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Celero Commerce: What Merchants Should Know About Rates, Contracts & Support

Name: Celero Commerce
Item: Celero Commerce
Rating: 3
Author: Phillip Parker

September 22, 2025

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.

Celero Commerce

Rating

3/5

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Pros

Diverse Services

Integrated Software

Accredited Business

Cons

Hidden Fees Possible

Equipment Leases

Rate Increases possible

Complex Contracts

Frequent Complaints reported

Overview

In this article of Celero Commerce, we break down the company’s growth through acquisitions (Everest, OMEGA, Community Bankers Merchant Services) and analyze its suite of services—from credit/debit processing and e-commerce to POS systems, virtual terminals, ACH services, and loyalty/gift programs. We examine contract terms, rates, and fees—especially areas where customers report confusion, such as hidden charges and lease agreements. Alongside this are insights drawn from customer and employee feedback, legal or complaint history, and support practices. By the end, you’ll get a clear, balanced view of what Celero Commerce offers, its potential pitfalls, and whether it could be a good fit for your payment processing needs.

Services and Partnerships

We’ll review Celero Commerce's range of services for different industries and their partnerships with banks and payment providers. This section will explain their role in the payment processing sector and how they serve their clients.

Common Complaints and Legal Issues

We'll also cover common complaints and legal issues to give a balanced view of the company's reputation. This helps provide insight into the challenges Celero Commerce may face in its operations.

Marketing and Customer Support

In addition, we will discuss Celero's marketing strategies and the customer support options they offer. Understanding these aspects helps business owners gauge the level of service they can expect.

About Celero Commerce

Screen Capture of Celero Commerce — Celero Commerce Homepage

Celero Commerce is a merchant account provider based in Brentwood, Tennessee that appears to have been in operation since 2002 according to the Better Business Bureau. However, the company’s filing with Tennessee’s Secretary of State indicates that the original business name may have been Elmhurst Financial.

Celero Commerce appears to be a reseller or subsidiary of PaySafe and evidence suggests that the company may also be operating as, or connected to, Elmhurst Financial Services, Tandem Innovative Payment Solutions, TransNational Payments, and UMS Banking. UMS Banking appears to still be an active brand under the Celero Commerce umbrella.

In late 2021, Celero acquired Everest Payment Solutions of Florida, and in 2022 the company acquired OMEGA Technology and Community Bankers Merchant Services. All are payment processors, adding to the Celero stable of customers.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Celero Commerce offers payment processing for most major debit and credit cards across various business types. In addition to payment processing, they provide merchant products such as payroll services, inventory management, and marketing tools. Their services cater to industries including hospitality, lodging, fleet management, healthcare, and professional services. Celero Commerce also resells Clover POS products. The company’s offerings encompass B2B processing, e-commerce solutions, virtual terminals, POS systems, mobile solutions, EMV/NFC readers, ACH processing, and gift card and loyalty programs.

Mobile and Field Services

Celero Commerce provides payment processing solutions for mobile and field services, supporting businesses that operate on-the-go or in field settings. This likely includes mobile payment processing tools and technologies.

Retail and Restaurant Solutions

The company also delivers payment processing solutions tailored for the retail and restaurant industries. These solutions are designed to meet the specific needs of these sectors, including point-of-sale systems and related technologies.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Overview of Celero Commerce Reviews

Celero Commerce, a burgeoning company in the payments industry, has expanded by acquiring several smaller payment processors. This growth strategy has led to challenges in assessing Celero Commerce reviews due to the consolidation of acquired entities under the new brand. Initial reviews from these acquisitions highlight issues such as fluctuating contract rates, contributing to confusion during the transition period. We welcome your Celero Commerce experiences and insights in the comments below.

Key Complaints Against Celero Commerce

Significant complaints about Celero Commerce focus on unexpected fees, misleading sales practices by independent agents and resellers, unauthorized account debits, and opaque terms regarding service agreement duration and termination costs. Furthermore, there are reports of burdensome equipment lease agreements inherited from companies now under Celero Commerce, where merchants were allegedly coaxed into long-term, non-cancellable leases for substandard equipment. Former employees and agents have also raised concerns about dishonest recruitment practices. As Celero Commerce integrates these acquired businesses, vigilance is advised regarding contract terms and leasing agreements. If you have detailed experiences with Celero Commerce’s contracts or lease terms, please share them in the comments.

Examining Celero Commerce Customer Support

As of now, there are no direct complaints regarding Celero Commerce’s customer service. The company provides a unified customer service contact, though it appears the number has been recently removed from their website.

Celero Commerce Support Contact Details

(844) 423-5376 – General Contact

Additional Support Resources

Online support form
Email: solutions@celerocommerce.com

We advise merchants to thoroughly review terms related to Celero’s POS systems and contracts to ensure full understanding and alignment with business needs.

This content has been updated to provide a balanced overview of Celero Commerce, highlighting customer feedback, potential concerns from acquisitions, and the company’s approach to customer support. By integrating SEO-optimized keywords related to “reviews,” “complaints,” and “customer service,” the revision aims to enhance visibility and assist stakeholders in making informed decisions.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	1.4
BBB Rating	2.72
Google Maps	5
Average Rating	3.86

PaymentPop Rating for Celero Commerce

Negative Feedback

Multiple people promised a certain rate. I was overcharged every month. I called multiple times and multiple people promised to honor the original rate agreed upon but they were all empty promises. Deceitful company. Find someone else.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Celero Commerce on the PaymentPop website.

