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An Honest Look at Small Business Growth Alliance

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Small Business Growth Alliance

Rating
D
2.5/5
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Pros and Cons of Small Business Growth Alliance

Pros

Accredited Business
Comprehensive Services
Customer Support

Cons

Hidden Fees Possible
Aggressive Sales Tactics
Legal Issues Reported
Lengthy Contract Concerns
Low Customer Rating

Overview

In this review of the Small Business Growth Alliance (SBGA), a merchant account provider linked to Merchant Services, Inc., we examine their payment processing solutions, including credit card, debit card, and ACH payments, along with security features, POS systems, capital funding, payroll services, QuickBooks-integrated accounting, and their Vanguard web management program. Our analysis covers rates, fees, contract terms, and common complaints, with insights from industry ratings and employee feedback to present a well-rounded view of the company. We also review SBGA’s marketing tactics, sales practices, and customer experiences, highlighting both positive and negative feedback. In addition, we explore claims about their physical location, potential misleading information, and the legal history of Merchant Services, Inc., including a 2010 class-action lawsuit. This balanced overview provides business owners and decision-makers with a clear guide to SBGA’s services, reputation, and role in the merchant services industry.

About Small Business Growth Alliance

Screen Capture of Small Business Growth Alliance Homepage
Small Business Growth Alliance Homepage

The Small Business Growth Alliance (SBGA) is a merchant account provider that claims to be headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. The company lists Merchant Services, Inc. as a partner/product and there is a great deal of evidence indicating that the SBGA is simply a DBA or subsidiary of Merchant Services, Inc. Vanguard Web Management,  MCA, FedEx, and QuickBooks are listed as other partners or products of SBGA. In addition to providing merchant accounts, the company advertises Clover as a POS solution.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

The Small Business Growth Alliance (SBGA) provides secure payment processing solutions for businesses, including options for credit card, debit card, and ACH payments. These solutions come with strong security features such as PCI compliance, fraud prevention, and tokenization. Additionally, they offer discounted shipping services.

Point of Sale Systems

SBGA offers point of sale (POS) systems designed to streamline business operations. These systems include features like inventory management, employee management, and real-time reporting. SBGA provides both traditional and mobile POS systems, primarily featuring Clover devices, to cater to various business needs.

Capital Funding

SBGA provides capital funding solutions for businesses needing quick access to funds for expansion. These funds can be used for paying off business debt, purchasing new equipment, increasing inventory, launching advertising campaigns, or expanding facilities. The funding process is straightforward, with funds typically deposited within 7 to 10 business days and repayment through future credit card sales.

Payroll Services

SBGA offers comprehensive payroll services to help businesses manage payroll responsibilities efficiently. Their program automatically calculates deductions like medical, 401(k), and wage garnishments, tracks accrued time off, integrates with multiple time clock services, and provides direct deposit at no extra cost. They handle federal, state, and local payroll tax calculations, filings, and payments, ensuring timely submissions. The service also offers access to various reports, imports payroll data into most accounting software, and provides complimentary labor law posters and compliance fine coverage.

Accounting Services

SBGA’s accounting solution integrates with QuickBooks®, allowing for direct payment acceptance and automated sales transaction imports, reducing manual recording errors. This service facilitates ‘click to pay’ invoices, automated payment plans, and consolidates nightly reporting from various processing devices, including countertop terminals, website gateways, and smartphone apps.

Web Management

SBGA’s web management program, Vanguard, aims to enhance a business’s online presence and profitability. It includes securing organic search results, building online profile pages, managing online reputation, and providing a real-time client dashboard for monitoring online presence and advertising results. The program also includes location mapping for better visibility on search maps and GPS systems, QR codes for targeted customer messaging, and social media integration.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Evaluation of Small Business Growth Alliance Reviews

Over 50 negative reviews of Small Business Growth Alliance (SBGA) can be found online, with several accusing the company of scam-like practices. Key complaints include deceptive telesales practices, undisclosed contract terms, expensive contracts, and inadequate customer service. These complaints mirror those against Merchant Services, Inc., SBGA’s parent company. Share your experiences with SBGA in the comments below for further insight.

