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Does EmeraldPay Simplify Your Payment Processing? Read This Full Review

Name: EmeraldPay
Item: EmeraldPay
Rating: 4
Author: Phillip Parker

Author: Phillip Parker

Updated: September 28, 2025

Maintained Since: August 26, 2012

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We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

All mentions of rate and fee costs are estimations based on publicly available information and client feedback. Actual costs may vary based on a variety of factors unique to your business.

EmeraldPay

Rating

4/5

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Pros

Competitive processing rates

Mobile payment solutions

EMV card readers

Transparent pricing

E-commerce support

Cons

Early cancellation fees

Monthly/annual fees

Limited industry specialization

Variable processing rates

Equipment leasing likely

Overview

In this review of EmeraldPay, we’ll give an overview of their credit card processing services. We’ll talk about the services they offer, like point-of-sale (POS) systems, mobile payment options, and e-commerce features. We’ll also look at which businesses might benefit from these services. Plus, we’ll check client and customer reviews to show trends and concerns. We’ll go over the company’s pricing, contract terms, and specific services. By the end of this review, you’ll know if EmeraldPay is a good fit for your payment processing needs.

About EmeraldPay

Screen Capture of EmeraldPay Homepage — EmeraldPay Homepage

Founded in 2009, EmeraldPay (formerly Emerald Business Solutions) is a merchant account provider serving retail, internet, and mobile merchants. The credit card processor is “powered by” First Data (now Fiserv), which means that it resells the products and processing services of First Data (Fiserv), including Clover as a POS system.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

EmeraldPay offers processing services for most major debit and credit cards, catering to a variety of business types. They also provide cash advance options and support for the Payeezy, eProcessing network, and (link unavailable) payment gateways.

Clover POS System

The Clover POS system offers businesses a comprehensive and customizable platform for managing sales and operations. Designed to meet the needs of a wide range of industries, Clover combines robust hardware with intuitive software, enabling businesses to streamline transactions, track inventory, and manage customer relationships effectively. The system supports various payment methods, including credit cards, digital wallets, and gift cards, making it a versatile solution for any business environment.

Mobile Solutions

Mobile solutions provide businesses with the flexibility to accept payments wherever they go, whether at a storefront, event, or on the move. These solutions typically include portable card readers that connect to smartphones or tablets, enabling businesses to process transactions on the spot.

EMV Readers and Card Swipers

EMV readers and card swipers are tools for businesses that prioritize secure payment processing. EMV readers, designed to read the chip embedded in modern credit and debit cards, offer enhanced protection against fraud compared to traditional magnetic stripe technology. Card swipers, often used alongside EMV readers, provide the flexibility to process both chip and magnetic stripe transactions.

Mail Order/Telephone Order (MOTO) Capabilities

Mail Order/Telephone Order (MOTO) capabilities are for businesses that accept payments without the customer being physically present. This method allows businesses to securely process credit card transactions over the phone or through mail orders, making it ideal for industries such as catalog sales, customer service centers, or remote services. MOTO transactions are processed through a secure virtual terminal, ensuring that sensitive payment information is handled safely.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

EmeraldPay’s Customer Feedback Overview

As of our latest research, no EmeraldPay reviews label the company as a scam or ripoff. However, we discovered a Google review mentioning excessive fees and continued billing post-account cancellation. The scarcity of complaints on various non-BBB consumer protection sites suggests that EmeraldPay likely maintains a proactive and effective customer support team. We invite those with personal experiences to share their EmeraldPay reviews in the comments below to assist others in making informed decisions.

Legal and Regulatory Status of EmeraldPay

Our investigation reveals no active class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints against EmeraldPay. Customers seeking alternatives to legal action are encouraged to report their experiences with the company to appropriate supervisory organizations for resolution.

