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Pull payments directly from customer bank accounts with flat fees from $0.20 per transaction — ACH merchant accounts underwritten for low-risk and high-risk businesses alike
At a glance
The account
Flat fees run $0.20 to $1.50 per transaction, or 0.5% to 1.5% on a percentage model — against the 1.5% to 3.5% or more a card payment costs once interchange, assessments, and markup are combined.
Any business that bills on a schedule, collects invoices, or moves high-ticket payments benefits from an ACH merchant account:
Every account comes with an ACH payment gateway, recurring billing, account validation, returns management, batch payouts, and same-day ACH — each one is detailed in the services list below.
We underwrite ACH merchant accounts for low-risk and high-risk businesses alike. If a bank or flat-rate processor declined your application, or your previous processor exited, we can still place you and get you collecting payments directly from customer bank accounts.
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Services & pricing
ACH pricing is simpler than card pricing. Most merchants pay either a flat fee per ACH transaction or a small percentage of the transaction value.
Exact rates depend on your industry, average ticket, and monthly volume. We quote ACH merchant account pricing in writing during underwriting, before you sign — no hidden fees, and no surprises after your first batch settles.
| Pricing model | Typical cost | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee per ACH transaction | $0.20 – $1.50 | High-ticket invoices and B2B transfers |
| Percentage of transaction | 0.5% – 1.5% | Lower-ticket recurring debits |
| Credit card processing (for comparison) | 1.5% – 3.5%+ | Interchange, assessments, and markup combined |
Every ACH transaction passes through an originating bank, and moving money is never free of cost. Processors that advertise free ACH payment processing typically recover it in monthly software fees, per-return charges, or a paid subscription — read the pricing page closely before you commit.
We would rather show you the per-transaction figure up front. At $0.20 to $1.50 per flat-fee transaction — a fee that stays the same whether the payment is $50 or $50,000 — ACH is already one of the lowest-cost ways a small business can accept payment, and the pricing stays the same after month one. During underwriting, we can also model the savings of shifting a portion of your card volume to ACH.
Small & high-risk business
ACH processing for small business often comes down to simple math: a $2,000 invoice paid by card at 2.9% costs $58 in fees, while the same payment on flat-fee ACH pricing costs as little as $0.20 to $1.50. For a business that runs on invoices or subscriptions, that difference compounds every single month.
The best ACH payment processing for small business combines low, predictable fees, built-in recurring billing, and a provider that will actually approve your industry. We deliver all three, including approvals for small businesses that flat-rate processors label high risk.
ACH also fits how small businesses actually get paid:
An ACH merchant account is underwritten differently than a card account. The originating bank evaluates your business model, projected volume, and expected return rates under NACHA's operating rules — not the chargeback ratios card networks monitor. That difference works in favor of many businesses that card processors label high risk.
We maintain a diverse ACH processing network with banking relationships across the United States, so your application goes to a bank that accepts your industry rather than one that declines it on category alone. Merchants in these industries use our ACH merchant services every day after a standard bank or credit union said no:
Approval is only half the job; keeping the account healthy is the rest. NACHA monitors return rates across the ACH network, so we pair every high-risk ACH merchant account with account validation, fraud prevention tools, and return-code reporting that keeps unauthorized and administrative returns below the thresholds that put processing at risk.
And because volume can move between banking partners, a single sponsor bank's policy change doesn't have to take your ACH processing offline — payments keep flowing while we adjust.
Side by side
| Comparison | ACH payment processing | Credit card processing |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $0.20 – $1.50 flat, or 0.5% – 1.5% | 1.5% – 3.5%+ after interchange, assessments, and markup |
| Settlement time | 1–3 business days; same-day ACH available for eligible transactions | Typically 1–2 business days |
| Failed payments | ACH returns with standardized NACHA codes (e.g., R01 insufficient funds) — no card-network dispute fees | Chargebacks with dispute fees and network ratio monitoring |
| Best for | Recurring billing, invoices, payroll, B2B, and high-ticket payments | One-time checkout, in-person retail, and customers who want card rewards |
Merchants that want both can run ACH and credit card processing on the same PayKings gateway, so reporting, reconciliation, and payouts stay in one place — and shifting even a portion of card volume to ACH translates directly into lower processing costs.
Getting set up
Apply through our submission form to start underwriting for your ACH merchant account.
Provide the documents that support your application — we tell you what the bank needs and why.
Our underwriting team routes your file to a bank that accepts your industry and works it through approval.
Connect the ACH payment gateway and start collecting payments directly from customer bank accounts.
What's included
Why PayKings
ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments offer a cost-effective and reliable alternative to traditional payment methods.
At PayKings, we have years of experience as an ACH payment processing service, and we specialize in providing ACH payment solutions tailored to how your business bills.
