Merchant processing built around the way you work.
Accept cards at the counter, tableside, on the jobsite, in the office, or online—with POS systems and payment equipment matched to the way your business actually runs.
Independent guidance across multiple processing options, equipment types, and pricing structures.
Tap, dip, swipe
Countertop or mobile
Start with the problem
What makes merchants switch processors?
Usually it is one of these. Tap the one that sounds like your counter — we will show you how Big Hat handles it, then help you see who fits best for you.
We're not tied to one processor. The only thing we're at the mercy of is what's best for your counter.
The problem
Fees I can't read
The statement lands and the total never matches the rate you were sold. Fees hide between the lines, and nobody will walk you through them.
Here's how Big Hat makes sure our merchants don't have this problem
Free statement analysis first. Bob reads your current statement line by line and shows you where the money is going — before you sign anything.
A written comparison before signing. Your current cost next to the proposed setup, in writing, so the numbers are checkable at home.
Edge dual pricing. Your customers see a cash price and a card price at checkout — their choice, disclosed on the signage. It is a compliant way to offset card-acceptance cost instead of absorbing it in your margins.
The old terminal still swipes, but your business moved on — customers tap, order online, and pay invoices, and your equipment can't keep up.
Here's how Big Hat makes sure our merchants don't have this problem
Payanywhere smart terminals, free placement. Mini $19.95/mo, Terminal $19.95/mo, Flex $29.95/mo — touchscreen terminals for tap, dip, and swipe, plus Tap to Pay on iPhone with no extra hardware.
Keep the terminal you like. Certified Ingenico, PAX, First Data, and Dejavoo models can be reprogrammed to North — you keep your hardware and just change who processes.
Payments Hub included in the picture. Invoicing, payment links, and real-time reporting, so the new setup covers the counter and the back office.
What would a counter that keeps up let you do?
One tap — or skip it. Your answer travels with you into the fit questions, so Bob already knows what this fix is for.
You would switch tomorrow, but a long term and an early termination fee say otherwise — so you stay in a setup you already know is wrong.
Here's how Big Hat makes sure our merchants don't have this problem
Month-to-month traditional processing. The port-over path to North runs month to month — you stay because it works, not because a contract says so.
Switching costs covered up to $295. North reimburses early termination fees up to $295 at qualifying volume — the reimbursement certificate is on the forms shelf in the Resource Center.
Eligibility checked before you commit. Bob confirms what your switch looks like from your statement, in writing, before anything is signed.
What would you do with the fee you're paying to leave?
One tap — or skip it. Your answer travels with you into the fit questions, so Bob already knows what this fix is for.
Three taps about what you pay now, one tap about what the savings would do, a few basics — then your statement turns it into an exact comparison.
Step 1 of 5
Your numbers, in three taps
No typing, no digging up paperwork. Estimates are fine — the exact figures come from your statement later.
About how much do you pay in processing fees each month?
About how much do you process each month?
What kind of business do you run?
Does any of this describe your business?
Tap any that apply. These industries are welcome — they just need a little more paper for underwriting, and Step 4 will ask for exactly the right amount. Nothing here disqualifies you.
Your recap builds as you tap — pick a fee range, a volume, and your business type to continue.
If those fees dropped, what would it do for your business?
One tap. This is the reason the numbers matter — and it is the first thing Bob will ask you about when he calls.
No wrong answer — and you can skip this step entirely.
The nitty-gritty, minus the sensitive parts
Think of this as the head start on your application — every answer here is one less thing to fill in later.
Two ways to handle card fees — which sounds like your store?
Both are on the table at a lot of counters. Pick how you want to handle the cost — or ask to see both before you decide.
Pick your equipment
Keeping your equipment — how the move to North works
First, what terminal do you have? Tap the make, and add the model if you know it — it is usually printed on a label on the terminal itself.
The certified list: Ingenico, PAX, First Data, and Dejavoo models on North's EPX Certified Equipment List can be reprogrammed to North — you keep your hardware and just change who processes, on month-to-month traditional processing.
The locked-hardware reality: Clover, Square, and Verifone hardware is built to run only on its own processor, so it can't be reprogrammed to North. If that's your terminal, you won't pay for hardware: North places a Payanywhere terminal free.
Not sure of the make? Pick “Other” and add anything on the terminal's label — Bob will identify it against the certified list.
Application-lite: this page never asks for a Social Security number, a date of birth, or bank details. Those sensitive pieces happen later, inside North's secure application — and Bob pre-fills most of that application from the answers you give here, so you finish only what's left.
Your name, business, email, phone, and how customers pay are all it takes to continue. Equipment can be decided with Bob.
Now the statement — this is where your exact number comes from
Based on your business type, here is exactly what to send.
Your most recent month's processing statement — one statement is all a standard analysis needs.
Your statement is handled securely, never shared, and used only for your savings analysis. It goes through the encrypted upload — nothing financial is collected on this page itself.
