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North Payments Review

Mike Berner
Written by: Mike Berner, Senior AnalystUpdated Nov 08, 2024
Shari Weiss,Senior Editor
Business.com earns commissions from some listed providers. Editorial Guidelines.
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Editors Score:8.1/10
North Payments is our pick for the best credit card processor for fast setup. It offers a platform with free equipment and no setup costs, and it provides fast approval and funding to many types of businesses, including high-risk ones.
Thumbs Up Pros
  • North Payments is willing to work with high-risk industries.
  • The processor promises fast approval, an easy setup and free equipment.
Thumbs Down Cons
  • Some of the company's features are limited to paid plans.
  • North Payments lacks some of the bells and whistles of competitors that provide integrated point-of-sale (POS) and credit card processing solutions.
North Payments logo
Editor's Rating8.1/10

North Payments is a credit card processor that stands out from competitors by making setup fast and easy. The company is willing to work with many business types, even those in high-risk industries. This is significant because finding a credit card processor in a high-risk industry can be challenging. Additionally, North Payments provides fast and easy approval, free equipment and next-day funding. Through Payments Hub, you can access many of the same payment tools that big-name credit card processors provide. 

North Payments Editor's Rating:

8.1 / 10

Pricing and fees
8/10
Customer service
8.5/10
Third-party integrations
8/10
Payment options
8.5/10
Added POS tools
7.7/10

Why We Chose North Payments as the Best Credit Card Processor for Fast Setup 

North Payments promises an easy application process, fast approval and a straightforward setup for businesses that want to start accepting credit card payments. Notably, unlike many competitors, North Payments will work with businesses in high-risk industries, including CBD, debt collection, peptides, telemedicine and credit repair.

Additionally, we like that the company offers next-day funding with cutoff times as late as 12 a.m. ET. You can also choose from various free equipment options upon sign-up to get up and running with credit card processing immediately. For these reasons, North Payments is our pick for the best credit card processor for fast setup. 

Did You Know?Did you know
Other credit card processors that work with nontraditional businesses include Helcim, Square and Stax. Read our Helcim review, Square review and Stax review to learn more.
North Payments homepage

North Payments focuses on simplifying payment processing. Source: North Payments

Ease of Use

North Payments uses a merchant portal called Payments Hub as its customer-facing software. We liked the user interface, which is well designed and intuitive, with a modern and sleek dashboard featuring collapsible menus. 

From the Payments Hub main screen, you can easily view data analytics and key statistics, like gross sales, transactions, refunds, disputes and other recent activities. You can also access the virtual terminal, invoicing and other tools from the main screen. We think business owners and their employees will find Payments Hub easy to use, even the first time. 

North Payments payment hub

North Payments’ merchant portal, Payments Hub, is intuitive and well designed. Source: North Payments

North Payments Features

North Payments offers several services and features that businesses of all sizes will find valuable. Here’s an overview of this vendor’s key features. 

Reporting

Small business data analytics can paint a picture of what’s happening in your organization, and we found Payments Hub’s reporting feature particularly useful for this purpose. You can view data on gross sales, transactions, average transaction amount and more. You can also run and export reports using various preset or custom fields. One particularly neat feature is that you can sort your employees by various measures, including sales, discounts and tips. 

Virtual Terminal 

On Payments Hub, you’ll find the virtual terminal, where you can manually key in credit card information. For businesses that want to accept credit card payments over the phone, the virtual terminal is indispensable. We liked that you can also use this feature with a card reader to accept payments with a physical credit card. 

North Payments virtual terminal

Payments Hub’s virtual terminal allows you to enter transactions manually. Source: North Payments 

E-Commerce

If you’re looking to create an online store, Payments Hub’s developer portal provides the resources you need to create a payment solution on your website, even if you don’t have web design prowess. We liked that more tech-savvy business owners can integrate North Payments’ processing services into their online stores to add checkout functionality, integrate terminals with internal software, process payments on WooCommerce and more. 

TipBottom line
If you're integrating with WooCommerce, consider using WooCommerce plug-ins to boost sales. For example, create custom product tabs and automate abandoned shopping cart emails.

Inventory Management 

You can use the Payments Hub portal to manage your inventory and create a catalog of your products. You can set multiple prices, add modifiers and product images, track your in-stock items, and itemize your receipts. We like that you can integrate this system with a barcode scanner, so retail businesses can sync their POS operations with inventory management. 

Security

Credit card payment processing laws that business owners must understand include PCI compliance. We like that North Payments simplifies the PCI compliance process by eliminating the need for annual reports if you use a Payanywhere device. The company also partners with SecureTrust to provide a team of service professionals to help you with the technical aspects of PCI compliance. We were impressed by North Payments added PCI Plus service, which includes a more personalized, white-glove treatment that handles PCI compliance for business owners. 

Hardware

North Payments provides an impressive number of third-party POS devices. New customers receive free equipment when they sign up for a contract. Options include the Payanywhere Bluetooth credit card reader, which can accept EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa), magstripe and NFC contactless payments, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Other Payanywhere devices include the handheld Smart Terminal, the Smart Keypad and the Smart Flex. The Smart POS+ functions as a full cash register, complete with a customer-facing touch screen, a receipt printer and an optional port for a cash drawer. North Payments also offers the handheld Ingenico ICT220 terminal. 