EmeraldPay Customer Support Accessibility

EmeraldPay, being a First Data (Fiserv) reseller, lists a single contact number for customer support on its website. It’s plausible that a significant portion of customer service operations is managed by First Data (Fiserv), which may lead to them receiving most related complaints. This relationship is a factor in EmeraldPay not being included in our list of top-rated merchant account providers for exceptional customer service.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	5
BBB Rating	N/A
Google Maps	3
Average Rating	3

PaymentPop Rating for EmeraldPay

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about EmeraldPay on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

We’ve had a reliable experience with EmeraldPay from the start. The onboarding process was handled efficiently, and the team was responsive to our questions. Payment processing has been smooth, and the system has been easy for our staff to manage.

EmeraldPay BBB Rating

EmeraldPay currently has no rating from the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB-accredited. Within the last 3 years, the company has received 0 complaints. EmeraldPay has also not received any informal reviews on its BBB profile.

An “A” Performance

In light of the company’s clean complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time. Readers should note, however, that there is cause to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.

Google Maps Rating for EmeraldPay

EmeraldPay has a 3 out of 5 star rating based on 2 user reviews on Google Maps.

Positive Feedback

I did business with them and fees were excessive. My store, A Touch of Italy cancelled their service and they continued to debit my bank account for fees. Tried to get it stopped and they promised refund. Still waiting as they said “checks in the mail”…. No one is ever accountable with these people. Big huge red flags… and they do NOT take care of their mistakes…. If I could give them less than a 1 star, I would. Look elsewhere.

Negative Feedback

Great team, responsive, and helpful.

Processing Rates & Fees

EmeraldPay Contract Terms

Currently, there is limited information available to the public about the standard terms of the EmeraldPay contract. A client complaint highlighted a $500 early termination fee, which was also acknowledged in the company’s response, aligning with the practices of other First Data (Fiserv) resellers. Commonly, contracts offered by First Data (Fiserv) include a swipe rate of 2.69% plus $0.19 per transaction and a keyed-in rate of 3.69% + $0.19, in addition to a monthly PCI compliance fee of $19.95. Nonetheless, as a reseller, EmeraldPay may modify these terms. Additionally, there are indications that EBS engages in selling long-term, non-cancellable equipment leases through First Data Global Leasing.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

EmeraldPay promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway solutions as part of its e-commerce services. The company offers gateway options such as Authorize.Net, eProcessing Network, and Payeezy. The pricing for these services varies depending on the selected gateway and may include additional rates and fees, such as gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and extra transaction charges.

Satisfaction with Contract Pricing

Despite limited complaints about its contract terms, it remains uncertain how EmeraldPay’s offerings compare to the most affordable merchant accounts available. The lack of widespread dissatisfaction suggests that many clients find their services acceptable. We encourage individuals with detailed knowledge about EmeraldPay’s standard contract, including any PCI compliance fees or monthly minimums, to share their insights in the comments section of this review.

Emerald Business Solutions payment gateways — EmeraldPay provides a selection of payment gateway options.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Outside Sales Partner Program

EmeraldPay appears to utilize referral programs and independent sales agents to market its services. The use of independent sales agents is often linked to high complaint volumes among clients since outside agents generally don’t receive much training or oversight. In the case of EmeraldPay, though, this does not seem to be a widespread problem.

Lone Sales Complaint

We have previously located only one EmeraldPay review that describes the misrepresentation of rates by an EBS sales rep, and this lone incident occurred in 2012. In this case, the client claimed that a sales representative provided an inaccurate rate comparison that resulted in increased fees after switching. To its credit, the company does not engage in any deceptive rate quoting in its official materials. If you suspect that EmeraldPay is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend a third-party statement audit to eliminate hidden charges.

EmeraldPay Competitors

Compare EmeraldPay to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

EmeraldPay is considered a trustworthy merchant credit card processing provider according to our criteria. While information on the company’s contract terms is limited, the consistently low volume of complaints across consumer protection websites bodes well for its reliability. Current indications suggest that EmeraldPay predominantly employs tiered rate pricing, may impose early termination fees, and may market non-cancellable equipment leases. However, the scarcity of complaints hints that such contract terms might be exceptions rather than standard practice.