The secure upload opens in a new tab (PDF, JPG, or PNG). You may black out account numbers first — only the fee lines are needed. Bob returns your written comparison within one business day. Prefer to do it later? Continue — Bob will send you the same secure link.
Your industry needs a little more paper for underwriting — that is normal for these categories, and gathering it now means no second trip later. Please have ready:
Three months of processing statements
Three months of bank statements
Two years of tax returns may also be requested during underwriting.
Your statements are handled securely, never shared, and used only for your savings analysis and application. They go through the encrypted upload — nothing financial is collected on this page itself.
The secure upload opens in a new tab (PDF, JPG, or PNG). You may black out account numbers first — only the fee lines are needed. Bob returns your written comparison within one business day. Prefer to do it later? Continue — Bob will send you the same secure link and a short checklist.
You are set — here is what happens next
Your current setup costs what it costs, every day it stays. Here's how that number gets checked — no obligation at any point, and the comparison is yours to keep either way.
Best fit
North Payments looks like your fit
Your biggest headache is fees — the free statement analysis and Edge dual pricing go straight at that, with a written comparison before you sign.
Bob will confirm the fit against your statement before recommending anything final.
The alternative
Another processor may fit better
Bob also works with other processors — Big Hat is not tied to one. If another option fits your situation better, he'll tell you, and the statement comparison is how it gets decided.
Bob runs your statement through his analysis tool and builds your written comparison — your current cost next to what your setup here would cost.
You get the comparison in writing and walk through it with Bob line by line, at home, on your schedule.
If the numbers make sense, Bob sets up your application for you and sends you a personal secure link to finish at home. If they don't, you keep the comparison and owe nothing.
Any of these ring a bell?
Ever thought about using a different processor? Tap the name you've been curious about — it rides along with your application as your pick, and Bob starts there.
For Square, that means Bob can set you up on Square through his Beacon reseller path, or run your numbers against the processing lanes — your choice.
Upload your statement. See exactly where you're overpaying.
Bob personally reviews every statement and walks you through it line by line — where the fees hide, what they actually cost you, and what a fair rate looks like for your business. No obligation, no pressure.
Your statement goes directly to Bob — no one else sees it. It is used only for your comparison, never shared, and you may black out account numbers first. Bob returns your written comparison within one business day.
Your statement is handled securely.
It is submitted through an encrypted form, and only Bob has the access code needed to read it. Encryption reduces risk, but no online system can promise that a breach is impossible. Read the security details.
The secure Jotform opens in a new tab. Upload PDF, JPG, or PNG files.
What happens after you upload
Your files and form answers are encrypted in Jotform. Bob uses his private access code to open the submission and review it for your consultation. That protection is designed to keep the contents limited to Bob, but—like any online service—it cannot eliminate every possible security risk.
The Resource Center.
Your counter could be running better than it is right now — and most of the gap is fixable from home. Forms, plain-English explainers, and a step-by-step path to a free savings comparison. No pressure, no sales visit required. Start wherever you like and finish on your own schedule.
Bob Matthews · Big Hat Solutions · North Payments Sales Partner · Agent ID 154373 Questions while you look things over? Call (770) 835-5584.
Every application here runs the secure way — Bob handles it himself
No generic processor signup links. No sensitive numbers on this website. Here is the path, start to finish:
1You start on this siteBasic contact and business basics only — never a Social Security number, a date of birth, or bank details.
2Bob sets it up for youBob personally starts your application and walks it through — you're never handed off to a call center, and he keeps you posted at every step.
3You finish on a personal secure linkBob sends you your own secure link from the processor. The sensitive pieces are entered only there, on the processor's secure application — never on this site.
If it starts at Big Hat Solutions, it starts with Bob Matthews — not a call center, not a random sales queue.
In a jam right now?
Terminal dead, a charge that looks funny, a fee you can't explain — find your problem below and start with the fix. Most of these take minutes, and the counter runs better on the other side of them.
Line forming and the machine's dead? Find your machine, find your problem, and work the steps top to bottom — most of these clear in a few minutes.
Check the cable first: reseat the Ethernet or phone cord at the terminal and at the wall until both ends click.
Restart the terminal — then the router too, if other devices are down.
On a Wi-Fi model, rejoin your network from the settings menu and retype the password.
Look for the network icon on screen before you ring the next sale.
Paper not dispensing?
Open the printer cover — on most of these it lifts from the top — and remove the empty core.
Drop the roll in so the paper feeds from under the roll, tail out the slot.
Close the cover until it clicks, tear off the extra, and run a test print.
Batch won't close?
Make sure you are connected — settlement will not run on a dead line.
Finish tip adjustments, then run Batch or Settlement from the terminal menu.
Let it print the batch report before you power anything down.
If it fails twice, note the error code and call Bob — Ingenico and FD150 help both start from that code.
Card not reading?
Insert the card chip-first into the chip slot and leave it in until the terminal beeps or prompts you.
