Flexible Credit and Debit Card Payment Processing Options for Salons
Hair salons, barbershops, and independent hairstylists operate in a diverse range of credit card processing environments. From busy salons to rented booths to home-based operations, hair care professionals need to accept credit cards with minimal equipment, maximum speed, and at the lowest cost possible. Traditional salons and barbershops will benefit most from an in-store point-of-sale system with customer management and marketing integration, while independent stylists will usually only require a simple mobile phone app. There are dozens of different solutions available, however, and many more providers. It can be difficult to find a payment processing service that is enough for your needs without being excessive or overpriced.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the top merchant account providers for hair salons and barbershops. These providers offer a wide range of services designed to speed up checkout, promote repeat business, and enable customers to pay and tip however they like. These companies have all earned positive reputations among merchants and third-party reviewers and are known to offer competitive pricing for hair care professionals. To ensure that you receive the lowest rates and the right equipment for your salon, be sure to contact multiple processors on this list to compare contract terms and services.
Top Picks For Merchant Services for Hair Salons
Host Merchant Services
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Fast approval for most industries
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No contract or cancellation fees
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Highly rated customer support
Host Merchant Services is a Newark, Delaware-based merchant account provider that is well-suited for salon-type merchants. The company’s products and services include point-of-sale solutions, online marketing tools, an online payment gateway and virtual terminal, mobile credit card processing, gift and loyalty programs, and merchant cash advance. Host Merchant Services also offers a wide range of e-commerce solutions for salon owners who wish to maintain a strong web presence.
Host Merchant Services has received only positive feedback on public forums, with most reviewers singling out the company’s customer service for praise. Host offers interchange-plus pricing with no early termination fees to all of its merchants, meaning that stylists will enjoy the most transparent pricing model and can cancel service without penalty. The BBB gives Host an “A+” rating, and CPO also gives the company an “A+.”
For more information, visit the Host Merchant Services website or call (888) 727-4538.
PaymentCloud
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Fast approval for numerous "high-risk" industries
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Broad product and service offering
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Highly praised customer support
Based in Woodland Hills, California, PaymentCloud is a merchant account provider that specializes in serving standard to high risk business types. The company’s products and services include point-of-sale solutions, mobile phone swipers, an online payment gateway and virtual terminal, EMV-compatible terminals, and merchant cash advances. These features allow hair salons to manage their inventory of shampoo, conditioner, and other products, keep accurate customer records, and charge for services from haircuts to dye jobs and everything in between. For those reasons, PaymentCloud is a good option for hair salons.
PaymentCloud provides a dedicated account rep to all new merchants for the life of the account. The company has not received any negative complaints on consumer forums, and it customizes its pricing according to each merchant’s business type and processing history. The BBB does not maintain a profile for PaymentCloud at this time, but CPO gives the company an “A.”
For more information, visit the PaymentCloud website or call (888) 506-7859.
National Processing
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Top-rated choice for businesses that want Clover POS
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Fast approval and next day deposits
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Quick equipment deliver and 24/7 support
Active since 2008, National Processing is a merchant account provider leading the industry’s move toward flat-rate, subscription-style pricing. The company’s products and services include EMV-compatible countertop terminals, a virtual terminal, an online payment gateway, an online shopping cart, mobile phone processing, QuickBooks integration, online invoicing, and recurring billing. National Processing is capable of serving all standard-risk hair salons and offers a comprehensive dashboard for tracking all payments and customers.
National Processing offers multiple pricing plans with different rates. Merchants can select either a plan that charges a flat fee on all transactions or a plan that charges a fixed monthly fee plus a fixed per-transaction dollar amount above interchange. In other words, merchants can choose whether or not they are charged a percentage markup on each transaction. National Processing currently has an “A” rating on CPO and an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau.
For more information, visit the National Processing Website, or call (385) 777-1235.
Additional Options
CDG Commerce
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Specialized services for most industries
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Simple and transparent rates
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350+ technology integrations, including Quickbooks
Founded in 1998, CDG Commerce is a privately owned merchant account provider with headquarters in Chesapeake, Virginia. CDG Commerce offers in-store and mobile processing solutions for hair salon owners and can supply payment processing for salons of all sizes and types.
CDG Commerce offers fixed per-transaction fees with month-to-month contracts and no early termination fees. The company has a remarkably low complaint total considering the fact that it has been in business and growing since 1998 and has retained the same ownership during that time. Our review of CDG Commerce gives the company an “A+” rating, and the BBB also gives CDG Commerce an “A+.”
For more information, see the CDG Commerce Website or call (888) 393-1079.
