Read beyond the headline rate
Request a breakdown of processing and other charges. Establish which fees apply to transactions, refunds, disputes, settlement and account operation.
Understand access to funds
Clarify the settlement currency, schedule, minimum threshold and receiving account requirements. Ask how reserves or other holds operate and which agreement provisions govern release.
Know the approved scope
Identify the approved business model, websites, markets, payment methods and volume limits. Establish how to request changes as your business develops.
Clarify the parties and responsibilities
Know which entity contracts with you and which providers deliver the gateway, acquiring and settlement functions. Request the relevant support and escalation process.
Keep the final terms together
Assess the proposal alongside its agreement and schedules. Resolve inconsistent figures and unclear wording before signing.
General educational information. Your provider’s confirmed requirements and agreement govern your arrangement.
Build a like-for-like comparison sheet
Use the same expected transaction values and volume assumptions for each proposal. Record processing charges, fixed transaction costs, refunds, disputes, settlement costs and any account charges separately. Where a fee is unclear, ask whether it applies to all attempts or only successful payments. The purpose is a reliable comparison of the proposed business arrangement rather than a ranking based on one quoted percentage.
Model working capital, not just expense
A reserve affects access to funds differently from an ordinary processing charge. Settlement timing, thresholds and holds also change when cash becomes available. Compare those conditions with supplier payments, fulfilment costs and refund obligations. Ask what the contract says about adjustments and release. A proposal may be commercially workable only when the business can fund the interval between the customer payment and usable settlement.
Document the approved business scope
Record the entity, domains, products, markets, methods and volume limits included in the proposal. If the business plans subscriptions or third-party collections, confirm them explicitly. Ask who authorises changes and how to request a review. A broad service description is not a substitute for confirmation that the activity you intend to process fits the agreement.
Read the documents together
The main agreement, commercial schedule and other appendices may describe the same point differently. Identify inconsistent fees, thresholds, notice periods or settlement language and request a written correction. Keep the final agreed set together. A verbal explanation can be useful context, but operational teams should not have to choose between conflicting documents when handling a real transaction or settlement enquiry.
Clarify the exit and support processes
Ask how incidents, disputes and commercial questions are escalated. Identify the relevant contact for each service where several providers are involved. Review notification, termination and post-termination provisions in the actual agreement, including the treatment of outstanding liabilities and retained funds. Obtain suitable professional advice where needed rather than assuming that a sales summary captures every contractual consequence.