Using a consultant will not cost you any more. The margins that consultants earn are typically very small and are no different than what their competitors who represent banks or the big name credit card processors will cost. Unless you're processing millions of dollars per month or have more than 100 locations, you will save by going through a small consultant who is more concerned with winning and keeping your business, rather than gouging you on your pricing because it's challenging to understand (and you trust their big name) and in turn, lock you into a long-term agreement so you aren't motivated to leave if/when you realize you're being overcharged.

Consultants supplement the customer service that processors and banks offer. Because merchant how to become a merchant iso processing involves such a large volume of transactions, bigger banks and processors are unable to provide personalized service. In most cases, they rely on Independent Sales Offices (ISOs) and Member Service Providers (MSPs) to handle their accounts. The problem with these organizations is a high turnover rate; the number of representatives and depth of their industry knowledge is inconsistent. The result is longer hold times and more call transfers for merchant customers. Though consultants do not replace the ISOs and MSPs, they can circumnavigate roadblocks by connecting their customers with the right people.