Get answers to the top 11 merchant services questions in 2026—fees, PCI compliance, chargebacks, and zero-fee programs like surcharging and dual pricing.
Presented by Allen Kopelman, CEO — Nationwide Payment Systems-Host of B2B Vault: The Biz2Biz Podcast
If you’re evaluating merchant services in 2026, here’s what matters most:
Smart businesses are shifting to:
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Payments are no longer just a backend function—they’re part of your customer experience, cash flow, and profitability.
Whether you’re running:
…your payment setup directly impacts your margins and operations.
Below are the top 11 questions business owners are asking right now 
Every transaction involves multiple players:
Funds typically settle in 1–2 business days, depending on your setup.
The key difference?
Most businesses pay:
But that’s just the surface.
Fees can include:
Flat-rate pricing hides these details. Interchange-plus makes them transparent.
Flat-Rate (Stripe, Square)
Interchange-Plus
If you’re processing over $25K/month, flat-rate is usually costing you Money.
Short answer: Yes, 100%.
PCI DSS ensures you’re securely handling cardholder data.
Requirements include:
Failure to comply can lead to:
Yes—but you have to do it correctly.
Options include:
Compliance is critical here—done wrong, you can get shut down.
Chargebacks happen when a customer disputes a transaction.
Common reasons:
Best practices:
A good processor helps you fight and win disputes.
Yes—and this is where many businesses get burned.
Watch for:
Always ask for a full fee breakdown before signing.
In 2026, these are non-negotiable:
The easier you make it to pay, the faster you get paid.
Payment Facilitators (Stripe, Square, PayPal)
Merchant Accounts
If you’re doing serious volume, a merchant account wins.
Red flags:
Look for:
The best providers earn your business monthly—not lock you in.
This is one of the biggest trends in payments right now.
The Goal:
Reduce—or eliminate—processing costs.
Clean, transparent, and increasingly popular.
| Model | Who Pays Fees | Compliance Required | Best For |
| Surcharge | Customer (card only) | High | Retail & service |
| Dual Pricing | Customer (card) | Moderate | Most SMBs |
| Cash Discount | Customer (card indirectly) | Moderate | Retail |
| 0% Program | Customer | Structured setup | High-volume |
When set up correctly, these programs can save thousands per month.
Three major trends right now:
AI & Fraud Prevention
Smarter tools detecting fraud before it happens.
Embedded Payments
Payments built directly into software platforms
Cost Reduction Models
Surcharging and dual pricing are going mainstream.
At Nationwide Payment Systems, we focus on:
We help businesses:
If you’re asking these questions—you’re already ahead of most business owners.
Now it’s time to fix what’s costing you money.
Book a free payment analysis: demo See NPSONE in action: npsone
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