Celero Commerce BBB Rating

According to the Better Business Bureau, Celero Commerce has been in business for 20 years. However, the majority of these years may have been under the name of Elmhurst Financial. Celero Commerce is not an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau but has an “A+” rating. The company is currently showing 4 complaints. Celero Commerce has a 2.72 out of 5 star rating based on 18 user reviews on the Better Business Bureau website.

What Merchants Say

Celero Commerce has received 13 reviews through the BBB, 6 of which are positive and 7 of which are negative. The most recent negative review calls the company a scam:

My recent experience with Celero Commerce left me utterly disappointed and frustrated. The sheer lack of communication between their sales representatives, IT department, and management was nothing short of appalling. I strongly advise everyone to steer clear of Celero Commerce, as their poor communication, minimal product knowledge, and overall incompetence make them an unreliable choice for any business. From the very beginning, it was clear that Celero Commerce’s sales representatives were operating in their own silos, with no coordination or understanding of the customer’s requirements. Any attempt to seek clarification or express concerns was met with vague responses and a complete lack of interest. It was as if they were more interested in closing the deal than actually understanding and addressing my needs. Furthermore, the lack of product knowledge displayed by Celero Commerce’s staff was alarming. It quickly became apparent that they had minimal understanding of the equipment they were promoting. Rather than providing clear explanations or troubleshooting issues, their responses were filled with confusion and uncertainty. It was disheartening to realize that the very individuals who were supposed to guide me were ill-equipped to do so. Throughout my entire interaction with Celero Commerce, I felt like just another number on their sales sheet. Their poor communication, lack of professionalism, and disregard for customer satisfaction were evident at every turn. It was abundantly clear that they prioritized making a sale over providing quality service and support. Based on my experience, I strongly advise everyone to avoid Celero Commerce at all costs. Their poor communication practices, minimal product knowledge, and overall incompetence make them an unreliable and untrustworthy choice for any business. Save yourself the frustration and disappointment by seeking out a more reputable and customer-centric company for your commerce needs.

A “B” Performance Overall

While Celero has a relatively clean record on the Better Business Bureau currently, it remains a sizable merchant provider without much of a shown track record. For that reason, we have adjusted our score to a “B” until more information presents itself.

Google Maps Rating for Celero Commerce

Celero Commerce has a 5 out of 5 star rating based on 518 user reviews on Google Maps.

Positive Feedback

Easy company to work with and they help with your PCI compliance. Best rates around for CC processing.

Negative Feedback

I made the worst mistake in my business history signing with Celero!

Processing Rates & Fees

Lack of Transparency

Celero Commerce does not openly disclose its rates and fees, a characteristic often associated with processors that have complex pricing structures hidden in fine print, resulting in expensive rates. Evidence suggests that Celero utilizes independently contracted sales agents paid solely on commission, potentially incentivizing the sale of more expensive merchant accounts. Despite our request, the company did not provide a service agreement, reinforcing the perception of opaque and costly rates and fees.

However, Celero serves diverse business types and collaborates with multiple processors and banks. It likely matches businesses with different processors based on industry-specific risk profiles and customizes pricing accordingly. Nonetheless, this practice may not eliminate the incentive to charge high fees to maximize profit margins.

Given the lack of clarity regarding costs and contract terms, business owners are advised to thoroughly comprehend the terms and pricing before signing any agreements. Obtaining quotes from other merchant account providers is also advisable to compare options. Explore our list of the best merchant account providers known for transparent pricing and flexible contract terms.

Additionally, business owners are encouraged to explore our list of the top merchant services.

Lawsuits & Legal History

No active class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints have been discovered against Celero Commerce. Those seeking resolutions outside the courtroom might find it beneficial to contact relevant regulatory agencies.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Independent Sales Team

Like many processors, Celero Commerce’s strategy is to partner with ISOs and independently contract outside salespeople. We can confirm Celero’s use of independent sales agents by job post details. Job seekers are implored to apply “regardless of sales experience” and this could be reflected in the quality of interactions with Celero’s network of quickly trained independent sales agents. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors. We implore our readers to share their experiences with Celero’s sales staff in the comments below.

Variable Celero Commerce Contract Terms

Celero Commerce has been shown to be a reseller of several other ISOs such as PaySafe, Fiserv, and Global Payments. The Celero Commerce contract is “custom-tailored” for each industry, and Celero can take advantage of a wide selection of payment processing options through their assorted ISOs. This most likely means there is markup associated in addition to those basic contracted terms, regardless of which ISO they provide service through.

Celero Commerce Competitors

Compare Celero Commerce to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

Recommending Celero Commerce as a credit card processing provider is challenging, and it is difficult to assign it a rating that surpasses the industry standard. The lack of transparency concerning key aspects of Celero Commerce’s operations is troubling, with indications that the company might be deliberately obfuscating details about its business practices. This approach can create confusion and potentially mislead clients about the nature of their agreements and the services they are receiving.

While there is a strong suspicion that Celero Commerce has affiliations with PaySafe and may operate under other business names, concrete evidence remains elusive. This ambiguity could be due to Celero being a relatively new entity in the market, which might explain the scarcity of available information. Given these uncertainties, it is crucial for business owners to approach engagements with Celero Commerce with caution. It is advised to thoroughly read and understand all service agreements, retaining copies for future reference, and conducting a cost comparison with at least one other provider to ensure competitive pricing and terms.

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Contact Celero Commerce

Contact & Customer Support
CEO	Kevin Jones
Headquarters	Harpeth on The Green IV 100 Westwood Place, Suite 200 Brentwood, TN 37027
Support	Online Contact Form
Website	celerocommerce.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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