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Flagship Review (2024)

Easy online transaction reporting
By Sarah BadaniBy Sarah Badani -
Last Updated: Jun 29, 2023
12 reviews
by
logo-FLAGSHIP
Visit Site
Rates
From 0.35%
Contract length
Month-to-month
Free equipment
Yes

Is Flagship Worth Signing Up For?

Flagship is a top provider in merchant services including credit card processing, mobile payment processing, and secure payment gateways. Backed by the prominent BBVA Compass Bank, Flagship has serviced more than 100,000 customers since its inception, and with no setup fees, low monthly rates, no contracts, and flexible terms, it’s not surprising.

Rates
From 0.35%
Contract length
Month-to-month
Free equipment
Yes

Flagship Pros & Cons

PROS

No setup fees
No cancellation fees
Month-to-month payments

CONS

No pricing information online (only custom quotes)
No live chat

Top Flagship Reviews

Sammy
I need Merchant service
I need Merchant service, I searched and find that Flagship, was Ideal for my online business. L called on of their sales Representative, and he fill my application on the phone, and email me my application to sign it all that tacks 15 minutes. 48 hours later I was up and running, I place a real order, and get through. That is great service and perfection. Sammy Kamal Owner/President Reflective Design System LLC
Nicholas Tee
A HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE 'CODE OF PRACTICE'
In complete honesty if I had the choice to offer NO RED STARS, I would have preferred to. I have to say that NOBODY could EVER be so unfortunate enough to even encounter a "business" like Flagship Merchant Services AND as a result I am currently having our Lawyers prepare a case so we can walk them into a Court of Law to recover the ongoing losses and damages we have suffered over the last 5 years. While the poor people that work on their helplines cannot be faulted, it is the higher level of Management that are responsible for the way the company is operated. Disgraceful is the most appropriate description I can use. I run an online education business and have been trying escape from Flagship for over 2+ years after I discovered a number of their very questionable practices (HOWEVER they seem to keep their customers by virtually imprisoning them). 1: One - if the two of worst issues I encountered has been their overcharging. When I contacted them by phone about the matter, I was informed that "the reason we the customer, are paying so much each month" was because "Flagship do not offer or broadcast to their customers reduced prices" instead they only consider it 'AFTER the customer contacts them and asks for cheaper prices". When I questioned them about this 'policy' I was told it was our fault because"we had never asked for a reduction in prices"??!!?? SORRY, BUT THAT IS A COMPLETE JOKE. 2: If that wasn't bad enough, I have been fighting with them to change the Bank our funds were being sent to. YES ... for over TWO YEARS NOW. Each time I followed all their directions and repeatedly provided all of our new banks details, nothing happened. Finally I was put through to an individual (whose name I will not mention here because we are saving that for the Court Hearings) who messaged me from an Eastern European country, and who told me that the U.S. Bank we have been using for over 10 years "was unsatisfactory" because they were (as he described it) a 'non-self-funding Bank'. Can anyone explain exactly what a "non-self-funding Bank" is? PLEASE NOTE we had already been forced to close down our Chase Bank account, and so we have now not received a single cent from Flagship for more than 2 YEARS because they did not find our new Bank acceptable to them? " When has a Merchant Card Services Provider EVER had the right to dictate to a customer which bank they wanted them to use"? 3: While I have now not been able to access our funds for over 2 YEARS, I have been able to access our monthly Flagship monthly statements ..... and over the last 18 months WE ARE NOW PAYING OUT MORE IN FLAGSHIP MONTHLY CHARGES COSTS, than we are receiving from our paying customers. Hence the need for us now to take this into the Court Room ... and hopefully it will be a Class Action Case. ....because while Flagships people on the help Lines are great, Management of ANY FORM are impossible to contact. It is disgraceful. 4: In closing, I have to point out that we were one of many thousands of companies caught up in the recent PAYSAFE MERCHANT CARD SCANDAL where the Judge authorised a record Penalty Payment to be made of $5.4 BILLION DOLLARS ..... the largest settlement of it's kind in history. It was no surprise to discover that PaySafe on their website states .... "Flagship Merchant Services has been one of the most profitable referral programs in the merchant service industry". I would invite anyone else - or any other company - that has experienced similar problems with Flagship, to connect with me on FaceBook (Nicholas Tee - my profile shows a darkened picture of me holding a guitar). A Class Action Case is one where a prosecution can represent all victims and the Lawyers take a percentage of any recovered funds ordered by the Court. (I'm hoping that because I have used TrustPilot in a professionally appropriate and respectful manner in the past that they will approve this post)
Shannon
Cancelled my account in April but they…
Cancelled my account in April but they continue to charge me outrageous charges! I've been trying to cancel and my last charge from them is $290 in one month with no service from them! Included extra fees for NOT using their services!! They said I need to fill out cancellation paperwork but I never receive it. Don't waste your time or money. What a scam.
See all Flagship reviews