Clean the chip with a dry cloth and retry; then test with a second card.
Restart the terminal if reads keep failing across cards.
For the current guide for your exact model, start at Ingenico's site — or ask Bob.
These are the standard basics that clear most counter problems. Anything model-specific — or anything that looks like failing hardware — goes faster with the manufacturer's current guide, linked under each machine, or with a call to Bob.
Think a charge looks funny? Worried a check won't clear? Fraud hits you twice — the goods walk out the door, then the money gets pulled back. Here's how to spot it before either one happens.
Think a charge looks funny?
Dip the chip. A customer who pushes you to swipe a chipped card — or to key the number in by hand — is steering you toward the weakest protection.
Look at the card before you run it. A name that does not match the story, a card that looks altered, or a signature that does not match the receipt are reasons to slow down.
Rushing is the tell: a big purchase, no questions about price, and pressure to hurry.
A decline is an answer. Never split a declined sale into smaller tries, and never force a transaction through — that moves the loss onto you.
For keyed-in and phone orders, always collect the billing ZIP code and the security code on the card. Those checks are your evidence later.
A check bounced — now what?
The check itself looks off — flimsy paper, smudged printing, no perforated edge, or a very low check number from an "established" business.
Overpayment plus a refund request is the oldest trick in the drawer: the check bounces after the "extra" money is already gone.
The payer will not wait — they push you to release the goods, or send the refund, the same day.
Money showing as "available" is not the same as a check clearing. A bad check can bounce days later, and the deposit comes back out of your account.
For a big or unfamiliar check, call the issuing bank at a number you look up yourself — never the number printed on the check — and ask them to verify it.
What's a chargeback, anyway?
A chargeback is what happens when a customer skips you and disputes the charge with their own bank instead. The bank pulls the money back out of your account while it investigates, and you get a notice with a response deadline. Answer in time, with evidence — the receipt, the invoice, proof the customer got what they paid for — and you can win the money back. Miss the deadline, and the loss usually sticks, with a chargeback fee on top.
Chargeback just landed — what do you do first?
Read the notice the day it arrives and circle the response deadline. That date runs the whole drill.
Gather your evidence in one folder: the signed or itemized receipt, the invoice, delivery or service records, and any texts or emails with the customer.
Write a short timeline: what was sold, when, how it was delivered, and what contact you had with the customer.
Send everything through your processor's dispute channel well before the deadline — and keep copies of what you sent.
Then fix the cause: clear receipts, your business name and phone number where customers can find them, and a refund path a customer can use before they call their bank.
Not sure your setup catches this stuff? Ask Bob what yours actually screens for — and what it lets through.
Staring at a fee you can't explain? Here's every line on your statement in plain words — where your money goes, and which lines are worth circling.
What's interchange?
The biggest slice of every swipe. It goes to the bank that issued your customer's card, and the rates are set by the card networks. No processor can negotiate this part down — anyone who promises to is selling you something.
What are card brand fees?
Small percentages that go to Visa, Mastercard, and the other card brands for running the networks. Also fixed — every merchant pays them.
What's the markup — and who gets it?
Your processor's slice, added on top of interchange and the brand fees. This is the part that actually differs from one processor to the next — and the part a statement review can price honestly.
Why am I paying monthly, statement & batch fees?
The housekeeping lines: a monthly service fee, a statement fee for the document you are reading, and small batch fees each time you close out. A few are normal. A full page of them is not.
What's this PCI fee?
A fee tied to the security standards for handling card data. Watch for its evil twin: a monthly "non-compliance" fee that keeps charging because a questionnaire was never filed. That one should stop once the paperwork is done.
What's this equipment charge?
What you pay every month for the terminal. A lease that runs for years can cost many times what the machine is worth — if this line looks big, it deserves a hard look.
Which fees shouldn't be there?
"Non-qualified" surcharges on ordinary cards
Regulatory or "compliance" fees with no explanation attached
Annual fees you never agreed to out loud
IRS reporting fees
Early termination fees hiding in the fine print
Some of these have a real cost behind them; some are markup wearing a costume. The only way to tell is line by line.
So what am I really paying, total?
Add up every fee on the statement, then divide by the month's total card sales. That percentage is what processing really costs you — not the rate you were quoted across the counter. Compare that number, and only that number, from one processor to the next.
Why your rate looks like alphabet soup
Interchange-plus puts it in the open: you pay the interchange and card brand fees as they are, plus one clear markup from your processor. Line by line, you can see who gets what — and that markup is the one piece you can actually shop around.
Tiered pricing bundles hundreds of different card costs into a few buckets — usually called qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified. Your statement shows the bucket, not the real cost underneath it, so two cards that cost very different amounts can land in the same bucket — and plenty of everyday cards get pushed into the pricier buckets.
When you read yours, look for this: does the statement separate interchange from the markup, or does it only show bucket rates? Are downgrade and non-qualified lines eating the month? If you cannot tell who gets what, that is the problem — bring it to Bob and he will walk it line by line, free.
