SEO Payment Processing for Agencies, Web Designers, and Hosting Companies

The deliverable is intangible and results take time. A client who pays for link building or an ongoing strategy may not see measurable return for months, and some dispute the charge with their bank rather than raising it with the agency. Because monthly retainers billed to stored cards are standard, one wave of disputes can destabilize an account quickly without underwriting built for the industry.

Pricing starts at interchange plus 0.80%, with every fee disclosed in the merchant service agreement before you sign. Your exact rate reflects what underwriters review: monthly volume, average ticket size, chargeback and refund history, time in business, and whether you bill one-time projects or monthly retainers on a recurring billing merchant account. Agencies with clean processing history and signed contracts generally qualify for more competitive terms; newer businesses may start with a reserve requirement that relaxes as history builds. Because we work with more than 20 banking partners across the high-risk industries we serve, we shop your file for the strongest available terms rather than forcing every merchant into one pricing model.

The easiest account to get — and, more importantly, to keep — is one underwritten for your actual risk profile. A mainstream flat-rate account may approve you in minutes, then close months later when disputes arrive. With a complete file — a government-issued ID, a voided check, three months of bank statements, processing statements if you have them, and your client service agreement — most merchants are approved within 24 hours, and the account is built to stay open.