Get approved for your merchant account in 1-5 business days and start accepting payments in as little as 24 hours. As a premier Visa partner with 20+ years of experience, we provide transparent pricing, expert support, and industry-leading payment gateway solutions for businesses nationwide—including high-risk, CBD, and specialized industries.
Whether you're an eCommerce startup, an established online retailer, or a business in a hard-to-approve industry, START Merchant Services has the expertise and bank relationships to get you approved and processing quickly.
Launch your online store with confidence. Our merchant accounts are optimized for eCommerce businesses of all sizes, with seamless integration into WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, and 1,000+ other shopping carts. Get approved fast, integrate easily, and start generating sales.
Declined by other processors? START has leveraged 20+ years of experience to build a network of bank relationships that bring valuable approvals to nutraceuticals, supplements, subscription services, travel, adult products, and other high-risk industries. Fair pricing. Reliable processing. No discrimination.
Navigate the evolving CBD payment processing landscape with confidence. START maintains agreements with 5 banks specializing in CBD and hemp merchant accounts. From CBD oil to wellness products, we'll find the right compliant solution for your business—even while other processors remain on hold.
Process payments for firearms, ammunition, and gun accessories with a payment partner who understands ATF compliance and FFL regulations. Our specialized firearm merchant accounts provide the reliable, compliant processing solution your business deserves.
As a registered MSP of Elavon, we're proud to serve businesses across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax. Accept payments in Canadian dollars or U.S. currency with full cross-border capabilities and local support.
Web hosting companies, developers, shopping cart providers, and SaaS platforms: add recurring revenue with our Value Added Reseller program. Offer co-branded merchant services, earn competitive commissions, and provide your clients with fast approvals and expert support.
Fast approvals in 1-5 days, transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and 20+ years of Authorize.Net expertise. We deliver what traditional processors promise but rarely provide.
Fast Merchant Account Approval
While traditional merchant account providers make you wait weeks for approval, START Merchant Services gets most merchants approved and processing within 1-5 business days. We understand that every day without payment processing is a day of lost revenue, which is why we've built our entire approval process around speed without sacrificing security or service quality.
For over 20 years, we've perfected a streamlined merchant account approval process that eliminates unnecessary delays. Our extensive network of banking relationships and deep expertise with Authorize.Net payment gateway integration means we can evaluate your application quickly, connect you with the right banking partner, and have your Authorize.Net gateway built and ready within 24 business hours for most merchants. No lengthy back-and-forth. No hidden requirements that surface halfway through the process. Just transparent, efficient merchant account setup that gets your business accepting credit cards fast.
We've processed over $160 million in monthly transactions and set up more than 60,000 Authorize.Net merchant accounts because we eliminate the frustrating delays that plague the merchant services industry. Our application process is designed for clarity – you'll know exactly what we need upfront, receive real updates throughout the approval process, and get honest timeframe expectations from day one. Whether you're a new eCommerce startup racing to launch or an established business switching from a slow, unresponsive processor, START gets you accepting payments fast so you can focus on growing your business, not waiting on approvals.
Every day without merchant account approval is revenue left on the table. Whether you're launching a new online store, expanding into new markets, or switching from an underperforming payment processor, speed to market directly impacts your bottom line. START's fast merchant account approval process means you can start accepting credit card payments, capture sales opportunities, and generate revenue while competitors are still waiting for their applications to be reviewed.
"We needed a provider that had our best interests in hand without simply filling their own back pockets. Start Merchant Services did a consultation with us to see how to best accept payments in our industry, educating us along the way with best practices and tools. I would recommend them in a heartbeat."
START Safe
Your reputation is your business. Every transaction you process is a direct reflection of your brand's trustworthiness, and in today's digital landscape, one security breach can cost you everything—customer confidence, hard-earned revenue, and years of goodwill. That's why secure payment processing isn't just a technical requirement; it's the foundation of sustainable business growth.
For over two decades, START has been a trusted Visa partner, specializing in Authorize.Net, the payment gateway trusted by hundreds of thousands of merchants worldwide. This isn't casual familiarity—it's deep, battle-tested expertise. We've set up more than 60,000 Authorize.Net accounts, navigating every integration challenge, security requirement, and compliance standard the industry demands.
When merchants partner with START Merchant Services, they're not just getting a payment gateway—they're investing in 20+ years of proven security expertise, bank-level fraud protection, and the peace of mind that comes from processing over $160 million in transactions monthly without compromise. Security isn't a cost center; it's your competitive advantage.
Multi-Channel Payment Processing
In today's dynamic business landscape, the ability to accept payments anywhere, anytime isn't just convenient—it's essential for growth. Whether your customers are browsing your online store from across the globe, calling in orders from their homes, or visiting your physical location, you need seamless payment processing that meets them where they are. START Merchant Services breaks down these barriers with the industry-leading Authorize.Net payment gateway, giving you the freedom to accept credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks from virtually any location with just an internet connection.