Running dual pricing — or thinking about it? Bob provides dual-pricing merchants the exact door-and-register signage their program requires, so you are set up right from day one — no hunting for the right wording and no guessing at the counter.
Every month that fee stays unexplained is a month you pay it. Want a second set of eyes on yours? Bob reads statements line by line, free — and shows you what he finds, in writing.
Equipment should not eat the money you need to run the shop. Tap the path that sounds like yours — every one of these runs through Beacon, and Bob checks the fit before anything is ordered.
$0/month terminal rental
Qualifying merchants get a terminal through Beacon at $0/month rental instead of buying hardware upfront.
Not every setup qualifies — Bob checks your business and your current setup first, and tells you straight whether yours does.
If yours does, that hardware cost comes off your startup bill. If yours does not, Bob shows you the other equipment paths on this page instead.
A real POS without laying out thousands
Flex Sell POS is how Beacon puts a full point-of-sale system on your counter without the big upfront purchase.
Beacon places the system, so you are not laying out thousands before you have rung the first sale on it.
Bob matches the system to how you actually run — counter, tableside, or on the go — and confirms your details in your written comparison before anything is ordered.
Clover, rented not bought
Want Clover but do not want to buy the hardware? Beacon runs a Clover rental program, so the hardware can be rented instead of purchased.
You rent the Clover hardware through Bob instead of purchasing it outright — the Clover counter you want, without the purchase price up front.
Bob confirms which Clover setup fits your counter and walks you through the rental before anything is ordered.
A POS built for your trade
Beacon places more than one POS — the right one depends on what you sell and how your day runs. Four of the systems Bob can place:
Quantic — restaurants and quick-service: menus, orders, tips, and payments built for food service speed.
Korona — liquor stores, convenience, and high-SKU retail: built for big inventories and fast-moving counters.
Bookedby / Salon Ultimate — salons and appointment-based businesses: booking, appointments, and checkout in one place.
Field Pulse — field-service businesses like plumbers, HVAC, and mobile techs: built for work that happens out at the job, not at a counter.
Not sure which one is yours? Tell Bob your trade — or run the fit questions — and he will match the system to your business.
Every month on the wrong equipment setup is a month it slows the counter down. Want Bob to check which of these paths fits your shop?
These aren't counter questions — they're the ones that hit at the kitchen table, late at night: the business, the crew, your family. Start with the one that's keeping you up.
What happens to my business if I die?
Without a plan, the honest answer is: it depends on paperwork most owners never did. The business accounts may still be open, but who is allowed to sign, pay the crew, or collect what customers owe can freeze until a court sorts it out. Loans you signed for personally still come due. Customers drift, key people leave, and your family is left running a business out of a binder nobody can find — or selling it fast, cheap, and under pressure.
It does not have to go that way. The first step is not a product — it is getting organized: your accounts, contracts, passwords, and wishes written down where your family can reach them. That is what Addio is built for.
The funding side — insurance that keeps income coming to your family and keeps the business standing — is planned separately, and it is the whole reason Big Hat Legacy exists.
That is exactly what a buy-sell agreement answers: a written deal between partners, made while everyone still gets along. It says what triggers a buyout — a partner quits, retires, becomes disabled, or dies — how the business gets valued, and where the money comes from. Often that money is life or disability insurance the partners hold on each other, so the buyout is funded instead of financed out of the register. Without the paper, the buyout is an argument — and a departing partner's spouse can end up as your new partner.
What happens if I lose the one employee I can't run without?
Every shop has one: the lead cook, the master tech, the manager who holds the customer list in their head. If that person dies or cannot work, the business loses revenue the same week it loses them. Key person insurance is a policy the business takes out on that person, with their knowledge and consent. If the worst happens, the payout buys the business time — covering payroll, keeping loans current, and funding the search and training of a replacement instead of a scramble.
Can I offer my crew benefits without being a giant company?
Usually, yes. Group benefits are not only for big employers — small businesses can often set up group life and health coverage, and the details like minimum group size and employer contributions vary. Benefits are also a retention tool: in a tight labor market, the shop that helps its crew protect their families tends to keep its crew. What fits depends on your headcount and your budget, which makes it a planning conversation, not a one-size answer.
I want to hand the business to my kid someday — where do I start?
Start earlier than feels necessary, and start with paper: get your accounts, contracts, and wishes organized in one place — Addio is the tool we point owners to for that first step. Then get a real value on the business, because someday-planning runs on a number, not a guess. Bring your kid into the money side gradually, put the timeline and the terms in writing with your own attorney and tax advisor, and decide how the business funds your retirement on the way out. A handoff that is planned is a gift; one that is improvised is a family fight.
Everything on this shelf is plain education to get you thinking — not legal, tax, or insurance advice for your situation. When you are ready for your version of the plan, that conversation lives at Big Hat Legacy.
