When you choose a local merchant services provider in Maryland, you're getting more than payment processing—you're getting a partner who understands your market and shows up when you need them.
Local merchant services means working with a payment processing company that’s based in your area—Maryland, Virginia, or DC in this case. But it’s more than just geography.
It means your account manager is someone you can meet face-to-face. It means the people handling your payments understand the specific challenges businesses face in this region. It means when you call with a problem, you’re talking to someone who might actually drive to your location if that’s what it takes to get you back up and running.
National providers can offer scale and sometimes lower per-transaction rates. We offer something harder to quantify but easier to appreciate when you need it: accessibility. We’re in your time zone, we understand your market, and our reputation depends on businesses like yours.
The support difference shows up in ways you might not expect until you’ve experienced both. With most national merchant services companies, a service call means navigating phone trees, waiting on hold, getting transferred between departments, and hoping someone eventually understands your problem well enough to fix it.
As a local provider, we give you a direct line to someone who knows your account. We offer same-day responses, and we’ll actually visit your business in person to troubleshoot equipment issues or train your staff on new systems when needed.
Think about what happens when your payment terminal goes down during your lunch rush. With a national provider, you’re looking at a support ticket, maybe a 24-48 hour response time, and a technician who needs to be scheduled days out. With us as your local provider in Maryland, you might get someone on-site that afternoon.
This isn’t just about convenience. Downtime costs you money. Every hour you can’t process payments is revenue walking out the door. The speed and quality of support directly impact your cash flow.
We’re also more flexible about customizing solutions. We’re not locked into rigid corporate protocols. If your business has specific needs—seasonal volume changes, integration with particular software, unusual transaction patterns—we can often adapt our services in ways that national companies simply won’t.
The relationship feels different too. You’re not account number 847362 in a database of millions. You’re the coffee shop on Main Street or the contractor we’ve worked with for three years. That personal connection translates to better service, more patience when issues arise, and genuine investment in helping your business succeed.
There’s a common assumption that local merchant services cost more than national providers. Sometimes the advertised rates look slightly higher. But here’s what those advertised rates don’t show: the hidden fees that inflate your actual costs.
National providers often advertise low rates to get you in the door, then bury additional charges in your monthly statement. PCI non-compliance fees. Statement fees just for receiving your bill. Batch settlement fees on top of your per-transaction costs. Early termination fees that can hit $400 or more. Some even charge liquidated damages—additional penalties for every month remaining on your contract if you try to leave.
Small businesses typically pay between 2% and 3% of each transaction for credit card processing. But that’s just the base rate. When you factor in all the additional fees, your effective rate can be significantly higher than what you were quoted.
We operate with transparent pricing. We’re open to negotiation, especially if you maintain consistent transaction volume. We don’t charge PCI compliance fees, statement fees, or excessive termination penalties. We make our money on straightforward processing fees, not on gotcha charges you didn’t know about.
The transparency extends to your monthly statements too. National providers often use intentionally complex statements packed with confusing line items. We give you clearer breakdowns that actually let you understand what you’re paying for.
Here’s a real scenario: A Maryland business might pay a slightly higher per-transaction rate with us—maybe 2.4% instead of 2.2%. But when they’re not paying $20/month for PCI fees, $10/month for statement fees, $50/month in minimum processing charges, and don’t face a $495 cancellation fee if they need to switch, we end up costing less overall.
Maryland House Bill 777, signed in 2019, now requires merchant services providers to clearly disclose contract length, cancellation fees, liquidated damages, and renewal dates in 12-point bold font. Each term must be initialed. This legislation—the most comprehensive of its kind in the nation—was created specifically because so many businesses were getting trapped by unclear terms. We support this transparency and have built our business around it.
Want live answers?
Connect with a Merchant Pro Inc expert for fast, friendly support.
Choosing us as your Maryland-based merchant provider does more than just improve your payment processing. It keeps money circulating in your community.
When you pay a national processor, those dollars leave the state. When you work with us, you’re supporting Maryland jobs, Maryland families, and a business that reinvests in the community. We’re active in chambers of commerce, business associations, and community development initiatives.