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Flagship Flagship Visit Site

Overview

Partnered with iPayment, a leader in payment processing and business management software, Flagship offers an invaluable service for businesses to accept credit cards and process payments on their own. Providing this opportunity without strings attached and at low costs opens the door for small and medium-sized businesses to finally get a leg up on the competition.

Ideal For

  • Small and medium-sized businesses

  • Self-owned businesses that want to expand their offerings by accepting credit cards

  • Businesses that don’t have a set location

What’s on Offer

  • Flat rate for most major credit cards

  • Free merchant account and shopping cart setup

  • Real-time processing directly on your website

  • Mobile payment processing

  • QuickBooks integration

Flagship Merchant Services Review

How Flagship Works

Application Process

The Flagship application process is quick and painless. In fact, it’ll only take you about 10 seconds to fill out the form and send it off. Here’s how to do it:

  • Go to the application form

  • Fill out your basic information like business name, telephone number, website, type of account, and average per-sale amount

  • Send it off and wait for a representative to get in touch with you about customizing your rates and packages

What’s nice about this application is that you are not required to produce tremendous amounts of information about your sales, income, or payments. A general idea of your average payment amount will do, and there’s no need to upload files or scan documents. Also, application is free and Flagship has one of the highest approval rates in the merchant services industry. So, even businesses with bad or no credit can apply for the credit card processing service and be approved.

What’s Unique About Flagship?

Flagship is one of the most competitively-priced credit card processing providers around. What’s more, the no fees policy really makes this company stand out. Here’s what you get when you sign up with Flagship:

A merchant account with Flagship Merchant Services and iPayment processing

This is what will enable you to accept credit cards. This comes complete with a free credit card terminal. That’s a nice bonus considering most companies lease this equipment to you for a fee.

A payment gateway script (virtual terminal) from Authorize.net

This script will be integrated into your website and will enable your customers to make purchases right on your site with credit card payments (instead of you having to do it manually). 

A virtual terminal from Authorize.net 

This will allow you to run transactions directly through your computer (manual processing) for customers who can’t do it on their own for some reason.

A mobile payment processor

The mobile processor is available for both iOS and Android devices, complete with EMV-compliant card reader. MobilePay, the mobile payment app, has a whole slew of features, including inventory management, transaction history, analytics, reports, and more.

iPad POS system for accepting payments via an iPad

This is great for businesses on the go as you can run it through your phone or web browser and accept payments wherever you are. This isn’t as feature-rich as a dedicated POS, but it is certainly a nice addition to the whole Flagship bundle.

The payment gateway acts as a shopping cart, so this is an especially convenient service for smaller companies that don’t have their own dedicated shopping cart application. Additionally, partnering with Authorize.net gives Flagship several advantages over the competition. For one thing, you are assured secure and reliable credit card payment processing from a major name in the industry. For another thing, Authorize.net offers a variety of third-party apps and a flexible API to work with to make integration smooth and fast.

Funds are generally transferred to your bank account within 2 business days.

Accelerated Funding

Some processors make you wait days to get your money in your bank account? With Flagship’s Accelerated Funding Program, you can get your money within hours, every day, even on weekends and holidays.

Flagship Customer Support

Flagship customer support is available 24/7, so you always have someone to reach out to if any trouble arises. Flagship’s customer support really shines, thanks to the fact that you get a representative to walk you through every step of the process from beginning to end. They’ll teach you how to use the credit card terminal, how to initiate, authorize, and complete the transaction so you receive your funds, which software and equipment is best for your business, and what to do if there’s an issue.