More than one way to get you fitted
Bob places merchants with the processor that fits the business, not the one he's stuck with. North and VizyPay each have a full shelf on this page — hardware, programs, and how getting started works. Elevate is a focused dual-pricing option described below. Global Payments / Central Payments details are available through Bob for now — just ask.
North Payments — primary
The full North shelf lives on this page — forms, equipment, funding, and the step-by-step statement walk-through.
Elevate Payment Alliance
A focused option below: patented Dual Credit and Cash Pricing for small merchants whose customers see a cash price and a card price, plus a card-not-present approach built on ACH for invoicing and online sellers. Guided application Bob submits for you.
A full shelf below: Dejavoo P Line hardware — P1 countertop, P8 handheld, and P5 PIN pad — and dual-pricing programs built for small and local businesses.
Bob also places merchants through Global Payments and Central Payments when that is the better fit. Program details and materials for this path are available through Bob — just ask.
Forms shelf
Download a form, fill it out at home, and send it back to Bob — he takes it from there. Nothing on this page submits a form directly to a processor.
New Merchant Account Set Up Form
The starting paperwork for a new merchant account — business details, contact information, and how you take payments today.
Early Termination Fee Reimbursement Certificate
Locked into a contract with another processor? This certificate covers switching costs for qualifying merchants.
Switching costs covered up to $295
Merchant Debit Authorization Form
Authorizes the account debits tied to your merchant account — processing fees and related charges, spelled out before you sign.
Edge Customer Notice Signage — English
The counter sign that tells your customers, in plain language, how the Edge dual-pricing program works at checkout.
Edge Customer Notice — Spanish
The same Edge customer notice in Spanish, so every customer at your counter gets the explanation in their language.
Card-Not-Present Addendum
The addendum for keyed, phone, and online transactions — the extra terms that apply when the card is not physically present.
Fill forms out at home and return them to Bob — he reviews everything before anything moves forward.
Learn shelf
The programs and equipment, explained the way Bob would explain them across your counter — plain English, known prices stated up front, and no made-up rate quotes.
The Edge Program
Dual pricing, explained simply: your customers see a cash price and a card price at checkout — their choice, disclosed on the counter signage. We don't do surcharging. It is a compliant program that offsets card-acceptance cost openly instead of burying it in your margins.
Payanywhere smart terminals
Touchscreen terminals that take tap, dip, and swipe at the counter or on the go — plus Tap to Pay on iPhone, which turns your phone into the terminal with no extra hardware.
Your back office online: send invoices, share payment links, and watch real-time reporting on every sale, batch, and deposit — from the shop or the couch.
Premium Plus $29.95/mo
Funding: Next Day & Same Day
Next Day funding is standard — your money lands the next business day. Need it faster? Same Day funding is available when you batch by 10:30 AM ET.
About North
North has processed payments for 30+ years, ranks among the top 10 non-bank acquirers in the U.S., moves $100B+ every year, and answers support calls 24/7. Bob is your local point of contact on top of all of it.
Why a statement comparison?
Your real cost lives in your statement — card mix, ticket sizes, and the fees buried between them. That is why the honest way to price your account starts there, not with a guessed quote. The guided walk-through below takes you there step by step.
A full placement option for small and local businesses where dual pricing fits. VizyPay runs on the Dejavoo P Line — countertop, handheld, and PIN pad — and Bob places you after a statement review, the same way he does with North. No self-serve signup, no guessed quotes.
Dual pricing, with the choice disclosed
VizyPay is known for its cash-discount and dual-pricing programs for small businesses. At checkout your customers see a cash price and a card price — their choice, disclosed up front — so the cost of accepting cards is handled openly instead of buried in your margins. Bob only recommends it where it fits your customers and your counter, and he explains it in plain English before you decide.
Dejavoo P1 — the countertop anchor
A fixed-counter terminal with a 5.5-inch IPS touchscreen, a physical keyboard, and a built-in printer, connected by WiFi, LAN, or USB. Its gateway supports dual pricing, automatic batch, e-receipts, and merchant loyalty — the everyday work of a busy register in one unit.
Dejavoo P Line · P1
Dejavoo P8 — handheld & mobile
A handheld wireless Android terminal for tableside, curbside, and on-the-go checkout, with a 6.517-inch HD touchscreen on WiFi or LTE. It is the P Line option that moves with the customer instead of waiting at the register.
Dejavoo P Line · P8
Dejavoo P5 — handheld & PIN pad
A compact 5-inch HD handheld and customer-facing PIN pad with Bluetooth, WiFi, and LTE. It takes EMV contactless plus chip & PIN, chip & sign, or swipe — lightweight and easy to operate one-handed at the counter or in the field.
Dejavoo P Line · P5
Already have Dejavoo?
That hardware is already familiar territory here. Dejavoo terminals are on the keep-your-equipment list explained in the walk-through below — many models can be reprogrammed rather than replaced. If you already run Dejavoo, Bob checks your model first before suggesting any new hardware.