Anne Arundel County, for example, has robust support systems for local businesses through the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. Programs like the Inclusive Ventures Program help small, minority-owned, woman-owned, and veteran-owned businesses succeed and grow. We partner with these initiatives, understanding that when local businesses thrive, everyone benefits.
Not all local providers are created equal. Here’s what actually matters when you’re evaluating options.
Start with transparency. Ask to see a sample statement before you sign anything. If they won’t show you one, that’s a red flag. Look for providers who use interchange-plus pricing and clearly disclose their markup. You should be able to see exactly how much revenue they’re generating from your account.
Check their certifications and industry standing. PCI Level 1 certification is important—it means they take security seriously. Look for providers with ETA Certified Payments Professionals on staff. This certification is the gold standard for industry ethics and education, and very few payment professionals hold it. In Maryland, there are only nine.
Ask about contract terms directly. How long is the contract? What are the cancellation fees? Are there liquidated damages? Thanks to HB 777, Maryland providers must disclose all of this clearly, but asking upfront tells you a lot about how they operate.
Find out about their support structure. Do you get a dedicated account manager? What are their response times? Can they provide on-site support if needed? Will you be talking to someone in Maryland or getting routed to a call center in another state?
Look at their technology offerings. Do they provide modern payment solutions—mobile readers, online payment gateways, virtual terminals, recurring billing? Can their systems integrate with your existing software? One-size-fits-all platforms can be limiting. You want a provider who can customize solutions as your business grows.
Ask for references from other businesses in your area. Local providers should be able to connect you with current clients who can speak to their experience. If they can’t or won’t, that tells you something.
Consider their involvement in the community. Are they members of local chambers of commerce? Do they participate in business development initiatives? Providers who are invested in the local business community tend to treat their clients better because their reputation matters in ways that national companies don’t have to worry about.
The most common complaints about merchant services fall into a few categories: difficulty canceling contracts, excessive hidden fees, poor customer service, lack of pricing transparency, and gateway locks that prevent you from switching providers.
Gateway locks are particularly frustrating. Some payment systems force you to use their designated processing platform, eliminating your ability to shop for better rates. You’re at the mercy of whatever they decide to charge. We’re willing to work with your preferred systems and give you flexibility to make changes if needed.
Hidden fees remain the biggest source of frustration for small businesses. Over 60% of small businesses cite payment fraud as a major concern, yet many processors charge PCI non-compliance fees without providing any proactive tools or education to help businesses actually stay compliant. It feels like a pop quiz designed to generate revenue rather than a genuine security measure.
Some processors even charge authorization fees for every transaction approval request—including declined transactions. You’re literally paying for the privilege of having a customer’s card rejected. Statement fees, batch settlement fees, monthly minimum fees—these charges add up quickly and often aren’t disclosed until you’re already locked into a contract.
Customer service problems with national providers typically involve being bounced between departments, long wait times, and representatives who can’t actually resolve your issue. When you need to cancel service, some merchants report never getting a clear answer and ending up stuck paying for services they’re no longer using.
We help you avoid these problems through clearer communication, more straightforward pricing, and actual accountability. When your provider’s office is 20 minutes away instead of 2,000 miles away, we have a much stronger incentive to treat you right.
The payment processing industry has earned a bad reputation because of these practices. We exist specifically to restore honesty and transparency to the industry. We know that our success depends on long-term relationships with businesses in our community, not on squeezing every possible fee out of clients who feel trapped.
Choosing where to process your payments isn’t just about finding the lowest rate. It’s about finding a provider who will be there when things go wrong, who won’t surprise you with hidden fees, and who treats you like a partner rather than a transaction.
We offer something that national companies struggle to match: genuine accessibility and accountability. When your business needs help, you can reach someone who knows your account, understands your market, and has the authority to actually solve your problem.
The cost difference is often smaller than you think—and sometimes we end up being less expensive once you account for all the fees national companies tack on. The service difference, though, is substantial.
If you’re tired of confusing statements, unresponsive support, and feeling like just another account number, it might be time to explore what Merchant Processing Solutions Inc can offer your Maryland business. Local support, transparent pricing, and a genuine partnership approach to payment processing.
Summary:
Article details:
Share:
