Answers, not jargon

Learning Center

Straight answers to the questions merchants actually ask — payments, POS, pricing, and compliance. Pick a topic to narrow it down.

Integrations

Can Adobe Commerce (Magento) use my own processor?

Yes — Adobe Commerce (Magento) supports outside gateways, so you can process through Velocity with a secure gateway built for high volume. We configure it for your catalog and version, Open Source or Adobe Commerce.

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Integrations

Can Clover integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes. Clover can sync sales, payments, and fees into QuickBooks so your books reconcile automatically. Velocity sets up and supports the connection for QuickBooks Online or Desktop.

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POS

Can I accept Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Yes — every current Velocity terminal and POS accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other contactless mobile wallets out of the box, because they all use the same tap-to-pay (NFC) technology as contactless cards. There's no extra setup or fee to turn them on.

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Basics

Can I keep my current POS when I switch processors?

Often, yes. Many POS systems can be reprogrammed to a new processor, so you may be able to keep your hardware and just change who processes your payments. Velocity will tell you honestly whether keeping your system or switching makes more sense.

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Integrations

Can my POS connect to DoorDash and Uber Eats?

Yes — on supported systems like Clover, KwickPOS, and LINGA, DoorDash and Uber Eats orders can flow straight into your POS and kitchen, so staff aren't juggling separate tablets. Velocity helps link them and confirm orders print and reconcile correctly.

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Basics

Card-present vs card-not-present: what's the difference?

A card-present transaction happens when the physical card is tapped, dipped, or swiped in person; card-not-present means the card number is entered online, by phone, or by invoice. Card-not-present carries higher interchange and fraud risk, so it's priced and secured differently.

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Pricing

Cash discount vs. surcharge: what's the difference?

A cash discount posts a single higher price and gives a discount to customers who pay with cash, while a surcharge adds a fee on top of the listed price for credit payments. Cash discount/dual pricing is the more flexible, widely accepted approach and is what Velocity recommends for most merchants.

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Basics

Do I need a merchant account to accept credit cards?

Yes — to accept credit cards you need a way to route and settle transactions, which means either a traditional merchant account or an aggregator. A dedicated merchant account through Velocity gives you better rates, stability, and support than a one-size-fits-all aggregator.

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POS

Do I need a POS system or just a card terminal?

If you just need to take card payments, a terminal is enough. If you also need inventory, menus, tipping, staff logins, reporting, or online ordering, you need a full POS system. Velocity matches the hardware to how you actually run — instead of overselling you a box.

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Basics

EMV, NFC, and tap-to-pay: what's the difference?

EMV is the chip-card standard you insert, NFC is the wireless technology behind contactless, and tap-to-pay is the customer-facing name for NFC payments (cards or phones tapped on the terminal). Modern terminals support all three.

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Pricing

How do credit card processing fees work?

Credit card processing fees are made up of interchange (set by the card networks and paid to the issuing bank), network assessments, and your processor's markup. Only the markup is negotiable — and Velocity's Cash Discount Program can offset almost all of it.

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Integrations

How do I accept payments on BigCommerce?

BigCommerce supports outside payment providers, so you can process through Velocity for competitive rates and unified online + in-store reporting. We connect a secure gateway to your checkout and configure it for your volume.

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Integrations

How do I accept payments on Shopify with my own processor?

You can process your Shopify store's payments through a provider like Velocity rather than being locked into one default checkout — giving you competitive rates and unified reporting across online and in-store. Velocity sets up the connection and ties it to the rest of your business.

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Integrations

How do I accept payments on WooCommerce?

To take payments on a WordPress/WooCommerce store, you add a secure payment gateway to checkout. Velocity installs and configures a PCI-compliant gateway with pricing and support built around your business, and supports recurring billing.

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Pricing

How do I reduce credit card processing fees?

The biggest lever is your pricing model. A Cash Discount or Dual Pricing program can eliminate almost all of your processing fees by posting a cash price and a card price at checkout. Interchange-plus pricing and the right hardware also lower costs versus flat-rate processors.

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Basics

How do I switch payment processors?

Switching processors is straightforward: Velocity reviews your current statement and contract, often keeps your existing hardware, and plans the cutover so you're never unable to take payments. Most switches are quick and come with a no-charge savings review.

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Integrations

How do I sync card payments to Xero?

You can sync your card sales, fees, and payouts into Xero so reconciliation is automatic. Velocity connects your processing account to Xero and maps everything to the right accounts and tax codes.

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Integrations

How do I take payments on Wix or Squarespace?

On Wix and Squarespace you can take payments through hosted checkout or payment links, with Velocity processing behind them. We recommend the cleanest approach for your plan and set it up for you.

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Pricing

How does dual pricing work?

Dual pricing shows customers two prices — one for cash and one for card. The card price includes the processing cost, so paying by card covers the fee and your effective processing cost drops close to zero. Done compliantly, it's fully legal.

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Basics

How long does merchant account approval take?

Most standard businesses are approved within one to three business days once the application and documents are in. High-risk or high-volume accounts can take longer because they require additional underwriting. Velocity keeps you updated throughout.

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Pricing

Interchange-plus vs. flat-rate pricing: which is cheaper?

Interchange-plus is almost always cheaper and more transparent than flat-rate pricing for established businesses, because you pay the true cost of each card plus a small fixed markup instead of a padded blended rate. Flat-rate is simpler but you overpay on most transactions. Cash discount can beat both by offsetting the fee entirely.

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Compliance

Is credit card surcharging legal?

