CardConnect CardPointe

What is CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program

CardConnect is a payments platform that is part of Fiserv, a global leader in financial services technology. The CardConnect Merchant Services Partner Program is designed for Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs) and individual Sales Agents who want to sell payment processing solutions to businesses. The core purpose of the program is to provide partners with the technology, tools, and support needed to build and manage a portfolio of merchant accounts. Partners are equipped with CardConnect's proprietary solutions, such as the CardPointe payment platform and the CoPilot management portal, to attract and retain clients. This allows them to earn residual income from the transaction fees of the merchants they sign up.

CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program Features

CardConnect offers a suite of tools and features to help its partners succeed in the competitive merchant services industry.

• CoPilot Management Portal: A dedicated portal for partners to manage their entire business. You can track merchant applications from submission to approval, view detailed residual reports, manage sub-partner performance, and order hardware for your clients.
• CardPointe Payment Platform: The all-in-one payment processing solution that partners offer to merchants. It allows businesses to accept payments in-person, online, or via a mobile app. It includes features like a virtual terminal, recurring billing, and detailed transaction reporting.
• Access to Clover POS Suite: Partners can sell the popular Clover line of point-of-sale hardware and software. This includes a wide range of devices and access to an app market with hundreds of business management applications.
• Interchange Optimization: This technology helps merchants qualify for the lowest possible processing rates for their transactions, which is a key selling point for partners.
• CardSecure Data Protection: Provides merchants with enhanced security through tokenization and PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE), protecting sensitive customer card data.
• Dedicated Partner Support: The program provides human support, including onboarding specialists, direct access to the underwriting team, and a ticketing system for resolving account issues.
• Sales and Marketing Resources: Partners get access to expert marketing materials, sales resources, and interactive training webinars to help them win new business.

CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program Pricing Plans

The CardConnect Partner Program does not follow a traditional subscription pricing model. Instead, it is based on a revenue-sharing arrangement. Partners earn income through commissions and long-term residual payments from the processing fees of the merchants they enroll. The specific details of the revenue share, including splits and bonuses, are typically customized based on the partner's experience, portfolio size, and business model. There are different partnership levels available, catering to individual agents just starting out as well as large, established ISOs with their own teams.

CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program Free Plan

There is no cost to join the CardConnect Merchant Services Partner Program for qualified sales professionals and organizations. It is not a subscription service. The program is free to enter, and partners are provided with the necessary tools and training without any upfront fees. The business model is based on mutual success; CardConnect earns revenue when its partners successfully sign up merchants who process transactions.

How to use CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program

Getting started as a CardConnect partner follows a clear process:

1. Apply to the Program: The first step is to contact CardConnect through their website and apply to become a partner. This usually involves a review of your business and experience.
2. Complete Onboarding: Once approved, you will go through an onboarding process where you learn about the products, tools, and sales procedures.
3. Identify and Approach Merchants: Use your sales skills and the provided marketing resources to find businesses that need payment processing services.
4. Submit Applications via CoPilot: Use the CoPilot portal to easily submit digital applications for your new merchant leads.
5. Manage Your Portfolio: After a merchant is approved and activated, you can use CoPilot to monitor their transaction volume, manage their account, and track your residual income.
6. Provide Support: Act as the primary point of contact for your merchants, assisting them with their payment processing needs with the backing of CardConnect's support team.

Pros and Cons of CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program

Pros

• Backed by Fiserv: Being part of a major financial technology company provides stability, credibility, and access to advanced technology.
• Comprehensive Product Suite: Offering both CardPointe and the full Clover line allows partners to serve a wide variety of merchant types and sizes.
• Powerful Partner Portal: The CoPilot portal simplifies many aspects of running a merchant services business, from onboarding to reporting.
• Transparent Residual Reporting: Partners have access to detailed, line-item reports on their earnings.
• Dedicated Support Structure: Access to onboarding specialists and underwriting teams can speed up the sales process.

Cons

• Competitive Market: The payment processing industry is highly competitive, and partners face competition from many other providers.
• Corporate Structure: As a large organization, some partners may find the support less personalized compared to smaller, boutique ISO programs.
• Complex Industry: Newcomers to payment processing may face a steep learning curve with interchange rates and compliance requirements.

CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program integrations

CardConnect's primary product for merchants, the CardPointe Gateway, is designed for easy integration. This allows partners to offer solutions that connect with a merchant's existing software.

• E-commerce Platforms: Integrates with major platforms like WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, and Shopify.
• Accounting Software: Offers plugins and integrations for software such as QuickBooks and FreshBooks to automate reconciliation.
• ERP Systems: Connects with enterprise resource planning systems like Oracle NetSuite and SAP for seamless payment acceptance within business workflows.
• Custom Software: A comprehensive API allows developers to integrate CardPointe payment processing directly into any custom application, mobile app, or website.
• Clover App Market: For merchants using Clover devices, partners can offer hundreds of third-party apps for inventory, payroll, marketing, and more.

CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program Alternatives

• Stripe Partner Program: A strong alternative, especially for partners focused on technology companies, SaaS platforms, and online businesses. Stripe is known for its developer-friendly APIs and modern infrastructure.
• Square Partner Program: Ideal for partners who target small businesses, retailers, and restaurants. Square offers a tightly integrated ecosystem of hardware, software, and services that is very popular with SMBs.
• Worldpay from FIS Partner Program: A direct competitor and another large, traditional payment processor. Worldpay offers a similarly broad range of solutions and a robust partner program for agents and ISOs.
• PayPal Partner Program: A good choice for partners working with e-commerce merchants or businesses that need a simple, trusted online payment solution. PayPal's brand recognition is a significant advantage.

CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program API

Yes, CardConnect provides a comprehensive RESTful API through its CardPointe Gateway. This API allows developers to integrate secure payment acceptance into any software, website, or mobile application. Partners can leverage this API as a selling point for merchants with custom software needs.

To get API credentials, a developer must sign up for an account on the CardConnect developer portal. Once an account is created and approved, they can generate API keys for the UAT (testing) and production environments.

Here is a basic example of an API request using cURL to authorize a payment:

curl https://<site>.cardconnect.com/cardconnect/rest/auth \
-X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-u "<API_USERNAME>:<API_PASSWORD>" \
-d '{
  "merchid": "<MERCHANT_ID>",
  "amount": "10.00",
  "currency": "USD",
  "name": "John Doe",
  "account": "<CARD_NUMBER>",
  "expiry": "<MMYY>",
  "cvv2": "<CVV>"
}'

CardConnect | Merchant Services Partner Program Affiliate program

The CardConnect Merchant Services Partner Program is a comprehensive partnership program rather than a simple affiliate link program. It is designed for sales professionals and organizations who actively sell payment processing services. Compensation is not based on a one-time referral fee but on a long-term revenue-sharing model where partners earn a percentage of the processing fees from their merchants every month. This is known as residual income.

To join, interested parties must apply through the CardConnect website. The application process involves a review to ensure the candidate is a good fit for the program. If you are interested in becoming a sales partner, you should contact their business development team directly via the forms on their site.