An employee’s comment in a comment thread sheds light on the company’s interaction style, displaying a confrontational attitude towards business owners.

SBGA’s Approach to Complaints

SBGA has engaged in arbitration for two complaints on Ripoff Report, leading to partial removal of those complaints. However, they have not directly addressed most other complaints. Business owners struggling with SBGA’s service are advised to explore options for canceling their merchant accounts without fees.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop2.1
BBB Rating1.76
ComplaintsBoard Rating1
Our Rating2.5
Average Rating1.75

PaymentPop Rating for Small Business Growth Alliance

Negative Feedback

They told me my total bill would be $170ish. Well that didn’t turn out to be. They said they would buy ut my contract from my previous processor, which I had only been with a bit over a year. It appears they are making me pay the buyout. In addition they haven’t refunded my the shipping costs for the old equipment back to First Data at a cost of $191.38 And I’m still getting charged for services from the previous processor. I’m at a loss at what to do.

Positive Feedback

very good place. i was happy and treated very well. They know how to treat you like a real person. SBGA offers a heck of lot of great things for the business consumer. Top Job!

Small Business Growth Alliance BBB Rating

SBGA has an average customer review rating of 1.18/5 stars and an “A+” on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, based on 22 customer reviews. The company has received numerous complaints and negative reviews, primarily focusing on issues related to aggressive sales tactics, misleading information, and poor customer service.

Negative Feedback

I was lied to. The sales people are as dishonest as it gets. Promised a Fixed processing fee for credit cards each month and free equipment. They neglected to mention the lease and when questioned about the lease they said that was how they fixed the fees. The sales person was very smooth and had all the answers to make it sound too good to be true. Now I’m paying $22,000 for equipment that costs $3,500 and they are collecting the processing fees as well. All of these other reviews are spot on accurate! I’m guessing there are many others who are just accepting their fate and working through it. Stay away. -500 stars for honesty -500 stars for customer service. These are very bad business practices.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about SBGA, on the BBB website.

ComplaintsBoard Rating Analysis for SBGA

SBGA has an average consumer rating of 1 star from 8 reviews on ComplaintsBoard. The reviews and complaints primarily focus on issues related to aggressive sales tactics and customer service problems. SBGA has resolved all 8 complaints posted on the site.

Negative Feedback

Listen to the other reviews; these guys act as scammy as they come! I’ve been getting calls from them for months, always with the same spiel about how they can save me money on my merchant services. I’ve told them repeatedly that I’m not interested and to stop calling, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. They just don’t listen. It’s gotten to the point where I dread seeing their number on my caller ID. If you’re considering doing business with them, just don’t. Save yourself the headache. – Review from May 11, 2023

They would cold call multiple times a day, trying to sell me their merchant services. I told them I wasn’t interested, but they wouldn’t take no for an answer. It was incredibly frustrating and disruptive to my workday. I finally had to block their number to get some peace. This kind of aggressive sales tactic is unacceptable and makes me question the integrity of their business practices. – Complaint resolved on May 11, 2023

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about SBGA on the ComplaintsBoard website.

Source: ComplaintsBoard

Processing Rates & Fees

Three-Year Contract

As detailed on the SBGA website, their electronic payments are facilitated by Merchant Services, Inc. Reviews indicate that the typical Merchant Services, Inc. contract includes a three-year term, a $495 early termination fee, a $134 “data protection” fee, a monthly minimum fee up to $75, a monthly PCI non-compliance fee of $19.95, and a $7.50 monthly statement fee. Additionally, many clients have reported costly long-term equipment leases through Northern Leasing Systems that accrue significant expenses over the lease’s duration. Purchasing equipment is recommended over leasing whenever feasible. We encourage businesses to explore our list of top merchant accounts for better terms.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In its online services, SBGA promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway, though pricing details for these services remain undisclosed similar to Merchant Services, Inc. Common additional fees for these services may include gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and other transaction-related charges typically seen in e-commerce solutions.

Higher-Than-Average Pricing

SBGA’s contractual arrangements tend to bind clients to long-term commitments that result in higher-than-average costs for the services provided. This insight into SBGA’s pricing structure precludes us from listing them among the more affordable merchant account providers.