North Payments Payanywhere Smart Terminal

The Payanywhere Smart Terminal is one of North Payments’ hardware offerings. Source: Payanywhere

Mobile Solutions 

North Payments offers a range of mobile payment solutions designed to help businesses accept payments on the go. The company’s portable devices are compact and versatile, allowing you to accept payments on smartphones or tablets. The platform ensures secure transactions with advanced security measures, providing peace of mind for you and your customers.

North Payments’ mobile payment solutions offer fast processing times, allowing you to complete transactions quickly and deposit funds into your account. Additionally, you can accept various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards and digital payment methods.

Cash Discounting Program

Although there are many benefits of going cashless, some businesses still operate under a cash-only model. Unlike many competitors, North Payments offers a unique service called Edge, which is designed to reward customers for paying in cash. Additionally, when merchants face the cost of accepting transactions from rewards credit cards, they often must raise prices to compensate. The Edge program is designed to automatically adjust the transaction to reflect the payment method, which boosts your profit margins. We think this feature could prove especially useful for businesses that still deal with many cash transactions. 

Did You Know?Did you know
Although certain businesses may prefer cash, going cashless can save time and speed up checkout lines at a POS terminal.

North Payments Pricing

North Payments offers a few monthly subscription plans. The Free plan has no monthly charge, although you’ll pay processing fees. The Premium and Premium Plus plans cost $14.95 and $29.95 per month, respectively, and include free POS supplies and additional features. Here’s a breakdown:

Plan

Monthly fee

Key features

Free

$0

In-person payments, next-day funding, tap to pay, virtual terminal, charge-back management, inventory management, unlimited users, developer API access

Premium

$14.95

Free supplies, terminal replacement, full access to integrations, reputation management

Premium Plus

$29.95

Enhanced invoicing, recurring payments, the ability to save cards on file, loyalty program

Processing Fees

North Payments’ pricing model for processing rates is straightforward and easy to understand. 

Payment type

Processing fee

In-person (dip, tap, swipe, digital wallets, PIN debit, EBT, cash)

2.69% per transaction

Online (secure payment page or direct link)

Custom pricing

Keyed entry (virtual terminal)

3.49% + 19 cents per transaction

Invoices (one-time or recurring)

3.49% + 19 cents per transaction

Implementation and Onboarding

We were impressed by North Payments’ quick setup, which includes a straightforward application process and fast approval. You can apply online and receive approval in as little as one day or call the company directly to get started. North Payments works with businesses in a variety of industries, even high-risk ones. New customers have the option to receive free equipment at sign-up. 

Customer Support

North Payments maintains a 24/7 customer service helpline for technical support. Representatives are available for other support needs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET daily. We appreciate that the company offers round-the-clock technical support by phone, especially in an era when many credit card processors have outsourced their customer service to automated systems or curtailed their hours. Additionally, North Payments has an online knowledge base and an FAQ section where customers can find answers. 

North Payments Knowledge Base

North Payments hosts an online knowledge base where customers can find answers. Source: North Payments

Limitations

North Payments doesn’t offer the lowest credit card processing rates, but the company’s pricing model is relatively straightforward. The software also lacks some of the bells and whistles of competitors. For example, unlike some competitors, like Clover, North Payments doesn’t offer a fully integrated POS and credit card processing solution. Learn more in our in-depth Clover review

In addition, on user-generated review sites, some customers have complained about high termination fees and other undisclosed charges. North Payments doesn’t advertise its fees publicly, so we advise customers to read the fine print in their contracts to avoid misunderstandings. 

TipBottom line
High-risk businesses also may want to consider Merchant One, which has high approval rates. Read our full review of Merchant One to learn more.

Methodology

We researched and analyzed leading credit card processors to find the best credit card processors for small businesses. We investigated by exploring demos and free trials, carefully examining user reviews, and interacting with each vendor’s customer service team. We looked at the usability of each company’s hardware and software offerings, as well as the fairness of the contract terms. Additionally, we scrutinized each processor’s rates and fees. To identify the best credit card processor for fast setup, we paid particular attention to the application process, ease of approval and free-equipment provisions. 

FAQs

North Payments funds accounts as quickly as the next day.
Yes. You can cancel North Payments anytime, but you should review your contract for any termination fees.
Yes. North Payments works with businesses in CBD, debt collection, peptides, telemedicine, credit repair and other high-risk industries.

Bottom Line

We recommend North Payments for …

  • High-risk businesses that want to get started quickly with a credit card processor. 
  • Businesses that still deal with many cash transactions. 

We don’t recommend North Payments for …

  • Business owners who want an integrated POS and credit card processing solution. 
  • Merchants in search of the lowest credit card processing rates. 

 

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Mike Berner
Written by: Mike Berner, Senior Analyst
Mike Berner brings to business.com over half a decade of experience as a finance expert, having previously served as an economic analyst for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His expertise lies in conducting quantitative analysis and research, providing invaluable guidance for navigating the modern financial landscape. Berner, who has a bachelor's degree in economics and a bachelor of business administration in finance, enjoys simplifying complicated financial concepts for entrepreneurs and business owners. From deciphering the intricacies of business loans and accounting to identifying the best payroll systems and credit card processors, he offers comprehensive insights tailored to meet diverse business needs. At business.com, Berner covers business plans, funding solutions, accounting software, the ins and outs of credit card processing and more. Beyond dedicating himself to exploring and evaluating the latest financial solutions, Berner has also become adept at explaining how businesses can take advantage of artificial intelligence tools. His passion for sharing knowledge extends to various platforms, including Substack, TikTok and YouTube, where he imparts tips and strategies on topics like sales tactics, savvy investing and tax saving.
North Payments logo
Editor's Rating8.1/10
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