Flagship Pricing

Pricing & Special Offers

Since every business has its own individualized needs, Flagship tailors its rates and services to suit those needs. After a short phone conversation with a representative, you’ll receive a customized rate fit to your particular company set up. As such, there are no generic rates to give in this review. However, rates start as low as 0.38% + $0.19 per transaction. Some charges include:

Basic Pricing

MONTHLY STATEMENT FEE

MONTHLY MINIMUM

MONTHLY GATEWAY FEE

SETUP FEES

$7.95

$15.00

$10.00

$0.00


Credit Card Fees - Retail

AVERAGE DISCOUNT RATE

RETAIL TRANSACTION FEE

EQUIPMENT COST

0.38%

$0.19

Variable – Sold at Cost


Online Account Fees – No Card Present

ONLINE DISCOUNT RATE

GATEWAY TRANSACTION FEE

ADDRESS VERIFICATION FEE

1.58%

$0.19

$0.05


One of the biggest advantages of using Flagship is that you’ll be charged absolutely no fees. Many companies overload you with hefty charges, such as setup fees, application fees, early termination fees, gateway setup fees, and more, making it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to cover the initial costs of such services. With such daunting charges, many businesses simply forgo this important aspect of business today. That’s why it’s so refreshing to deal with a company that understands its customers’ struggles and responds in kind. Charging no setup and application fees shows just such understanding and compassion.

That includes gateway setup, website setup, and merchant account setup. Additionally, you won’t be charged any cancellation fees, and since there are no long-term contracts, you can decide from one month to the next whether or not you want to continue using Flagship. The lack of this last fee is really unique in the industry. You won’t even have to pay the $49 gateway setup fee that other Authorize.net customers are charged. You’ll also receive a free mobile swiper and app for mobile payment processing. Flagship holds an Identity Theft Protected Security Metrics and Authorize.net Preferred Reseller security standing, ensuring that all of your transactions are safe and secure.

PAYARC PAYARC Visit Site  

Bottom Line

Flagship offers affordable credit card processing services for small and medium-sized businesses. With none of the usual fees and low monthly rates, it creates the ideal situation for smaller businesses to offer this all-important service to their customers. A friendly customer service staff and easy cancellation policy just make working with Flagship that much better.

If you are a smaller business looking to expand your offering by providing credit card payment processing to your customers, Flagship is a good, cost-effective, and easy-to-use option. It will allow you to accept mobile, website, and in-store merchant credit card payments with ease.

About Flagship

Flagship is a merchant service provider founded in 2001. Over the years it has provided the most advanced merchant account solutions for making business transactions faster, easier, and cost-effective through a variety of services and products. Servicing small and medium-sized businesses, Flagship gives these smaller tier companies a chance to expand their business offerings by accepting credit cards. Providing a secure and fast payment gateway has enabled more than 100,000 Flagship customers to usher in a new era of commerce in which credit card payments are essential for business success. Flagship provides the hardware, software, and assistance to let its customers achieve that success. With dedication to quality and a commitment to its customers, Flagship has earned a reliable name in the merchant services industry. Some of this company’s major clients include Avon, Verizon, and Subway.

Physical Address

100 City Square, 4th Floor
Charlestown, MA 02129-3730

Sarah Badani writes for top10.com and has extensive research and review experience in the finance industry. With a degree in psychology and education, she brings a level of depth and understanding to her writing along with her own flavor to spice up each topic in a unique and inviting way.