Set up and supported by Bob
Bob personally sets up and supports every account he places with VizyPay. You never hand a login to this site — when you are a merchant, you sign in to your own processor portal directly. To be considered for VizyPay, start with a free statement review or the application-lite in the Start shelf below.
Hardware details are from the Dejavoo P Line sheet for VizyPay. Final equipment and program fit are confirmed by Bob from your statement and how your counter runs — nothing here is a rate quote or a guaranteed saving.
Elevate — dual pricing for small merchants
One of the processors Bob works with, built around one program: Dual Credit and Cash Pricing. Elevate comes up in the fit questions on this page when your answers point to dual pricing, and the paperwork is handled for you.
Where Elevate fits
Elevate fits a small merchant who wants the pricing conversation to start with one question: who carries the processing cost, you or the card-paying customer? Your customers see a cash price and a card price — their choice, disclosed up front — and the card price is set to cover the processing cost. Bob compares Elevate against North and VizyPay in writing before recommending it, and it is never presented as a guaranteed saving.
Patented program, support behind it
Elevate describes its Dual Credit and Cash Pricing technology as patented and designed to be compliant in all 50 states — their claim, in their words. Elevate's company profiles list 24/7 US-based customer service behind its merchants, and Elevate is a cooperative-style alliance whose sales representatives and employees can qualify for an ownership share.
Invoicing or selling online?
For businesses that mostly invoice or sell online, where the card is not present, Elevate offers a cash discount approach built on the lower-cost ACH network. That is a different fit from a busy counter — Bob checks it against how you actually get paid before it goes on your short list.
Equipment & services, by category
Equipment options through Elevate cover countertop terminals, full point-of-sale systems, mobile and wireless devices, and online payments — matched to how your business actually takes cards. Elevate publishes categories, not specific models, so no model is promised here. Its service set also includes check processing and gift card and loyalty programs alongside card processing.
Handled for you, by Bob
Start with the short application-lite in the Start shelf below. After your free statement review, Bob submits your application for you, and your agreement arrives for e-signature — no long processor form to tackle alone. Elevate is a Colorado-based independent sales organization founded by Hawkins Siemon; Bob is your local Georgia contact, and Elevate's public line is (888) 862-4009.
Program details for your business are confirmed in your written comparison — no internal fees or rates are quoted on this page.
Start shelf
Ready when you are. Every day on the wrong setup is a day it costs you — leave your details and Bob takes it from there. Already a merchant? Sign in to Payments Hub.
Start my application
Want Bob to submit it for you? He personally starts your application, sets it up under his agent account, and walks it through — then sends you a personal secure link to finish at home. Nothing is submitted to a processor from this page. Your application goes to whichever processor fits your business — North, Elevate, VizyPay, or Global Payments/Central Payments.
Your details are ready in the private review form below — check them there and send them to Bob securely.
Already a merchant?
Sign in to Payments Hub to check deposits, run reports, send invoices, and manage your account — any time, from anywhere.
Your free statement savings comparison, step by step
Five short steps. You will pick your equipment, see what your setup looks like, and land on the one thing that produces an exact number: your statement.
Step 1 of 5
What kind of business do you run?
Choose the closest match — it decides exactly which statements to gather in Step 4, nothing more.
Does any of this describe your business?
Tap any that apply. These industries are welcome — they just need a little more paper for underwriting, and Step 4 will ask for exactly the right amount. Nothing here disqualifies you.
Pick your equipment
Tap everything you would use. Placement prices are the known monthly figures — free placement, no purchase required — and your setup summary builds as you go.
Keeping your equipment — how the move to North works
First, what terminal do you have? Tap the make, and add the model if you know it — it is usually printed on a label on the terminal itself.
The certified list: North's EPX Certified Equipment List names the terminals that can be reprogrammed to North: the Ingenico line (Desk 1500/1600/2600/3500 including the WiFi models, Lane 3000/5000/7000, Link 2500, Move 5000, and iSC), the PAX line (A35, A77, A80, A920/A920 Pro, D210, E600 Mini, E700), First Data's FD130/FD150/FD300, Dejavoo terminals, and Magtek readers. If yours is on the list, it gets reprogrammed to North — you keep your hardware and just change who processes, on month-to-month traditional processing.
The locked-hardware reality: Clover, Square, and Verifone hardware is built to run only on its own processor, so it can't be reprogrammed to North. If that's your terminal, you won't pay for hardware: North places a Payanywhere terminal free.
Not sure of the make? Pick “Other” and add anything on the terminal's label — Bob will identify it against the certified list.
Either way, the next steps don't change: keeping your equipment does not skip the statement step — your statement in Step 4 is how Bob prices the port-over against what you pay today.
Your setup
Nothing picked yet — tap an option above.
Known equipment placement so far: $0.00/mo. Final plan details are confirmed in your written comparison.