Despite the positive feedback, we urge prospective clients to thoroughly scrutinize any contract terms before committing and to compare EmeraldPay’s pricing with the industry’s leading merchant account providers. Taking this proactive approach can help businesses ensure they receive the most favorable pricing and terms available for their unique needs, ultimately fostering a seamless and advantageous processing experience.

Read Actual User Reviews

See User Reviews Write a Review

All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact EmeraldPay

Contact & Customer Support
President	Christoper Kelly
Jennifer Kelly	Managing Partner
Headquarters	1420 Celebration Blvd, Suite 200, Celebration, Florida 34747-4650
24/7 Customer Support	888-593-0096
Additional Support Channels	Online Contact Form and Chat Support
Website	emeraldpay.com

About Us

CardPaymentOptions.com

Established 2009

My name is Phillip Parker, and I started this website back in 2009 as a simple blog to call out shady credit card processors that were taking advantage of small business owners. At the time, I had no idea this side project would grow into a leading voice pushing for transparency and integrity in the payment processing industry. I also didn't anticipate just how far some of these companies' owners would go to try to silence me.

I was recruited out of college for a sales role with a credit card processor. At the time, I didn't realize the “training” was really about tricking me... into selling business owners expensive processing with hidden fees and long-term service agreements. In my first few sales, I unknowingly cost friends and family thousands of dollars after they trusted me to switch their services. When it finally clicked that something was seriously wrong, I was furious. I quit immediately and made a promise to expose that company and any others operating the same way. That promise is what led to the creation of this website.

As I wrote about these processors, their tactics, and the people behind them, the articles started to spread among business owners. News organizations picked up the stories, readers shared them online, and traffic to the blog took off. Unsurprisingly, that also caught the attention of the companies and individuals I was exposing.

Over the last 17 years, I've received several anonymous death threats and defeated four lawsuits meant to intimidate me into taking my blog down. Their efforts to muzzle me only made my determination to expose them even stronger, leading me to work with state authorities to help shutdown some of the worst offenders.

I'm proud to say that of the millions of people who have read my work, thousands have taken the time to write and thank me for helping them narrowly avoid a very costly mistake. This blog has played a small role in pushing the industry toward more ethical practices - but there are still bad actors out there, which means the work isn't done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it's this: get every promise in writing, and take the time to review contracts carefully. Tools like ChatGPT can help surface red flags and uncover expensive surprises buried in the fine print.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate you being here, and I wish you every success with your business.

Our Research Methodology

Pricing & Fees

We analyze all costs including rate structures (interchange-plus, tiered, flat-rate, etc), monthly fees, equipment costs, early termination fees, and hidden charges. This data is gathered from service agreements, statements and client feedback.

Features & Technology

Evaluation of POS systems, e-commerce integrations, mobile capabilities, reporting tools, recurring billing..., and developer resources. When possible, we directly test services and hardware. Otherwise, we rely on client feedback and public information.

Customer Support

We evaluate availability across phone, email, chat, and social channels. Measuring hold times, night and weekend availability, and client feedback regarding effectiveness, professionalism, and resolution rates.

Contract Terms & Conditions

We review service agreements and equipment contracts for reasonability, transparency, and fairness. We focus on uncovering any predatory clauses, such as unjustified early termination fees, hidden costs, and unclear cancellation policies.

User Experience

We comb the internet and interview current and former clients to evaluate the overall user experience and identify any common pain points that may impact the user experience.

Sales & Marketing Practices

We evaluate sales tactics, marketing materials, and client feedback to determine the level of transparency and ethical nature of the provider's approach. Does the provider publicly disclose pricing? Do they use teaser rates? We score based on these and other factors.

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