Tips for Finding the Right Merchant Services Consultant to Help Your Business Save Money

Posted on: 17 December 2020

As a business owner, you should never accept exorbitant fees to process credit card payments from your customers. While these fees are a necessary element of conducting a business, it certainly doesn't mean that there are no options for reducing the costs associated with taking credit card payments. A merchant services consultant can help you with this problem by offering recommendations for the payment processor that is the right fit for your business. Your consultant will examine the way you process payments and identify how you can save money every month. The following tips can help inform your decision as you choose a merchant services consultant to guide you towards the greatest results. 

1) Look for a merchant services consultant that will take effective steps to deeply understand your needs

The merchant services consultant that you work with should be willing and able to learn exactly what goals your business has in both a short-term period and over a longer timeframe. Ask how the consultant will determine the best solution for you. Ideally, your consultant will conduct a meticulous analysis of the costs that you are currently paying by looking at a variety of factors, including invoices from your payment provider and how much you are making in sales per billing cycle. Your consultant should start a conversation with you that uncovers all of the pain points you are currently experiencing in every aspect of your payment processing system. In other words, a great merchant services consultant will take the time to personally get to know your business in order to suggest the most suitable payment processors.  

2) Find a consultant who offers comprehensive guidance to merchant processing

In addition to locating the payment provider with the best fees for you, a merchant services consultant should help you with other facets of the overall process as well. For instance, try to select a consultant who can also advise you on ways to refine the efficiency of your payment process itself. Maybe you incorporate too many unnecessary steps when accepting a credit card. The ideal merchant services consultant will give some suggestions of how you can eliminate the extra steps and create a more streamlined approach that still meets legal compliance regulations. You should also rely on your consultant to assist you in picking an effective point-of-sale solution and overseeing the training on any new payment processing systems you choose. 

3) Ensure that your merchant services consultant has a proven history of helping businesses improve their bottom line

Great references from other companies who have used the consultant's services in the past are always an encouraging sign. Search for online reviews about the consultant's ability to negotiate lower fees with a current payment processor or to recommend alternative payment providers with better monthly pricing. You can also ask for examples of how the consultant achieved success for former clients. Be sure to check this track record to get a clear picture of how the consultant can best support you. 

The tips above can make finding the right merchant services consultant a much easier task. By working with merchant services consulting, you will save money, increase your profits, and take the stress out of processing credit card payments.

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