Merchant One, a sales organization (ISO) that signs merchants up by phone. For its tiered pricing it publishes only ranges for qualified rates, not the rate you'll pay, plus a $13.95 monthly fee and a $0 setup fee; its mid- and non-qualified rates and per-transaction fee aren't published. The Program Guide it posts sets a three-year term and an early termination fee written in your fee schedule; it offers terminals at $0 upfront for new accounts, next-day deposits and 24/7 support.
By Merchant OneParent company: Merchant One, Inc. (private)
Not enough data to score
Our verdict
With tiered pricing, Merchant One's real cost depends on rates it doesn't publish. Ask for the full Service Fee Schedule, including the early termination fee and any lease, before signing a three-year agreement.
What we like
Publishes a monthly fee ($13.95), a $0 setup fee and ranges for its qualified rates.
If fees go up, the Program Guide it posts lets you leave without penalty before they take effect (30 days' notice).
Next-day deposits and 24/7 support by phone and email.
Works with Clover and with POS systems such as Aloha, Micros and Maitre'D.
What to watch
Tiered pricing: it publishes only ranges for its qualified rates, not your rate, so you can't tell what any card, including rewards, business or keyed cards, will cost.
Three-year term; the early termination fee is written in your fee schedule, and after the term fees keep running until you cancel in writing.
Advertises equipment leases without publishing their terms.
No published dual pricing, surcharge or cash discount program.
How the score breaks down
RTC ScoreNot enough data
Methodology v0.1.0
We could verify less than 60% of what we score, so we don't rank it.
Data completeness48%
We could verify 48% of the scoring data
Strongest points
Standard deposit speed, 24/7 support, Price increases during the contract
Weakest point
Published pricing
Score by criterion
12-month cost of the reference restaurantWeight 37%No data
Standard deposit speedWeight 11%Strongest8.0/108.0 out of 10
What leaving in month 12 costsWeight 9%No data
Price increases during the contractWeight 8%Strongest7.0/107.0 out of 10
Published pricingWeight 7%Weakest2.0/102.0 out of 10
24/7 supportWeight 6%Strongest10.0/1010.0 out of 10
Contract termWeight 4%2.5/102.5 out of 10
Support channelsWeight 4%6.0/106.0 out of 10
No equipment lease you can't cancelWeight 3%No data
Works with restaurant POS systemsWeight 3%3.3/103.3 out of 10
Automatic renewalWeight 2%10.0/1010.0 out of 10
Equipment works with another processorWeight 2%No data
Offers dual pricing or a surcharge programWeight 2%0.0/100.0 out of 10
Works without the vendor's own POSWeight 1%10.0/1010.0 out of 10
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 point
Value
Type of processor
Sales agency (ISO) that sells by phoneSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)A sales organization (ISO) registered with KeyBank, Citizens Bank and Pathward that signs merchants up by phone; the processing itself runs on a large processor's platform.
Pricing model
TieredSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Tiered pricing (qualified, mid-qualified and non-qualified rates) by default; Merchant One says interchange-plus is available. Merchant One's fee table says these are qualifying rates and that the signed merchant processing agreement overrides it.
Published pricing (points out of 100)
20Source: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Same rubric for every vendor: in-person rate 0 (only a range for qualified swiped cards, 0.29%-1.55%, is published, not your rate); online or keyed rate 0 (only a range for qualified keyed cards, 0.29%-1.99%); monthly fee published ($13.95) 20; early termination fee 0 (set in the application); other fees 0 (PCI, statement, annual, batch and chargeback fees aren't published). A published range counts as not published, the same for every vendor.
Card rates
Data point
Value
In-person rate
Quote onlySource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Not published as a rate: Merchant One shows a range of 0.29% to 1.55% for qualified swiped cards, not the rate you'll pay. Your qualified, mid- and non-qualified rates and the per-transaction fee are set in your Service Fee Schedule. Merchant One's fee table says these are qualifying rates and that the signed merchant processing agreement overrides it.
Not publishedSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One publishes no separate online rate; under tiered pricing, card-not-present sales usually fall in higher tiers.
