Pharmacies are often located in retail settings and serve a diverse range of patients, making their payment processing needs complex. To accommodate a wide range of payment methods, pharmacies may need to accept debit and credit cards, checks, cash, prepaid cards, and ACH transfers.
Additionally, they may benefit from offering multiple payment channels, such as in-person, mail, telephone, and online transactions. While many merchant account providers can offer these services to pharmacies, it is essential to remember that not all providers will fit within every pharmacy’s budget.
To assist you in finding a merchant account provider that meets your business and budget needs, we have compiled a list of the best merchant accounts for pharmacies.
Best Merchant Accounts for Pharmacies
- PaymentCloud
- National Processing
- CDG Commerce
- Host Merchant Services
- eMerchantBroker
PaymentCloud
This provider caters to businesses of all risk levels, including pharmacies. They offer a range of products and services designed to help pharmacies track their inventory and keep customer data on hand for efficient payment processing. These products and services include mobile phone swipers, point-of-sale solutions, a virtual terminal, an online payment gateway, merchant cash advances, and EMV-compatible terminals.
One of the standout features of PaymentCloud is the dedicated account representative that is provided to all new merchants for the duration of their accounts. This representative assists merchants with any questions or issues that may arise during their accounts.
In addition, the company has received no negative feedback on consumer forums and customizes its pricing based on each merchant’s processing history and business type. This customization allows PaymentCloud to offer flexible and affordable solutions to businesses of all types and sizes, including pharmacies.
National Processing
National Processing is a reliable merchant account provider that offers a range of payment processing solutions designed explicitly for pharmacies. These solutions include e-commerce solutions and mobile payments, giving pharmacies the ability to accept payments from a variety of channels.
National Processing offers month-to-month contracts with no early termination fees and interchange-plus pricing, which provides pharmacies with flexible, transparent, and cost-effective payment processing options.
In addition to these features, National Processing also offers ACH processing, enabling pharmacies to accommodate their customers’ preferred payment methods. The company has a strong customer service track record, as demonstrated by the limited number of complaints found on consumer review forums. This, combined with their competitive pricing and transparent contract terms, make National Processing a reliable choice for pharmacies.
CDG Commerce
CDG Commerce is a highly reputable merchant account provider suitable for pharmacies of all sizes. Since it was founded in 1998, CDG has remained a privately owned company and offers a wide range of payment processing solutions, including its proprietary payment gateway, QuickBooks integration, a virtual terminal, sales reporting, mobile phone processing, vulnerability scanning, and security breach protection. These features make CDG an excellent choice for pharmacies that require a fully integrated, low-cost solution for online and in-person payments.
One of the advantages of using CDG Commerce is its fixed fee per transaction and competitive contractual terms. There are no annual termination fees, or monthly minimums, making it a cost-effective choice for pharmacies. Additionally, the company’s transparent pricing and lack of early termination fees allow merchants to cancel their service without penalty.
Host Merchant Services
This company is a merchant account provider based in Newark, Delaware, that is great for pharmacies of all sizes and specialties. They offer a variety of products and services, such as online marketing tools, point-of-sale solutions, a virtual terminal, an online payment gateway, gift and loyalty programs, mobile credit card processing, and merchant cash advance.
This payment processing company caters to businesses and provides merchants with various services to help them grow their online presence. One of the standout features of Host Merchant Services is that it offers an email address and a free website for merchants who are interested in accepting online and in-person payments. This makes it a great choice for pharmacies that want to expand their online payment options.
The company has gained a reputation for its excellent customer service, which is reflected in the positive feedback it receives on public forums. Pharmacies that work with Host Merchant Services can expect personalized support and guidance throughout the setup and implementation process.
Another advantage of Host Merchant Services is its transparent pricing model. They offer pricing with no early fees to all merchants. This means that users can enjoy transparent pricing and cancel service without penalty, providing more flexibility to adapt to their changing needs.
eMerchantBroker
eMerchantBroker.com is a Los Angeles-based merchant account provider specializing in high-risk e-commerce processing solutions for pharmacies and other businesses. The company offers a range of products and services to help merchants manage and grow their businesses, including ACH processing, an online payment gateway, merchant cash advances, and a chargeback management system to help merchants dispute and resolve chargeback claims.
One of the key benefits of working with eMerchantBroker.com is their ability to provide processing solutions for pharmacies and other businesses that may be considered higher risk by other merchant account providers. This makes them an ideal choice for companies that work with high-risk clients or operate in higher-risk industries.
In addition to its specialized processing solutions, eMerchantBroker.com offers custom pricing for each merchant. This allows them to tailor their pricing to each business’s specific needs and goals. The company has a strong reputation in the industry, with a low complaint rate relative to their size and merchant portfolio. This makes them a reliable and trusted choice for businesses looking for a high-risk merchant account provider.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Merchant Account for a Pharmacy
When selecting a merchant services provider, there are several key factors that pharmacies should consider, including:
Payment processing capabilities
Pharmacies should ensure that the merchant services provider they choose can handle the types of payments they need to accept, including credit and debit cards, ACH transactions, and more. This will ensure that patients can pay for their medications using the most convenient method.
Industry-specific compliance requirements
Pharmacies are subject to several compliance requirements, such as HIPAA and PCI-DSS, designed to protect patient privacy and sensitive health information. They should ensure that the merchant services provider they choose is familiar with these requirements and can help them maintain compliance.
Fees and rates
Another consideration is the fees and rates associated with the merchant services provider. Pharmacies should look for a provider offering competitive fees and rates, including interchange and monthly fees.
Security and fraud prevention measures
Security is a major concern for pharmacies, especially given the sensitive nature of their patient data. Pharmacies should look for a merchant services provider that offers advanced fraud detection and prevention tools to protect their patients’ information.
Customer service and support
Pharmacies need a merchant services provider they can rely on when they have questions or run into problems. They should choose a provider that offers excellent customer service and support, and that can be easily contacted in case of an issue.
Conclusion
As a pharmacy owner, it is crucial to evaluate your options when selecting a merchant account provider thoroughly. This is because the merchant account you choose will play a significant role in how you process transactions and interact with customers.
To ensure that you make the most informed decision, it is essential to consider various factors, including transaction fees, compatibility with pharmacy software and payment systems, fraud protection, and customer service.
To find the best merchant accounts for pharmacies, it is advisable to research and compare multiple options. This can help you to identify a provider that meets your needs and aligns with your business goals.
When doing so, you may want to look for a merchant account provider that offers competitive rates, reliable support, and seamless integration with your existing systems. By taking the time to assess these factors, you can be confident that you are choosing a merchant account that will support the success of your pharmacy.
