Your Guide to Referring Merchants and Getting Paid with Host Merchant Services

You can easily submit a lead by filling out this form or contacting our sales team directly here. Make sure you include the merchant’s legal business name, contact person, phone number, email address, website, and how they accept payments currently. Be sure to list your own name, email address, and referral ID so the opportunity is correctly tracked to you and any incentives are credited accurately. Once submitted, our sales team will take it from there and keep you informed as the lead moves through the pipeline.

For an effective follow-up and to ensure we give the most accurate pricing proposal, you must have this information:

• Business name and type of operation (retail, restaurant, e-commerce, B2B, etc.)
• Monthly processing volume or estimated volume if they are new
• How they accept payments today (terminal, POS, gateway, virtual terminal, etc.)
• Any pain points (high fees, funding delays, contract issues, lack of support)

If the merchant already processes cards, encourage them to share two to three recent processing statements at sales@hostmerchantservices.com. Our team can then prepare a detailed side-by-side comparison showing the real impact of moving to Host Merchant Services.

A qualified lead is generally a merchant that:

• Is an active or soon-to-launch business
• Is located in a region we can support (primarily US-based, with some international options through our banking partners)
• Is not already working with Host Merchant Services
• Has a genuine interest in evaluating their payment processing

Leads that provide recent processing statements and are willing to review a written proposal typically move more quickly through underwriting and are more likely to convert, which benefits both the merchant and you as the referring partner.

Once your lead is submitted, an HMS payment specialist will:

• Reach out to the merchant to introduce HMS and confirm their needs.
• Request statements (if applicable) and other underwriting details.
• Prepare a written proposal outlining pricing, technology options, and projected savings.
• Guide the merchant through application and onboarding, right through to their first live transaction.

You remain credited for the opportunity throughout the process, and our team can provide status updates if you want to stay involved in the relationship.

The simplest and most transparent approach is to emphasize that HMS customizes pricing based on the merchant’s business profile and actual card usage, rather than quoting a generic lowest rate (which may not apply to their Merchant Category Codes) just to lure them in.

Instead, we provide a written proposal that breaks down the true cost of accepting cards. We also review their current statements to show what they pay today versus what they would pay with HMS. Their pricing is based on interchange-plus, a transparent model that passes through card-network interchange fees and adds a clearly disclosed markup.

This keeps the conversation honest, professional, and focused on outcomes.

Host Merchant Services quotes merchants on an interchange-plus pricing model exclusively. In this structure, the card brands’ published interchange rates and assessments are passed through at cost, and HMS adds only a small, clearly disclosed markup (a percentage plus a per-transaction fee) for processing and support.

This model gives merchants full visibility into what they pay the card networks versus what they pay the processor. It is designed to deliver more transparent, typically lower, and more predictable costs than tiered or flat-rate pricing over the long term.

To ensure pricing is concrete for each merchant, we strongly recommend a free statement analysis. If the merchant has a current processor, ask them to provide their two most recent processing statements so we can prepare a written, side-by-side proposal showing true costs and projected savings.

Statements can be sent to:

Email: sales@hostmerchantservices.com

Fax: (888) 535-7463

We guarantee we will beat their current rate with an existing provider or pay them $50 for their time. Rates start as low as 1.05% and go up to 3.0% depending on the customer card type.

Our core focus is on merchants based in the United States with US bank accounts, where we can underwrite directly and provide the full HMS service stack.

For merchants outside the US (or those that need offshore or international acquiring solutions), Host Merchant Services works with a network of specialized global banking partners and offshore programs that may be able to support their needs, particularly for e-commerce or high-risk categories.

If you’re unsure whether a specific country or structure is viable, submit the lead anyway; our team will review the details and advise on options.

You can refer most legitimate business types, including:

• Brick-and-mortar retailers and restaurants
• E-commerce and subscription businesses
• B2B and invoice-driven merchants
• Professional services, medical, fitness, auto, hospitality, nonprofits, and more

Host Merchant Services also has programs, through dedicated partners, for many high-risk verticals, subject to stricter underwriting and card-brand rules. Certain activities may still be prohibited or limited by acquiring banks or card networks, so final eligibility is always determined during underwriting.

In many cases, yes. Merchants can often keep:

• Existing terminals and PIN pads
• POS systems such as Clover, Vital, or other supported platforms
• Popular payment gateways and shopping carts

When older hardware or software does not meet current PCI or EMV standards, HMS will recommend upgrades or replacements. We work with merchants to select cost-effective options and can frequently reuse or reconfigure parts of their existing setup to reduce disruption and upfront costs.

PCI-DSS compliance is built into the HMS offering. Every merchant receives a PCI compliance service as part of their account, including access to tools and guidance for completing SAQs (self-assessment questionnaires) and required scans where applicable.

Importantly, Host Merchant Services does not charge annual PCI compliance fees or PCI non-compliance penalties, which differentiates us from many providers. Our team works proactively with merchants to help them stay compliant, protect cardholder data, and avoid unnecessary risk.

Yes. Host Merchant Services supports a range of fraud-prevention and risk-management tools, which may include:

• Address Verification Service (AVS) and CVV verification
• 3D Secure / EMV 3-D Secure for e-commerce authentication
• Velocity and risk rules within the payment gateway
• Chargeback alerts and guidance on representment best practices

For higher-risk verticals, we can work with merchants to implement more robust controls and monitoring, balancing protection with approval rates and customer experience.

Once approved, merchants receive personalized onboarding that may include:

• Help configure terminals, POS, or gateways
• Test transactions and training on daily processes
• Guidance on reporting, funding schedules, and reconciliation

Host Merchant Services provides 24/7/365 support, so your referrals can reach a live team member whenever they need help. This level of service is a key reason many agents and partners choose to send their merchants to HMS.

Referral incentives are tied to the partner agreement you have in place with HMS. Your referral is tracked using your name, email, or partner ID from the time the lead is submitted.

Once the merchant is approved and begins processing, your incentive is calculated based on the agreed-upon structure (for example, a one-time bonus, ongoing residuals, or a combination).

Payout timing and format (ACH, check, etc.) follow the schedules outlined in your signed partner or referral agreement.

For details about your specific compensation plan, contact the HMS partner team, and they’ll outline the exact structure that applies to you.

Suppose you need an update on a referred merchant or have questions about a complex opportunity. In that case, you can reach out directly to your assigned partner manager or HMS sales contact, or use the partner/affiliate email address or phone number provided with your onboarding materials.

Having your lead details (business name and date submitted) handy will help the team quickly locate the record, provide a status update, and discuss next steps or strategy with you.