Michael Lanning

Merchant Statement November 3, 2025 17 min read

How to Audit Your Merchant Statement for Savings

Auditing your merchant statement for savings is one of the quickest ways to lower payment acceptance costs without changing your point-of-sale or disrupting your customers. The trick is understanding what each line...

Fees November 3, 2025 20 min read

Common Hidden Fees in Merchant Statements (and How to Avoid Them)

Merchant statements should help you understand what you pay to accept cards, not bury you in fine print. Yet many U.S. businesses discover unexpected costs only after the bill hits their bank...

Payment Processor November 3, 2025 19 min read

How to Negotiate Lower Rates with Your Processor

If you want to negotiate lower rates with your processor, you need a plan, data, and timing. You also need to understand interchange, brand fees, markup structures, and compliance rules. This guide...

Fees November 3, 2025 19 min read

How to Lower Your Credit Card Processing Fees

Lowering credit card processing fees is one of the fastest ways to boost margins without changing your prices or cutting service. The key is understanding what you pay today, where the waste...

Credit Card Processing November 3, 2025 24 min read

Understanding the True Cost of Credit Card Processing

Credit card processing touches every modern sale, but the true cost of credit card processing is rarely obvious at first glance. Statements are dense, fee names change, and pricing models hide margins...

ACH October 10, 2025 16 min read

How to Accept eChecks and ACH Payments Online

Accepting eChecks (electronic checks) and ACH payments (Automated Clearing House) online offers businesses a lower-cost, secure, and flexible method for transferring money directly from a customer’s bank account. In this article, we...

Payment Processing October 10, 2025 24 min read

Using Analytics to Reduce Costs in Payment Processing

In today’s competitive business landscape, payment processing is both a necessity and an expense. As transaction volumes grow, even small inefficiencies in processing can translate into large costs. Analytics, data-driven decision making,...

Payment Processing October 10, 2025 17 min read

Affordable Payment Solutions for Startups and Small Businesses

Affordable payment solutions for startups and small businesses are tools, partners, and workflows that let you accept money without draining your margins or slowing growth. Affordability isn’t only about the sticker price. ...

Chargebacks October 10, 2025 13 min read

Best Practices for Reducing Chargebacks and Avoiding Extra Fees

Chargebacks drain revenue, inflate processing costs, and—if unmanaged—can trigger network monitoring programs that pile on extra fees. The good news: you can meaningfully reduce chargebacks and control fees with the right mix...

Merchant Services October 10, 2025 16 min read

How to Audit Your Merchant Services Statement for Savings

Auditing your merchant services statement is a critical activity for any business that processes credit cards, debit cards, or digital payments. A thorough audit helps you uncover hidden fees, incorrect charges, and...

Michael Lanning

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