Pick the model, not the marketing.
Most processors sell one model and bend every business to fit it. Payco runs four, and the right one is a function of your ticket size, your margin, and how your customers pay — which is exactly what a statement analysis reveals.
Interchange Plus
Straightforward, to-the-point cost-plus pricing. The card networks' interchange passes through at cost and Payco adds one disclosed markup on top.
- Wholesale cost and Payco margin never blur together
- You benefit directly when a transaction qualifies at a lower interchange tier
- The model auditors and CFOs ask for by name
Dual Pricing
Display a cash price and a card price. Customers who pay by card cover the processing cost — which is how a dual-pricing merchant stops receiving a processing bill at the end of the month.
- Signage, receipts and POS prompts configured for you
- Works on Genius, Clover, and smart terminals
- Reviewed against current card-brand rules before you go live
Surcharge
A percentage added to credit transactions at checkout. It eliminates a majority of your processing fees but still provides cost-free options for customers paying another way.
- Credit only — debit is never surcharged
- Card-brand caps and state-level rules applied per location
- Required disclosures printed at entry and at the register
Flat Rate
Set costs for forecasting. One predictable percentage regardless of card mix, for businesses that would rather trade a few basis points for a number they can budget against.
- Simplest to reconcile against a bank statement
- No interchange-tier surprises month to month
- Best fit for low-ticket, high-volume card-present businesses
Side by side
| Model | Who it suits | What you see on the bill | Who absorbs the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interchange Plus | Higher-ticket, mixed card types, anyone who wants an auditable bill | Interchange at cost + one disclosed markup | The business |
| Dual Pricing | Retail, quick-serve, and any counter with posted prices | Little to none — the card price carries it | The cardholder, at the posted card price |
| Surcharge | B2B, services, and invoice-heavy operations | Majority of processing fees eliminated | The credit cardholder only |
| Flat Rate | Low-ticket, high-volume, forecast-driven operators | One predictable percentage | The business |
Which model is legal and practical for you depends on your state, your card mix and your card-brand agreements. Payco configures the rules per location rather than applying one setting nationally. Ask for the model comparison built from your own statement — it is free and there is no obligation attached to it.
Every acceptance method, one record.
Cashless ATM & ACH platforms
Cashless ATM for cash-preferred environments and ACH for recurring, low-cost bank-to-bank collection on larger tickets.
E-commerce & mobile gateways
Hosted checkout, developer APIs and mobile SDKs for taking card-not-present volume, with the same reporting spine as your counter.
Smart POS systems
Full countertop and handheld systems with menus, inventory and reporting built in — programmed before they ship and installed by a technician, never mailed in a box.
Virtual terminals & invoicing
Key a transaction from any browser and send a pay-by-link invoice that reconciles automatically. No extra hardware to buy.
Priced for how your business actually takes money.
Auto
Auto repair, mechanics and body shops — estimates, deposits, parts on account and higher-ticket authorizations.
Medical
Medical clinics, doctors, dentists and hospitals — card-on-file, payment plans and higher-ticket authorizations.
Professional services
Lawyers, accountants and consultants — trust-account separation, retainers and surcharge-friendly invoicing.
Restaurants & food
Restaurants, cafes, fast casual and coffee shops — tips, tabs, coursing and handhelds that turn tables faster.
Retail
Clothing, vitamins, salons, pet shops and grocery — fast counters, dual pricing and inventory-aware POS.
Wholesale & B2B
Wholesale, distribution and B2B — Level II/III data, net terms, ACH and large-ticket interchange optimization.
The equipment promise
Free replacements and upgrades every 36 months
Terminals wear out and standards move. Payco replaces or upgrades your processing equipment every 36 months at no charge, so you are never running a business on hardware that a card brand has stopped certifying.
Working technology, no excuses
Uptime is the product. A dead terminal is a closed register, so on-site technicians and 24/7 support exist to make outages short rather than to explain them.
Common questions
What is Interchange Plus pricing?
Interchange Plus passes the card networks' own interchange cost straight through and adds one disclosed markup on top. You see the wholesale cost and the Payco margin as separate lines, so the two never blur together.
What is dual pricing?
Dual pricing displays a cash price and a card price. Customers paying by card cover the processing cost, which is how a dual-pricing merchant can stop receiving a processing bill at the end of the month.
How is surcharging different from dual pricing?
A surcharge is a percentage added to credit transactions at checkout rather than two prices shown up front. It eliminates the majority of processing fees while still providing cost-free options, and it carries card-brand caps, state rules and signage requirements that Payco configures for you. Debit is never surcharged.
Who are Payco's sponsor banks?
Payco is a registered MSP/ISO of Elavon Inc., Georgia, a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, Minneapolis, MN, and a registered Independent Sales Organization of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA.
Does Payco work with high-risk merchants?
Payco generally supports low-risk and standard-risk merchant categories, and reserves discretion to decline accounts or refer high-risk merchants to third-party providers.
How long does switching take?
Upload a statement and answer the discovery questions once. Equipment is programmed before it ships, installation is scheduled around your hours, and training happens before you are marked live — a certified handoff rather than a box in the mail.
See your real numbers before you decide.
Upload one statement. Get the effective rate you are actually paying, the model that fits you, and honest math on the difference — with no obligation.
Run a free statement analysisPayco is a registered MSP/ISO of Elavon Inc., Georgia, a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, Minneapolis, MN Payco is a registered Independent Sales Organization of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA. Payco generally supports low-risk and standard-risk merchant categories and reserves discretion to decline accounts or refer high-risk merchants to third-party providers. Sales 1-888-908-2638 · 24/7 support 1-424-230-7212 · Support@mypayco.com · 520 East Wilson Avenue Suite 210, Glendale, California 91206.