prohibiting it. Card network rules and state laws apply.
Cards the program coversCredit cards only (surcharge)Source: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Monthly fee for the program$25/moSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)On Clover, Dharma's bank partner adds 0.12% instead.
Your POS and your business
Data pointValue
Works with these restaurant POSClover, OthersSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma also sells Clover. It works with POS systems on the First Data or TSYS networks, such as Aloha, Micros, NCR Silver and Revel.
Requires the vendor's own POSNoSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Monthly volume it's built forUnconfirmedSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma says it works best from a few thousand dollars a month, without a figure.
Accepts high-risk businessesNoSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Routes debit to the lowest-cost networkUnconfirmedSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma doesn't say whether it routes debit to the cheapest network.
Support
Data pointValue
24/7 support for merchantsNoSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)
Support channelsPhone, Email or formSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Phone during business hours and support tickets or email.
Language
Data pointValue
Support in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma doesn't say it on its site, support pages or program guide; we found nothing in Spanish.
Merchant dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)Dharma doesn't say it on its site, support pages or program guide; we found nothing in Spanish.
Contract or terms in SpanishNoSource: Priority Payment Systems and Synovus Bank (published by Dharma) (opens in a new tab)Both program guides Dharma publishes (Synovus Bank and Wells Fargo Bank) are in English only, and dharmamerchantservices.com/es answers 404.
US website in SpanishNoSource: Dharma Merchant Services (opens in a new tab)dharmamerchantservices.com/es answers 404.

More about Dharma Merchant Services

How we score