ACH payment processing is an alternative payment method to traditional credit card transactions. An ACH payment processor allows for direct transfers from the customer's bank account to yours, reducing transaction costs and improving cash flow.
Set up ACH payment processing, a merchant account, and a secure payment gateway with PayKings — our ACH solutions integrate smoothly with your existing systems, so you can:
ACH payment processing companies allow merchants to use the ACH network between U.S. banks. ACH transactions are simply a transfer from the customer's bank account to the merchant's.
On the other hand, an e-check is a payment method that can be used online. Instead of a transfer between a savings or checking account, a check is issued and sent to the merchant in the amount of the transaction. They then process the check to receive payment.
FAQ
Everything you need to know about high-risk payment processing
ACH supports:
ACH does not replace debit card or other card payments, but it complements them within a broader payment system.
EFT — electronic funds transfer — is the umbrella term. ACH is one specific type of EFT that moves in batches through the Automated Clearing House network under NACHA rules; Zelle is a consumer EFT service that runs on its own rails. For business billing at scale, an ACH merchant account is the rail built for pulling authorized payments. Our guide to the difference between ACH and EFT covers the distinction in detail.
A wide range of businesses and organizations accept ACH payments online, making it one of the most versatile electronic funds transfer methods available. The following businesses commonly use ACH billing to collect payments directly from a customer's bank account:
On the business-to-business side, vendors, staffing firms, and accounts payable departments rely on ACH bank transfers to settle invoices, process payroll, and send reimbursements without the cost of a payment card transaction or wire transfer. Any business with a merchant account and an ACH payment gateway — including high-risk merchants who work with specialized ACH processing companies like PayKings — can accept ACH payments online, provided they obtain proper customer authorization and comply with NACHA's operating rules.
Any business that processes ACH payments online, manages customer bank account information, or enables ACH billing through a payment system is subject to NACHA's operating rules, which govern data security, authorization requirements, and risk management obligations for all participants in the ACH network. While the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) specifically governs payment card data, businesses that process both card and ACH transactions must maintain compliance across both frameworks. PayKings' ACH payment gateway is built on secure, encrypted infrastructure that protects sensitive bank account data in transit and at rest, supports account validation to prevent fraud, and maintains the audit trails required by both NACHA and regulatory bodies. Businesses in retail, finance, and other sectors should also ensure that their own internal systems — including accounting software, online banking integrations, and bookkeeping records — do not expose customer financial data. PayKings provides guidance on meeting these obligations as part of our ACH merchant services onboarding process.
PayKings provides a flexible ACH payment gateway with a full API that enables developers to integrate ACH payments directly into your website, mobile application, accounting software, or customer management system without requiring your customers to leave your platform. For businesses that prefer an out-of-the-box solution rather than custom API development, PayKings also offers hosted payment pages and virtual terminals that can be accessed from any internet-connected device. The gateway supports ACH direct payment initiation, recurring billing schedules, invoice delivery with one-click pay links, and batch processing for businesses that need to send payroll, vendor payments, or mass reimbursements in a single file submission. PayKings' ACH payment platform also integrates with popular bookkeeping and accounting software, making it straightforward to reconcile ACH transactions against your accounts payable records and maintain clean financial reporting. For retail businesses that primarily operate at a point of sale but want to offer ACH as an additional payment option alongside debit card and payment card acceptance, PayKings can enable ACH as a supplemental channel without disrupting your existing setup.
If you're a high risk small business PayKings is one of the best ACH processing companies. ACH payment processing for small business is an increasingly popular choice because the low per-transaction cost, recurring billing capability, and direct bank-to-bank settlement make it far more economical than relying exclusively on payment card processing — particularly for businesses with predictable, invoice-based, or subscription revenue. What makes us the best solution for ACH payment processing for small businesses is our combination of low fees, straightforward setup, reliable customer service, and the ability to accept ACH payments instantly as your business grows. PayKings ACH payment services offers all of these elements, along with the added benefit of serving businesses that may be considered high risk by traditional merchant services providers — meaning small businesses in industries such as collections, finance, coaching, or recurring-billing services can access ACH merchant services that a standard bank or credit union might decline to provide. PayKings sets itself apart from other ACH payment processing companies through having a diverse ACH processing network that includes banking relationships across the United States. Our team will help walk you through every step of the process, from setting up the business account and configuring the ACH payment platform, to managing ACH returns, reducing overdraft risk for customers, and scaling transaction volume as the business grows. PayKings' transparent pricing ensures that small business owners understand exactly what they are paying before they enable their first transaction. Sign up with PayKings today!
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Our team also assists with compliance, onboarding, and ongoing customer service support.
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