Clarify Review

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5
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How did they treat you? ▼

Updated 3/11/2019: The website for Clarify, LLC (clarifyup.com) appears to no longer be an active website. Clarify appears to have been fully absorbed into Beacon Payments, its parent company. See our Beacon Payments review for up-to-date information about this company.

Founded in 2016, Clarify, LLC (clarifyup.com) is a merchant account provider that specializes in serving restaurants and bars. Unlike most credit card processors, Clarify offers monthly subscription-style pricing and does not charge a percentage-based markup on transactions (more on this below). The company is a division of Beacon Payments and does not currently provide its street address to the public. Beacon Payments is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, California, and is headquartered at 25 Temple Place Suite 2L, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Von Raees, Tim Brice, and Nima Salke are all co-founders of Clarify, while Andrea Olivas serves as the company's COO.

Key Points

  • Sales & Marketing: Clarify does not appear to hire independent sales representatives and has not received any complaints about its sales practices.
  • Costs & Contract: Clarify appears to offer a month-to-month contract with no early termination fee.
  • Complaints & Service: Clarify has received fewer than 10 public complaints.
  • BBB Rating: Clarify does not have a profile with the Better Business Bureau at this time.
  • Rates & Fees: How Merchants Got The Best Rates With Clarify

Clarify Customer Reviews

Here's What Their Clients Say

Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints <10
Live Customer Support Unknown
Most Common Complaint N/A

We are unable to locate any negative Clarify reviews, which is ordinarily a strong indication that a company is not a ripoff or a scam. In this case, however, Clarify’s clean complaint record may simply be a function of its very short time in business. While it’s entirely possible that the company offers quality customer support and proactively prevents complaints, it is equally likely that it simply has a small user base at this time. We will not lower its score in this section, but merchants should note that Clarify has not been active long enough for it to develop a positive or negative reputation within the industry. Clarify lists a phone number and email address on its website, but it’s unknown whether these channels are dedicated specifically to customer service.

Clarify Online Ratings

Here's How They Rate Online

The Better Business Bureau does not maintain a profile for Clarify at this time. We therefore will not factor a BBB rating into this review.

Clarify Fees, Rates & Costs

A Closer Look at The Contract

Cost & Fees Summary
Swiped Rate Interchange + $0.08 to $0.15
Keyed-in Rate Interchange + $0.08 to $0.15
Early Termination Fee Variable
PCI Compliance Fee Variable
Equipment Lease Terms Variable

The standard Clarify contract (available below) is a three-year agreement through First Data that does not specify an early termination fee amount, stating instead that “Client may be charged a fee for such early termination, if so indicated on the Application on the Service Fee Schedule.” For its part, Clarify states on its website that merchants will not be locked into contracts with the company and that Clarify “will do everything we can do help facilitate a smooth transition.” Merchants are encouraged to ask about the exact terms to which they will be held.

Clarify’s pricing model is atypical for the industry in that it only charges a monthly subscription fee and a per-transaction fee of interchange plus a flat amount. The company does not add any percentage-based markup to transactions, meaning that merchants will not need to pay more for higher sales amounts. Merchants’ costs will only increase as they process more transactions. Clarify’s fixed monthly fee is always $29 and its per-transaction markup runs from $0.06 to $0.10, depending on the number of transactions a merchant conducts per month. Merchants should be aware that they will still pay a percentage-based rate on every transaction in the form of interchange, but this amount is non-negotiable and does not go to Clarify.

Because Clarify’s markup doesn’t increase according to a merchant’s ticket size, Clarify’s pricing model has the potential to be very beneficial for restaurants and bars that conduct a low number of high-ticket transactions. On the other hand, Clarify’s model may not be ideal for restaurants that conduct a high number of low-ticket transactions. Each restaurant will see different results from Clarify’s pricing structure based on that restaurant’s sales patterns, so merchants are encouraged to take a long look at the relevant numbers for their locations. When it comes to transparency and simplicity, Clarify appears to be a great option for restaurants and bars. Its ability to save merchants money, however, will vary on a case-by-case basis. Merchants should be sure to ask whether Clarify charges any additional monthly or annual fees. See the Clarify terms and conditions.

Clarify Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs

Should You Work For Them?

Jobs & Marketing Summary
Employs Independent Resellers No
Advertises Deceptive Rates No
Discloses All Important Terms Yes

Clarify appears to primarily market its services via a referral program, in-house sales agents, and traditional advertising. There is no evidence at this time that the company employs a team of independently contracted sales agents. There are also no Clarify complaints that describe unethical conduct by sales agents, but this may simply be due to the company’s short time in business.

Clarify strongly emphasizes its transparency in its marketing materials, and it supports this claim by disclosing its pricing structure for all service packages. This degree of transparency is uncommon among providers and has earned the company an “A” rating in this category. Although Clarify is upfront about a large number of its potential rates and fees, merchants should be sure to ask whether other costs, such as equipment leases or statement fees, will apply.

Our Clarify Review Summary

Our Final Thoughts

Clarify appears to be a reliable merchant services provider for restaurants and bars. The company’s unique pricing approach has the potential to save certain food service merchants a lot of money, and the available evidence indicates that there are no sneaky fees or terms in its contract. Merchants should note, however, that Clarify is still a very new company, and that it isn’t entirely open about its full fee schedule and equipment lease policy.

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Which is Most Important for You?

If you had to pick one, which quality would you say will be the most important with your next credit card processor? Tap or click your selection to register your vote:

  1. Low Transaction Fees
  2. No Monthly Fees
  3. No Contract
  4. Reliable Customer Support
  5. Quick Signup

Testimonials & Complaints

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