Your volume and your biggest headache
An estimate is fine — the exact numbers come from your statement in the next step.
Two ways to handle card fees — which sounds like your store?
Both are on the table at a lot of counters. Pick how you want to handle the cost — or ask to see both before you decide.
Monthly volume is required. Your processor and pain point can be left blank.
Now the statement — this is where your exact number comes from
Based on your business type, here is exactly what to send.
Your most recent month's processing statement — one statement is all a standard analysis needs.
Your statement is handled securely, never shared, and used only for your savings analysis. It goes through the encrypted upload — nothing financial is collected on this page itself.
The secure upload opens in a new tab (PDF, JPG, or PNG). You may black out account numbers first — only the fee lines are needed. Bob returns your written comparison within one business day. Prefer to do it later? Continue — Bob will send you the same secure link.
Your industry needs a little more paper for underwriting — that is normal for these categories, and gathering it now means no second trip later. Please have ready:
Three months of processing statements
Three months of bank statements
Two years of tax returns may also be requested during underwriting.
Your statements are handled securely, never shared, and used only for your savings analysis and application. They go through the encrypted upload — nothing financial is collected on this page itself.
The secure upload opens in a new tab (PDF, JPG, or PNG). You may black out account numbers first — only the fee lines are needed. Bob returns your written comparison within one business day. Prefer to do it later? Continue — Bob will send you the same secure link and a short checklist.
You are set — here is what happens next
Your current setup costs what it costs, every day it stays. Here's how that number gets checked — no obligation at any point, and the comparison is yours to keep either way.
Best fit
North Payments looks like your fit
Bob will confirm the fit against your statement before recommending anything final.
The alternative
Another processor may fit better
Bob also works with other processors — Big Hat is not tied to one. If another option fits your situation better, he'll tell you, and the statement comparison is how it gets decided.
Bob runs your statement through his analysis tool and builds your written comparison — your current cost next to what your setup here would cost.
You get the comparison in writing and walk through it with Bob line by line, at home, on your schedule.
If the numbers make sense, Bob sets up your application for you and sends you a personal secure link to finish at home. If they don't, you keep the comparison and owe nothing.
Any of these ring a bell?
Ever thought about using a different processor? Tap the name you've been curious about — it rides along with your application as your pick, and Bob starts there.
For Square, that means Bob can set you up on Square through his Beacon reseller path, or run your numbers against the processing lanes — your choice.
The questions owners ask at home, answered the same way Bob answers them in person.
What will this cost me?
It depends on the equipment and plan you pick — the placement prices on this page are stated up front ($19.95–$29.95/mo, free placement). Your exact processing savings come from the statement analysis, in writing. No guessed quotes, no numbers invented to win you over.
Are there early termination fees?
If you are leaving another processor, North reimburses early termination fees up to $295 at qualifying volume — the reimbursement certificate is on the forms shelf above. Bob confirms your eligibility from your statement before you commit to anything.
Do I have to buy equipment?
No. Equipment is placed, not purchased — the Mini, Terminal, and Flex run on free placement at the monthly figures shown, and Tap to Pay on iPhone needs no hardware at all.
Can I keep my current terminal?
Often, yes — if your terminal is on North's EPX Certified Equipment List: the Ingenico line (Desk, Lane, Link, Move, and iSC models), the PAX line (A35, A77, A80, A920/A920 Pro, D210, E600 Mini, E700), First Data's FD130/FD150/FD300, Dejavoo terminals, and Magtek readers. Those get reprogrammed to North — you keep your hardware and just change who processes, on month-to-month traditional processing. Clover, Square, and Verifone hardware is processor-locked and can't come over — but you won't pay for hardware: North places a Payanywhere terminal free.
When do I get my money?
Next Day funding is standard. Same Day funding is available when you batch by 10:30 AM ET — handy for weekends and tight cash-flow weeks.
What's the catch?
There isn't a hidden one — and here is how you can check that. The statement analysis is free, the comparison is yours in writing whether you switch or not, and the equipment prices are published on this page instead of revealed on a sales call. Bob is paid by the processor only if you choose to switch. If the numbers don't beat what you have, he'll tell you to stay put.
I'm still under contract — can I even switch?
Usually, yes. North reimburses early termination fees up to $295 at qualifying volume, and the traditional processing you would move to runs month to month — no new long term to get stuck in. Bob checks your eligibility from your statement before you commit to anything, so you know the real cost of leaving before you leave.
More than a card machine.
A payment setup touches checkout speed, cash flow, reporting, customer experience, and staff training. The right solution brings those pieces together without adding unnecessary complexity.
01
Statement review & solution matching
Review the current processing setup, identify the real cost drivers, and match the business with an appropriate provider and equipment path.
A compact, cost-conscious choice for straightforward counter or mobile payments.
From essential to advanced
The right machine—not simply the biggest one.
Choose from affordable, familiar card terminals through full-featured Clover point-of-sale systems. The recommendation is based on transaction volume, mobility, connectivity, receipts, and the software tools your team will actually use.