Flagship reviews

Poor • Reviews 12
on
Excellent
8%
Great
0%
Average
0%
Poor
0%
Bad
92%
Sort by
Sammy
4 years ago
I need Merchant service
I need Merchant service, I searched and find that Flagship, was Ideal for my online business. L called on of their sales Representative, and he fill my application on the phone, and email me my application to sign it all that tacks 15 minutes. 48 hours later I was up and running, I place a real order, and get through. That is great service and perfection. Sammy Kamal Owner/President Reflective Design System LLC
Nicholas Tee
2 months ago
A HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE 'CODE OF PRACTICE'
In complete honesty if I had the choice to offer NO RED STARS, I would have preferred to. I have to say that NOBODY could EVER be so unfortunate enough to even encounter a "business" like Flagship Merchant Services AND as a result I am currently having our Lawyers prepare a case so we can walk them into a Court of Law to recover the ongoing losses and damages we have suffered over the last 5 years. While the poor people that work on their helplines cannot be faulted, it is the higher level of Management that are responsible for the way the company is operated. Disgraceful is the most appropriate description I can use. I run an online education business and have been trying escape from Flagship for over 2+ years after I discovered a number of their very questionable practices (HOWEVER they seem to keep their customers by virtually imprisoning them). 1: One - if the two of worst issues I encountered has been their overcharging. When I contacted them by phone about the matter, I was informed that "the reason we the customer, are paying so much each month" was because "Flagship do not offer or broadcast to their customers reduced prices" instead they only consider it 'AFTER the customer contacts them and asks for cheaper prices". When I questioned them about this 'policy' I was told it was our fault because"we had never asked for a reduction in prices"??!!?? SORRY, BUT THAT IS A COMPLETE JOKE. 2: If that wasn't bad enough, I have been fighting with them to change the Bank our funds were being sent to. YES ... for over TWO YEARS NOW. Each time I followed all their directions and repeatedly provided all of our new banks details, nothing happened. Finally I was put through to an individual (whose name I will not mention here because we are saving that for the Court Hearings) who messaged me from an Eastern European country, and who told me that the U.S. Bank we have been using for over 10 years "was unsatisfactory" because they were (as he described it) a 'non-self-funding Bank'. Can anyone explain exactly what a "non-self-funding Bank" is? PLEASE NOTE we had already been forced to close down our Chase Bank account, and so we have now not received a single cent from Flagship for more than 2 YEARS because they did not find our new Bank acceptable to them? " When has a Merchant Card Services Provider EVER had the right to dictate to a customer which bank they wanted them to use"? 3: While I have now not been able to access our funds for over 2 YEARS, I have been able to access our monthly Flagship monthly statements ..... and over the last 18 months WE ARE NOW PAYING OUT MORE IN FLAGSHIP MONTHLY CHARGES COSTS, than we are receiving from our paying customers. Hence the need for us now to take this into the Court Room ... and hopefully it will be a Class Action Case. ....because while Flagships people on the help Lines are great, Management of ANY FORM are impossible to contact. It is disgraceful. 4: In closing, I have to point out that we were one of many thousands of companies caught up in the recent PAYSAFE MERCHANT CARD SCANDAL where the Judge authorised a record Penalty Payment to be made of $5.4 BILLION DOLLARS ..... the largest settlement of it's kind in history. It was no surprise to discover that PaySafe on their website states .... "Flagship Merchant Services has been one of the most profitable referral programs in the merchant service industry". I would invite anyone else - or any other company - that has experienced similar problems with Flagship, to connect with me on FaceBook (Nicholas Tee - my profile shows a darkened picture of me holding a guitar). A Class Action Case is one where a prosecution can represent all victims and the Lawyers take a percentage of any recovered funds ordered by the Court. (I'm hoping that because I have used TrustPilot in a professionally appropriate and respectful manner in the past that they will approve this post)
Shannon
10 months ago
Cancelled my account in April but they…
Cancelled my account in April but they continue to charge me outrageous charges! I've been trying to cancel and my last charge from them is $290 in one month with no service from them! Included extra fees for NOT using their services!! They said I need to fill out cancellation paperwork but I never receive it. Don't waste your time or money. What a scam.
JC
Jenny Crawford
2 years ago
DON’T USE THEM IF YOU DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOUR MONEY
If I can give minus I would, easy to setup, risk review after the approval, if they think your business is associated with any type of prohibited activity they do close your account immediately they use public information it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. They WILL close your account immediately without any discussion, and hold your money for 180 days. They WILL reject all the transactions as soon as they decided to close your account without info you, and it doesn’t matter if your business still taking the payment or not. As for my experience I have lost total $685 on last day of the transactions, I have been told multiple times from the customer service said that they rejected all the transactions on the last day, there is no way they can provide me any bank information so I have to recollect the payments from the customers, which it made impossible. DON’T USE THIS company, I hope they get shut down immediately.

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