Small Business Growth Alliance e-commerce
The Small Business Growth Alliance showcases e-commerce options, albeit with limited detail provided on specifics.

Lawsuits & Legal History

Merchant Services, Inc., SBGA’s parent company, was implicated in a class-action lawsuit in 2010. Allegations included misrepresentation of costs, forged signatures, and violations of MasterCard rules. The lawsuit settled in 2013, resulting in payouts and agreed changes in the company’s marketing and sales practices.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Not What It Appears To Be

The Small Business Growth Alliance presents itself as a membership-based organization that “provide[s] our members with essential products, services and educational resources that allow you to successfully address your most essential business needs.” However, Small Business Growth Alliance reviews from both employees and clients strongly suggest that the SBGA is primarily in the business of selling merchant services and that it uses its name and branding to convince businesses that it serves in some kind of merchant advocacy role. Unlike a true fee-reduction service, SBGA’s first priority is to switch business owners over to one of its merchant account contracts. This does not compare favorably to our list of best merchant services providers.

SBGA Telemarketing Complaints

This 800notes thread details an instance in which an SBGA representative “called and told my customer service rep that they were ‘confirming’ an appt for tomorrow at 10am with me (the owner) to review our credit card charges and determine the amount of a refund we were due for overcharges for our merchant services […] Only problem is, I didn’t call SBGA for any merchant services help or consultation and I am angry that they used a lie to gain access to me and my time through my company customer service rep who would not have known any better.” Another Small Business Growth Alliance review states that “Jennifer called on my work line acting like it was urgent for me to return call. Said she was from ‘Merchant Services’ (what business????) and that we may have had some increases in our fees and she needed to speak to me immediately about that.” These types of sales calls, which verge on “slamming,” are cited repeatedly in Small Business Growth Alliance complaints.

Insiders Speak Out

Complaints from employees only confirm the client reports. One such Small Business Growth Alliance review claims that “the recruiters lie like hell, they tell you it is a ‘business consulting’ job working with small businesses, but in truth you’re selling and pushing one thing, payment card processing and all the other things in your bag are just total BS products and services.” Another SBGA review from a recruiter at the company states that “we as recruiters tell [the agents] that they receive ‘lead generation support’ which comes in the form of a call center rep setting up bogus appointment s that most of the time the store owner didn’t agree upon […] It’s a bait n switch scenario, they get customers signed up for multiple services, lease them hardware and make the merchant pay ridiculous fee for getting out of s processing contract.” These reports seem to describe a standard hiring mill within the credit card industry.

Poor Hiring Practices

SBGA employs a large team of telephone appointment setters and independent sales agents (called “independent business consultants” within the organization), which may explain why agents would resort to less-than-straightforward tactics to land accounts. Considering the reports we have found and the history of Merchant Services, Inc., we have assigned the SBGA a “D” rating in this section.

Small Business Growth Alliance Competitors

Compare Small Business Growth Alliance to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Small Business Growth Alliance (SBGA) falls short of expectations as a credit card processing service provider. Our analysis indicates striking similarities between SBGA and Merchant Services, Inc., suggesting shared practices or organizational structures. Clients’ reviews highlight troubling patterns in SBGA’s sales approach and contractual stipulations. Reports of opaque communication and deceptive tactics seem to be common, leaving businesses confused and frustrated, particularly due to their mistaken belief that SBGA is affiliated with the Small Business Administration (SBA). It’s crucial to clarify that SBGA operates as a private entity with no government affiliation.

Given these practices, businesses that have experienced misleading sales tactics or unfair contract terms should promptly negotiate more favorable rates or terminate their contracts if necessary. Before engaging with SBGA or any similar provider, companies must conduct thorough research, fully understanding all terms and conditions. In light of these concerns, we advise approaching SBGA with caution and considering alternative service providers that offer transparent terms and ethical sales practices.

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Contact Small Business Growth Alliance

Contact & Customer Support
President and CEOWill Evans
OwnerJesse Garcia
Headquarters10624 S Eastern Ave #360, Henderson, NV
General Support(800) 889-7242
Websitesbga.com