In a Nutshell
pros
- Transparent fee structure
- Free reprogramming of existing equipment
- Best rate guarantee
cons
- Not suitable for high-risk businesses
- Costs vary with interchange fees
National Processing at a Glance
Low Rates
Low Fees
Payment Services
Additional Benefits
Customer Support
Ideal For
- Restaurants
- Small and medium-sized retailers
- Ecommerce businesses with high volumes
What’s on Offer
- Free SwipeSimple mobile reader
- Free reprogramming of existing equipment
- Free gateway setup
- Chargeback and risk monitoring
- Next-day funding available
- PCI compliance
- QuickBooks integration
- 24/7 support
- Best price guarantee
Application Process
National Processing is best for low-risk clients, which has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that retailers and restaurants (and to a lesser extent, e-commerce providers) stand to benefit from a transparent rate structure. The downside is you’ll need to hand over a lot of information from the get go. While National Processing says it takes about 2-3 minutes to apply, in reality you’ll need to budget in significantly more time than that. National Processing says it can have you taking payments on the same business day as your application, although this presumably depends on what time of day you submit your application.
The online application process is divided into 5 sections:
1. Business information
- Type of ownership
- Corporate/legal name
- Doing business as name (if you have one)
- Social security number / EIN
- Contact details
- Business address
2. Processing data
- Year business established
- Number of locations
- Length of ownership
- Length at location
- Type of business
- Description of goods sold/services offered (the more detailed the answer, the faster the application is approved)
- Primary and secondary method of accepting credit cards
- Estimated maximum monthly volume
- Estimated average ticket amount
- Estimated highest ticket amount
- Disclosures related to processing history, e.g. which cards do you currently accept, and has your business been investigated or identified as a high-risk merchant?
3. Additional options
- Would you like to add ACH as an additional processing method?
- Would you like to accept AMEX?
4. Depository account
- Bank name
- Routing number
- Account number
5. Owners/officers
- Name of each officer
- Title
- Ownership percentage
- Social security number
- Date of birth
- Contact details
- Driver’s license details
- Management responsibility (if any)
What’s Unique About National Processing?
The most unique thing about National Processing is undoubtedly its differential pricing structure. While most credit card processing companies lump all businesses into the same category or, worse, don’t reveal anything about their pricing on their website, National Processing transparently advertises a three-tiered pricing plan for small and medium businesses and two-tiered pricing plan for large businesses.
Among SMBs, restaurants pay the least, retailers pay the next-lowest fees, and ecommerce businesses pay the most. This is presumably because ecommerce operators are at higher risk of chargebacks. As for large businesses, the price isn’t determined by the type of business. Instead, it is determined by how much you are willing to pay per month–the higher your monthly payment, the lower your transaction costs. This gives larger businesses the option of saving money on large volumes of transactions.
While we’re on the topic of pricing, we’re impressed with how transparent National Processing’s pricing is compared to the average merchant services provider. Not only does National Processing advertise its rates and fees, but it also has a tool on its Pricing page that lets you see interchange fees and calculate your total fees for various types of credit/debit cards.
With that said, there are certain fees hidden in the contract. The main one to be aware of is the early termination fee. While National Processing claims not to have any cancellation fees, it does charge an ‘early termination fee’ for ending a contract before the agreed end date. From what we could gather from our research, this fee can reach up to around $300. Contract terms vary.
Customer Support
Feedback from customers is generally positive overall, as evidenced by the fact that National Processing maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.6/5 satisfaction rating on ConsumerAffairs. According to National Processing, its service includes 24/7 customer support, free gateway setup, and free reprogramming of your existing equipment if you have any.
Pricing (Software and Hardware)
As mentioned, National Processing transparently lays out its pricing structure on its website. Note that these prices are for low-risk businesses, and high-risk businesses may not qualify.
All users receive a free SwipeSimple mobile reader. Larger businesses on plan A also receive a free terminal and free pin pad, while larger businesses on plan B receive all the above plus a free SwipeSimple terminal and free terminal upgrade every 2 years.
National Processing is an authorized reseller of Clover’s suite of payment devices. You’ll need to sign up and speak to a National Processing agent for prices.
Bottom Line
In an industry full of hidden fees and ploys, National Processing stands out for its transparent pricing structure. Its differential pricing structure favors restaurants and retailers, although ecommerce-based businesses with high transaction volumes might also benefit from using National Processing for their credit card processing needs.
About National Processing
Utah businessman Wayne Hamilton founded National Processing, LLC in 2007 with the aim of taking all the frustration out of credit card processing. National Processing is a registered ISO of Chesapeake Bank, Kilmarnock, VA, and Woodforest National Bank, Houston, TX. It has a PCI DSS compliance certificate, meaning it adheres to strict industry standards for the acceptance, storage, processing, and transmission of cardholder data during credit card transactions. It is a sponsor of Operation Underground Railroad, a nonprofit dedicated to eradication of child sex trafficking.
Physical Address
472 W 800 N
Orem, UT 84057
Contact Details
Phone: 800-803-4592
Email: help@nationalprocessing.com
