Guides and Resources
Refund Fraud in 2025: What Every Merchant Should Know
Why it’s growing, what’s changing in payments, and the everyday habits that make the difference. Understanding Refund Fraud When merchants hear the word fraud, many think of cybercriminals, data breaches, or large-scale hacking. Refund fraud is much simpler, and in many ways, more relevant to everyday businesses. Refund fraud happens…
What to Do Once You Get a Chargeback: A Merchant’s Practical Guide
Chargebacks happen, even if you do everything right. While prevention is always the first line of defence, every merchant should be prepared to respond when one comes in. The good news? Acting quickly, staying organized, and following the right process greatly improves your chances of winning the dispute and protecting…
Card Present, Visa Debit, Amex: How Each Impacts Your Surcharge as a Canadian Merchant
Running a compliant surcharge program in Canada isn’t just about adding a fee – it’s about applying the right fee, only where allowed. Between card types, processing methods, and surcharge rules, it’s easy to get confused. This article breaks it all down: who you can surcharge, what rate you can…
Why “It Won’t Work in My Industry” Is the Most Common (and Costly) Myth About Pass the Fee
For many businesses, credit card processing is a cost they’ve just come to accept—even as fees eat into already-thin margins. Surcharge programs (also called “pass-the-fee” models) offer a straightforward way to offset those fees by passing the credit card cost to the customer, while keeping debit and cash options untouched.…
Renting vs Leasing vs Buying: What’s the Best Way to Get a POS System?
Whether you run a storefront, manage projects on the go, or sell services out of your truck, a reliable point-of-sale (POS) system can make a big difference. But before you start comparing features or integrations, there’s one basic question to answer: how should you get the system in the first…
Get Paid Faster: A Practical Guide for Trades and Contractors
Most trades professionals didn’t get into the business for the paperwork. And yet, it tends to follow every job; quotes, invoices, follow-ups, and the occasional radio silence when it’s time to collect. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Whether you’re working solo or managing a team, staying on top…
Rolling Out Surcharge Across Locations: What Works (and What Doesn’t)
Rolling out a surcharge program at one location is relatively straightforward. But scaling that same approach across multiple sites, each with different teams, workflows, and customer expectations, requires more than just updating a few terminals. From what we’ve seen, the most successful rollouts aren’t just about flipping a switch. They’re…
EFT, ACH, or Wire? The Ultimate Guide to Cross-Border Payments
As businesses expand across borders, working with international clients, contractors, or suppliers is becoming more common. But when it comes to moving money between countries, especially across the Canada-U.S. border, the process can be trickier than expected. Many business owners are familiar with EFT payments in Canada or ACH transfers…
Surcharges in Wellness: What Patients Actually Think (and How to Roll It Out Smoothly)
In today’s wellness economy, transparency matters as much as touch. Whether your clinic specializes in cosmetic injectables, laser treatments, body sculpting, or acupuncture, one thing remains constant: clients want to understand what they’re paying for, and why. For many clinic owners, the idea of adding a credit card surcharge feels…
Why 30% of Canadian Restaurants Are Switching to Surcharge in 2025
The Modern Restaurant Dilemma It’s not the big things breaking your margin; it’s the slow, invisible drip. While inflation and rising food costs dominate the headlines, a quieter shift is taking a toll behind the scenes: alcohol sales are dropping. For decades, alcohol was the cushion that kept restaurants afloat.…