A
Clover POS systemsPremium countertop and handheld options for businesses that want a polished checkout plus stronger software tools.
B
Everyday smart terminalsAll-in-one touchscreen devices such as the PAX A920 for a capable setup without a full station.
C
Essential countertop machinesFamiliar, budget-minded terminals for merchants who mainly need dependable tap, dip, swipe, and receipts.
D
Portable & online optionsMobile readers, virtual terminals, invoicing, and recurring-payment tools when the counter is not the whole business.
Tell us how your business works, what you pay, and what equipment you use. You’ll get a practical first-pass match built around your workflow, equipment, and priorities.
Step 1 of 6
What kind of business do you run?
Choose the closest match. Your selection takes you straight to the next step.
Tell us about your volume and current costs
Estimates are fine. These details help compare the full cost of changing, not just the headline rate.
Monthly volume is required. Everything else can be left blank if you do not know it.
What equipment are you using?
Choose the equipment or platform you use most. If you are unsure, a terminal photo can help Bob identify it later.
Optional · JPG, PNG, or WebP stays in this page until you continue.
What do you like and not like about your current setup?
Tell Bob what should stay and what needs to change. Both answers are optional.
Two ways to handle card fees — which sounds like your store?
Both are on the table at a lot of counters. Pick how you want to handle the cost — or ask to see both before you decide.
Your fit answer
A practical first look at what can serve your business well.
Recommended first look
Elevate
Built around your business.
Why it fits your business
Two things to weigh
Any of these ring a bell?
Ever thought about using a different processor? Tap the name you've been curious about — it rides along with your application as your pick, and Bob starts there.
For Square, that means Bob can set you up on Square through his Beacon reseller path, or run your numbers against the processing lanes — your choice.
Want Bob to take it from here?
“I’m Bob. I shop the deals myself.”
Share your contact details for a personal follow-up, schedule a time for Bob to call you back, or call him now.
Your answers and contact details are ready in the private review form below.
Nothing is sent from this screen. Continue to the private review form below to check your details and submit them securely.
Built for the businesses doing the work.
Different businesses need different checkout speeds, reporting, mobility, integrations, and customer experiences. The setup starts with the way your business actually operates.
Multiple processing paths.
Active processing relationships across multiple platforms and account profiles.
Beacon Payments Free loaner terminals and Clover equipment options, with one-on-one support and proposals built from your current statement.Active
Elevate Payment Alliance Patented Dual Credit and Cash Pricing for small merchants, plus a card-not-present approach built on ACH for invoicing and online sellers.Active
North Full-service processing for larger accounts, with Payanywhere POS and PAX terminals that can scale with the business.Active
Global Payments Enterprise-grade reliability from one of the world’s largest processors, with PAX terminals and the Genius POS platform.Active
One relationship. More solutions.
Merchant processing is the front door. As trust grows, the conversation can also include life insurance, key person insurance, retirement planning, group benefits, and business succession with an Independent Insurance Agent.
Program availability, pricing, equipment, funding times, and approval vary by provider and merchant profile. Merchant accounts are subject to underwriting and provider terms. Provider names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Merchant services · Atlanta metro, Georgia
Credit card processing for Atlanta-area small businesses
Big Hat Solutions is based in East Point and works with small businesses across the Atlanta metro — restaurants, retail shops, trades, salons, auto shops, dental and professional offices, and online sellers who need honest credit card processing, the right POS system, and a local agent they can actually call.
Credit card processing in Georgia
Card acceptance at the counter, tableside, on the jobsite, in the office, or online — matched to how your business runs, with pricing explained from your real statement, not a guessed quote.
POS systems & payment terminals
Smart terminals and full POS systems for counter, tableside, and mobile checkout — including free-placement options, and reprogramming for many Ingenico, PAX, First Data, and Dejavoo models you already own.
Dual pricing & lower processing fees
Edge dual pricing and traditional pricing compared in writing, side by side — so you see exactly what you pay today and what changes, before you sign anything.
Free merchant statement review
Send a recent statement and Bob reads it line by line — where the fees hide, what you actually pay, and whether switching saves you anything. Free, with no obligation.
This is the official website for Big Hat Solutions at bighatsolutions.co — credit card processing, merchant services, POS systems, and payment terminals for small businesses in East Point, Atlanta, College Park, South Fulton, and across metro Atlanta, Georgia. Owner and local agent: Bob Matthews, North Payments Sales Partner, Agent ID 154373, 3645 Marketplace Boulevard, Suite 130, Box 107, East Point, GA 30344 — (770) 835-5584, [email protected].
Looking for retirement, life insurance, and legacy planning? That's our sister site: Big Hat Legacy — bighatlegacy.com. Search “Big Hat Solutions,” “Big Hat Solutions East Point,” or “credit card processing Atlanta GA” on Google, Bing, Brave, or Safari to find this page.
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