Surcharging credit cards is legal in most U.S. states when done correctly, but it's capped by the card brands, can't be applied to debit cards, and requires advance notice to the networks. A few states restrict or ban it. A cash discount program avoids most of these rules and is usually simpler.

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POS

POS system vs cash register: what's the difference?

A cash register just totals sales and stores cash; a POS system does that plus inventory, reporting, staff tracking, loyalty, and integrated card payments. For almost any growing business, a POS pays for itself in insight and control.

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Pricing

Should I lease or buy a credit card terminal?

In most cases you should buy, not lease. Terminal leases often cost far more over time than the hardware is worth and can lock you into long contracts. Velocity recommends buying (or using included hardware) rather than signing a costly lease.

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Pricing

What are statement, batch, and PCI fees?

These are common add-on fees on a processing statement: a monthly statement fee, a per-batch fee each time you settle the day's transactions, and an annual or monthly PCI compliance fee. Velocity keeps these transparent and minimal — and reviews your current statement to flag junk fees.

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Basics

What is a chargeback and how do I prevent chargebacks?

A chargeback is when a customer disputes a card charge with their bank and the funds are pulled back from you. You prevent most chargebacks with clear billing descriptors, good receipts, fast customer service, and keeping proof of delivery or signatures.

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Basics

What is a high-risk merchant account?

A high-risk merchant account is for businesses that card processors consider more likely to have chargebacks, legal complexity, or regulatory scrutiny — like CBD, vape, firearms, travel, or subscriptions. They're still very much approvable; they just need a processor that specializes in the category, which Velocity can match you to.

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Basics

What is a merchant account?

A merchant account is a type of bank account that lets your business accept credit and debit card payments. Funds from card sales are deposited there before being transferred to your regular business bank account.

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Basics

What is a merchant services provider (ISO)?

A merchant services provider, or ISO (Independent Sales Organization), is an authorized partner of the processors and banks that sets up and supports your payment account. A good ISO like Velocity shops multiple processors for you and provides local, human support.

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Basics

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is the technology that securely authorizes online and card-not-present transactions — it passes card details from your website or virtual terminal to the processor and returns an approval or decline. It's the online equivalent of the card reader at your counter.

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Basics

What is a payment processor?

A payment processor is the company that moves a card transaction between your customer's bank and yours — authorizing the sale, settling the funds, and depositing them into your account. Velocity sets you up with the right processor and pricing for your business.

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Compliance

What is a rolling reserve?

A rolling reserve is a portion of your card sales a processor temporarily holds to cover potential chargebacks — common for high-risk or new merchants. The held funds are released back to you on a rolling schedule.

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POS

What is a virtual terminal?

A virtual terminal turns any computer, tablet, or phone into a payment terminal — you key in card details to charge customers over the phone, by mail, or from an invoice, with no physical card needed.

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Basics

What is an ACH payment and how does it work?

ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a bank-to-bank electronic transfer — the same network behind direct deposit and e-checks. It's ideal for recurring billing and large invoices because it costs far less than card processing.

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Integrations

What is Authorize.Net and how does it work?

Authorize.Net is a widely used payment gateway that authorizes online and keyed (card-not-present) transactions and supports recurring billing and a virtual terminal. Velocity provisions and supports it behind your processing account.

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Basics

What is interchange, and why does it matter?

Interchange is the base fee set by card networks (Visa, Mastercard) and paid to the card-issuing bank on every transaction. It's the largest, non-negotiable part of your processing cost — so how a processor marks it up is what really determines your rate.

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Pricing

What is Level 2 and Level 3 processing?

Level 2 and Level 3 processing pass extra transaction data (like tax and line-item detail) on B2B and government card payments, which qualifies them for lower interchange rates. If you sell to businesses or government, it can meaningfully cut your costs.

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Basics

What is next-day funding?

Next-day funding deposits your card sales into your bank account the next business day instead of in two or three days. It keeps cash flow tight and predictable, and Velocity offers it on eligible accounts.

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Compliance

What is PCI compliance, and do I need it?

PCI compliance is a set of security standards every business that accepts cards must follow to protect cardholder data. Yes, you need it — and Velocity helps you meet it with secure hardware, encryption, and a simple annual self-assessment.

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Compliance

What is tokenization and why does it matter?

Tokenization replaces a customer's card number with a random stand-in “token” that's useless if stolen. It lets you securely save cards for repeat billing without storing the real number — which protects customers and shrinks your PCI compliance burden.

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Industry

What's the best payment setup for a grocery store?

Grocery stores and markets need scale-integrated checkout, large inventory, and fast lanes. GRETA POS is purpose-built for grocery with in-counter and meat scales, label and shelf-tag printing, and deep inventory — paired with a Cash Discount program to protect thin margins.

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Industry

What's the best POS for a smoke or vape shop?

Smoke, vape, and CBD shops need age verification, large product catalogs, and low hardware costs. SumUp is a great budget-friendly fit, while RetailzPOS and NRS offer deeper inventory and scanning for busy shops. A Cash Discount program keeps thin margins healthy.

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POS

What's the best POS system for a restaurant?

It depends on your service style. Full-service restaurants do best with Restaurant Genius or LINGA for tables, coursing, and bar tabs; quick-serve runs great on Clover or KwickPOS; and food trucks love the Clover Flex for its cellular backup. The right pick is about how you run service, not just brand.

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POS

What's the best way to accept payments for a mobile or field business?

For mobile and field businesses, the best setup is SwipeSimple with a PAX A920 handheld or the Clover Flex — both take chip, tap, and swipe anywhere, send invoices and payment links, and work on cellular when Wi-Fi isn't available. A cash discount program keeps the fees off your margins.

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No pressure, just answers

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