Processing fees shouldn’t eat your profit margin. When you’re running a business in Potomac, every percentage point matters—especially when the average small business only nets around 10% profit to begin with.
You need credit card processing that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you with hidden fees or lock you into equipment you don’t understand. You need next-day funding so cash flow stays predictable. And when something goes wrong—a declined card, a frozen screen, a receipt that won’t print—you need someone who picks up the phone.
That’s what merchant services should look like. Lower processing rates. Transparent pricing. Equipment that actually works. Support that shows up when you call, not three days later after you’ve already lost sales.
Your customers expect to pay with cards, mobile wallets, and contactless options. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your margins to give them that.
We’ve been handling payment processing for Maryland businesses since 1992. We’re based in Annapolis, we’re a registered ISO of PNC Bank, and we’ve won Best of Annapolis two years running—not because we’re flashy, but because we show up and do the work.
Potomac businesses don’t need another sales pitch. You need a processor who understands that downtime costs you money, that unclear pricing makes budgeting impossible, and that when you call with a problem, waiting on hold isn’t an option.
We’ve spent three decades learning what works and what doesn’t. We don’t oversell you on equipment you’ll never use. We don’t bury fees in fine print. We set up your system to fit how you actually run your business, and we’re here when you need us—not just when it’s convenient for us.
First, we look at how you’re currently processing payments—what you’re paying, what equipment you’re using, where the gaps are. No generic pitch. We’re evaluating your actual situation so we can design something that makes sense for your volume and your business type.
Then we recommend equipment and processing options that fit. If you’re running a retail shop, you need different tools than a service business that invoices clients or a restaurant managing tips and tabs. We match the technology to the work, not the other way around.
Once you’re set up, funding hits your account the next business day. You’ll see exactly what you’re being charged and why. And if something breaks or stops working—a card reader glitches, a transaction doesn’t go through—you call us directly. No phone tree. No ticket system. Actual support.
We also build in fraud prevention tools and security features so you’re not exposed when card fraud spikes. Because it is spiking—fraud losses are projected to hit $40 billion in 2025. You can’t afford to be the easy target.
Ready to get started?
You get credit card processing, obviously—Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex. But you also get debit card acceptance, mobile wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and contactless payment options, because that’s what 96% of small businesses are expected to offer now.
If you run a fleet or need fuel card acceptance, we handle that. If you want to offer gift cards or build a loyalty program to keep customers coming back, we set that up too. Online payment acceptance is included if you invoice remotely or sell anything digital. And if you need wireless payment acceptance for pop-ups, deliveries, or job sites, we’ve got equipment for that.
Potomac has a strong small business community—professional services, retail, hospitality, contractors. The payment needs vary, but the frustrations are the same: high fees, bad support, equipment that doesn’t work when it matters. We’ve seen it enough to know what actually solves the problem.
You’re also getting around-the-clock technical support and access to a wide range of equipment options. We don’t push one brand because we have a quota. We recommend what works for your setup and your budget, and we make sure it keeps working.
Transaction fees typically range from 0.5% to 5% depending on your processor, your volume, and the type of cards you accept. That spread is huge, and it’s where a lot of businesses get burned.
You’ll usually see three types of fees: interchange fees (set by the card networks), assessment fees (also set by the networks), and processor markup (what your provider charges on top). The first two are mostly fixed. The third one is where transparency matters.
Some processors advertise low rates but bury costs in monthly fees, equipment rentals, PCI compliance charges, or per-transaction fees that add up fast. We break it all down upfront so you know what you’re paying and why. If your business processes $50,000 a month in credit card sales and you’re paying 3% in total fees, that’s $1,500 a month—$18,000 a year. Cutting that by even half a percent saves you real money.
With us, you get next-day funding. That means transactions processed today show up in your bank account the next business day.
Some processors hold funds for two to three days, or longer if you’re a new account. That delay might not sound like much, but when you’re managing payroll, inventory orders, or operating expenses, waiting an extra 48 hours for your own money creates unnecessary stress.
Next-day funding also improves cash flow predictability. You can plan around it. You know when money’s coming, and you can make decisions accordingly. If a processor is holding your funds longer than a day without a clear reason, that’s a red flag.
You call us, and we pick up. That’s the difference.
Most merchant service providers are great at signing you up and terrible at supporting you after. Cards get declined for a dozen reasons—expired cards, insufficient funds, network issues, equipment glitches. Screens freeze. Receipts don’t print. Tap functions stop working.
When that happens in the middle of a transaction, you don’t have time to submit a ticket and wait. You need someone who can troubleshoot in real time, walk you through a fix, or get you replacement equipment fast. We offer around-the-clock technical support because payment issues don’t only happen during business hours.
We also track patterns. If your equipment is failing repeatedly, we replace it. If there’s a processing issue on our end, we fix it. You shouldn’t have to become a payment systems expert just to accept a credit card.
Yes. Mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, contactless cards, chip cards, swipe cards—all of it works.
Contactless payments have become standard, especially post-pandemic. Customers expect it, and if your system doesn’t support it, you look behind. The equipment we install handles all current payment methods and is built to adapt as new ones emerge.
We also make sure your system is set up for the way you actually do business. If you’re mobile—doing deliveries, working job sites, selling at markets—you need wireless payment acceptance that works on cellular or WiFi. If you’re brick-and-mortar, you need a countertop setup that processes fast and doesn’t freeze during rush hours.
The goal is to make payment acceptance invisible. Your customers shouldn’t have to think about it, and neither should you.
We do, and they’re worth considering if you’re trying to build repeat business.
Gift cards generate upfront revenue and bring customers back. Loyalty programs reward repeat buyers and give you a reason to stay top-of-mind. Both tools work especially well for retail, restaurants, salons, and service businesses where frequency matters.
We set up the program, provide the cards, and integrate everything with your payment system so it’s easy to track. You’re not managing a separate platform or manually tracking points. It’s built into the same system you’re already using to process payments.
Loyalty programs also give you data—who’s coming back, how often, what they’re spending. That insight helps you make smarter decisions about promotions, inventory, and customer outreach. And in a market like Potomac where competition is real, keeping existing customers is a lot cheaper than constantly chasing new ones.
Pull your last three months of statements and look at your effective rate—that’s total fees divided by total processing volume. If it’s above 3% and you’re processing standard credit and debit cards, you’re probably overpaying.
Also check for junk fees: monthly minimums, statement fees, PCI non-compliance fees, batch fees, gateway fees. These add up fast and often aren’t necessary. A lot of processors count on you not reading the fine print.
Compare what you’re paying to what you should be paying based on your transaction volume and card mix. If you’re processing $30,000 a month and paying $1,200 in fees, that’s 4%—which is high unless you’re in a high-risk industry. You should be closer to 2-2.5% all-in for most standard businesses.
We’ll review your current processing statement at no cost and show you exactly where the money’s going. No obligation. If you’re getting a fair deal, we’ll tell you. If you’re not, we’ll show you what a better one looks like.
Local Resources
Other Services we provide in Potomac