Your business doesn't operate in just one place—your payment processing shouldn't either. START's comprehensive payment solutions powered by Authorize.Net give you true multi-channel flexibility across every customer touchpoint. Every transaction, regardless of channel, flows through your single Authorize.Net account for streamlined reconciliation, comprehensive reporting, and consistent security across all payment methods.
True payment flexibility means removing barriers between you and your customers, regardless of where transactions happen. With START Merchant Services and Authorize.Net, you're not choosing between online payments, phone orders, mobile processing, or in-person transactions—you're embracing all of them through one powerful, unified platform.
START Merchant Services proudly serves merchants throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. Our Canadian merchants benefit from our Registered MSP status with Elavon Canada, providing comprehensive coverage from Vancouver to Halifax with processing in Canadian dollars, U.S. currency, or both. Whether you're processing hundreds of dollars monthly or millions, operating in one country or all three, START provides the international payment infrastructure with the personalized attention of a trusted partner.
"Shaun and his team understand what we needed as a small business owner. Being a small business owner himself, he understood the value in a solution that is economical along with well supported, which is exactly what we got in START!"
START Save
In an industry notorious for hidden fees, surprise charges, and confusing tiered pricing structures, START Merchant Services takes a refreshingly different approach. We believe in simple solutions in a complicated world. That's why we offer transparent Interchange Plus pricing—the most cost-effective merchant account pricing model available—where you pay the actual interchange rate set by Visa and Mastercard plus a small, clearly defined markup. No rate adjustments. No misleading rate quotes. No fine print that costs you thousands in unexpected fees.
As a small business owner myself, I understand that every dollar counts. You're not looking for fancy sales pitches or overly complex pricing tiers designed to maximize processor profits—you need an economical payment processing solution that's well-supported and genuinely saves you money. That's precisely what START delivers: transparent pricing backed by 20+ years of honest dealing, guaranteed lowest overall processing costs, and the peace of mind that comes from zero termination fees, zero annual fees, and zero address verification fees.
Unlike competitors who bury fees in monthly statements or charge penalties for cancellation, our pricing is straightforward from day one. We pass through the lower Durbin debit card rates directly to you, and we guarantee you'll pay less overall compared to traditional tiered pricing models. When you partner with START, you're working with a provider who values your business's financial health as much as you do.
For over two decades, START Merchant Services has been the trusted payment processing partner for businesses across America. With transparent pricing, rapid approvals, and industry-leading security through our exclusive Visa partnership, we've helped over 60,000 merchants launch and grow their businesses while processing billions in secure transactions.
20+ Years
Authorize.Net Expertise
Deep specialized expertise with the industry's most trusted payment gateway since our founding.
$160M+
Monthly Transaction Volume
Processing over $160 million in secure transactions every month for businesses nationwide.
60,000+
Merchant Accounts Set Up
Successfully onboarded over 60,000 merchant accounts with fast approvals, expert guidance, and transparent pricing.
Useful resources for businesses with merchant accounts to protect against fraud and optimize payment processing.
Learn to identify the warning signs of card-not-present fraud before it impacts your business. This comprehensive guide covers the most common indicators that fraudsters use when attempting online transactions, helping you protect your merchant account and reduce chargebacks.
START Team
Payment Security
Discover proven strategies to protect your eCommerce business from fraudulent transactions. From implementing advanced fraud detection tools to establishing clear security policies, learn how to create multiple layers of protection for your online store.
START Team
eCommerce Security
Planning to accept online payments? This essential guide walks you through everything your website needs to process credit cards securely and efficiently, from SSL certificates to payment gateway integration and compliance requirements.
START Team
Setup Guide
What is interchange? Why interchange plus pricing saves you money over tiered pricing — and how to see the real difference on your monthly statement.
START Team
Pricing & Savings
"We needed a provider that had our best interests in hand without simply filling their own back pockets. Start Merchant Services did a consultation with us to see how to best accept payments in our industry, educating us along the way with best practices and tools. I would recommend them in a heartbeat."
"When we initially engaged with START, we were a Startup, and never experienced the merchant service thing before. We got START on the phone and they were very thorough in answering our questions and educating us on the process and what to expect. We have been with them for over 5 years now and they continue to scale with our success."
"Shaun and his team understand what we needed as a small business owner. Being a small business owner himself, he understood the value in a solution that is economical along with well supported, which is exactly what we got in START!"
Get approved for your merchant account in 1-5 business days and start processing credit card payments in as little as 24 hours. With transparent pricing, expert support, and the industry's most secure payment gateway, START Merchant Services is the trusted payment processing partner for businesses nationwide.
Over 90% of our merchants come from trusted referrals. Find out why businesses trust START for their payment processing needs.