Quote onlySource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Not published as a rate: Merchant One shows a range of 0.29% to 1.99% for qualified keyed-in cards, not the rate you'll pay. Your qualified, mid- and non-qualified rates and the per-transaction fee are set in your Service Fee Schedule. Merchant One's fee table says these are qualifying rates and that the signed merchant processing agreement overrides it.
$13.95/moSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One's fee table says these are qualifying rates and that the signed merchant processing agreement overrides it.
Not publishedSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)The Program Guide charges a monthly minimum processing fee from approval; the amount is in your Service Fee Schedule. From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ.
Setup fee $0, per Merchant One's fee table. Per the Program Guide it posts: mid-qualified and non-qualified rates for transactions that don't qualify (or an enhanced billback rate), a monthly minimum processing fee from approval, PIN debit network fees, wire transfer fees, and fees that keep running until you end the agreement in writing even if you stop using the account. Amounts are in your Service Fee Schedule.Source: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ.
Equipment
Data point
Value
How you get the equipment
Lease, $0 upfront with a contract termSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One advertises leases ("flexible lease terms") and terminals at $0 upfront under its terminal placement program for new merchant accounts; it publishes neither program's terms. Its online shop was closed when we checked.
Price of a countertop terminal
Not publishedSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One publishes no purchase price; basic terminals are offered at $0 upfront under the terminal placement program.
Equipment lease you can't cancel
UnconfirmedSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One advertises equipment leases but doesn't publish their terms, so we can't tell whether they can be canceled.
Basic terminals at $0 upfront under Merchant One's terminal placement program, only for new merchant accounts; the program's conditions aren't published (ask your account manager). The merchant agreement itself runs three years per the Program Guide it posts.Source: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)
Next business daySource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One advertises next-day deposits; the Program Guide it posts says funds are ordinarily sent within two business days of the batch.
Per the Program Guide it posts, a reserve can be set up at any time, including right after termination without notice, funded from your deposits, and held for at least ten months after the agreement ends (longer while chargeback liability lasts).Source: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ.
Contract and exit
Data point
Value
Contract term
36 monthsSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ.
Automatic renewal
Month to monthSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)No renewal term: after three years it continues until either side ends it in writing, and fees keep running until you do, even if you stop using the account.
UnconfirmedSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)After the first three years either side can end the agreement with written notice; the Program Guide sets no number of days.
Early termination fee
Quote onlySource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)If you end the agreement in the first three years, or it ends because of your default, you pay the early termination fee written in your Service Fee Schedule, if any; your monthly minimum stops when it's paid. From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ.
How the early termination fee is calculated
Set in your application or quoteSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)The early termination fee, if any, is written in your Service Fee Schedule. Reviews disagree about Merchant One's fee, so read your schedule. From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ. During the term, the same Program Guide makes Merchant One and its bank your exclusive provider of all the services (§25).
Liquidated damages clause
YesSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)The Program Guide frames the early termination fee as an estimate of the processor's loss (liquidated damages); the amount is in your schedule.
Price increases during the contract
With notice, and you can leave without a feeSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)With 30 days' notice, and you can end the agreement without penalty if you tell them before the new fees take effect; card network changes are passed through. From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ.
Right to raise prices
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).Source: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)From the Program Guide Merchant One posts on its site (version MerchOne_NO_2411); it names Wells Fargo as the sponsor bank, while Merchant One's site now lists KeyBank, Citizens and Pathward, so your agreement may differ.
Personal guarantee by the signer
UnconfirmedSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)The Program Guide refers to guarantors who sign the application, but the guarantee wording is in the application, which isn't published.
Dual pricing and surcharges
Data point
Value
Dual pricing or surcharge program
NoSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One publishes no dual pricing, surcharge or cash discount program on its site; the Program Guide it posts only sets the rules for surcharging with the processor's prior approval.
Clover, OthersSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One sells and services Clover devices and lists Aloha, Micros and Maitre'D among compatible POS systems.
UnconfirmedSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)Merchant One advertises a 98% approval rate "even with less-than-perfect credit" but doesn't say whether it accepts high-risk business types.
NoSource: Merchant One (opens in a new tab)The Program Guide it posts is in English; we found no Spanish version. Same rule for every vendor: we mark it "No" when we searched and found the terms only in other languages.
