What Coastal Pay does

Coastal Pay is a privately held payment processor and gateway provider headquartered in Carlsbad, California, operating as a registered ISO/MSP with Wells Fargo Bank and Axiom Bank, N.A. The company serves approximately 4,962 active merchant customers across retail, e-commerce, B2B, hospitality, automotive, timeshare, and restaurant verticals, processing a cumulative $1.66 billion in payment volume across 27.5 million transactions through a network of 13 acquiring bank partnerships. Its product portfolio centers on the Coastal Pay Gateway, a payment platform with 2,000+ pre-built integrations to POS systems, shopping carts, and business software (including NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Epicor, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, FreshBooks, and Zoho), supported by credit card processing at a flat 2.5% + $0.15 rate, ACH processing at 1% (capped $5-$10), Level 2/3 B2B processing, dual pricing/surcharging, and timeshare-specific payment workflows.

The company's underlying technology stack combines a cloud-native payment gateway with a public API and developer portal, social sign-on authentication (Facebook, Google, Apple), and Plaid-powered bank verification. Its go-to-market blends a product-led self-serve motion (SignUp Link enables 2-minute merchant onboarding) with channel-led distribution through ISO, ISV, and digital-marketing-agency partners, including a Go High Level plugin for white-label SMB processing. Recent product launches in 2026 added embedded B2B net terms and installment financing via a Resolve Pay partnership, a zero-fee next-generation gateway with white-label options for partners, and specialized timeshare payment processing with deep property management and exchange network integrations. Revenue is generated through transaction-fee residuals from acquiring banks plus add-on fees from gateway services, dual pricing programs, ACH, B2B processing, and vertical-specific solutions. Ownership and capital structure are undisclosed; founders Travis Chrisman and Kavan Thanasith lead the company, which holds PCI DSS Level 1, GDPR, and PSD2 certifications.

Name

Coastal Pay

Legal name

Coastal Pay Inc.

Website

https://coastalpay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coastal Pay is a Carlsbad, California-based ISO/MSP payment processor and gateway provider serving roughly 4,962 merchants across retail, B2B, hospitality, and timeshare verticals with flat-rate card processing, dual pricing, and 2,000+ software integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Processing

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout) (FSAMACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

A2A Checkout & Merchant Acceptance Solutions (FSAMAFAF), Marketplace / Platform Acquiring (PayFac & Sub-Merchant Management) (FSAMABAF), B2B / Invoice-Based BNPL (Trade Credit at Checkout) (FSAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Payment processing services
• Merchant services platform
• Payment gateway software
• Credit card processing
• B2B payment solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transaction Fees — Flat Rate: Coastal Pay charges a flat rate of 2.5% + $0.15 per transaction for standard card processing. This is the primary revenue stream, representing a straightforward transaction-fee model with no monthly fees or hidden costs.
2. ACH / Bank Transfer Processing: ACH processing is priced at 1% of the transaction amount, typically capped between $5 and $10. This provides an alternative payment rail revenue stream for merchants handling B2B or recurring payments.
3. Level 2/3 B2B Processing: Specialized B2B card processing at interchange-optimized rates ranging from 1.7–2.0%, designed for merchants accepting corporate purchasing cards with enhanced transaction data.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Coastal Pay operates a cloud-native payment processing and gateway platform that enables merchants to accept credit card, ACH, and alternative payment methods with zero monthly fees and zero gateway fees. The company delivers flat-rate transaction processing at 2.5% + $0.15, dual pricing/surcharging tools, Level 2/3 B2B interchange optimization, and embedded net terms and installment financing through partnerships. Its SignUp Link onboarding tool provides 2-minute merchant approval, and the platform integrates with 2000+ software systems via a proprietary gateway.

Product overview

Coastal Pay is a payment processor and gateway platform offering a unified payment infrastructure with over 2000+ software integrations. The core product is the Coastal Pay Gateway, which provides zero monthly fees and zero transaction fees with compliant surcharging and dual pricing options. Key modules include SignUp Link (2-minute merchant onboarding), ACH and credit card processing (2.5% + $0.15 flat rate), B2B payment processing with Level 2/3 optimization, timeshare payment solutions, and alternative payment methods (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Klarna, Afterpay, Coinbase). Additional features include email invoicing, payment links, tap-to-pay, instant payouts, and QR code payments. White-label options are available for partners, ISOs, and ISVs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SignUp Link: Instant merchant onboarding platform enabling U.S. retailers and e-commerce merchants to complete full merchant-services applications in under two minutes without traditional paperwork.
• Coastal Pay Gateway

Products and services

• Coastal Pay Gateway A next-generation payment gateway enabling merchants to accept credit card and ACH payments with zero monthly fees and zero transaction fees. Features compliant surcharging, dual pricing, interchange optimization, instant payouts, QR code payments, text and email invoicing, and white-label options for partners and ISOs.
• SignUp Link Instant merchant onboarding platform enabling retailers and e-commerce merchants to complete full merchant-services applications in under two minutes without traditional paperwork. Combines social sign-on (Facebook, Google, Apple), Plaid bank verification, and direct-to-underwriting APIs.
• Credit Card Processing Core credit card processing service with flat-rate pricing of 2.5% and 15 cents per transaction. Accepts all major credit and debit cards including corporate and purchasing cards.
• ACH Processing ACH/bank transfer processing for lower-cost B2B payments at 1% fee (capped at $5–$10), with Plaid bank verification, same-day ACH option, and automated recurring billing.
• B2B Payment Processing Specialized B2B payment processing solution featuring Level 2/3 data processing, corporate card acceptance with optimized rates, large transaction support ($10,000–$1M+), NET terms processing (30/60/90 days), ACH optimization, ERP/accounting integration, multi-currency support, and virtual card acceptance.
• Corporate Card Processing Corporate credit card processing with Level 2/3 data capture for optimized interchange rates on B2B transactions. Supports large transaction amounts ($10,000–$1M+) and virtual card acceptance.
• Dual Pricing Dual pricing program that allows merchants to post a clear cash price and card price, enabling elimination of credit card processing fees through compliant cash discount programs aligned with state regulations and card network rules.
• Surcharging Compliant surcharging program that allows merchants to pass credit card fees to cardholders, aligned with card-brand and state rules to avoid fines or network penalties.
• Alternative Payment Methods Extended payment options including Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH, Venmo, Coinbase, PayPal, Klarna, and Afterpay to increase approval rates and boost order values.
• NET Terms Payment Processing Embedded B2B net terms solution via Resolve Pay partnership, enabling 30, 60, and 90-day payment terms at checkout. Includes credit application and approval, invoice tracking, automatic payment reminders, and card-on-file or ACH automatic collection.
• Timeshare Payment Processing Specialized payment solution for vacation ownership and resort properties. Supports high-ticket deposits ($5,000–$50,000+), recurring maintenance fee billing, payment plan management, international payment acceptance, rescission period compliance, and chargeback protection. Integrates with RCI, Interval International, and major timeshare PMS systems.
• Go High Level Plugin Plugin for Go High Level platform enabling agencies and digital marketers to process payments with instant, cost-free payment processing, split funding support, and multiple payment method options.
• Email Invoicing Text and email invoicing service for generating professional PDF invoices with embedded payment links. Includes payment reminders and automated follow-up.
• Payment Links Payment link generation for sending via email or text to customers for one-time or recurring payments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37% reduction in merchant application abandonment through 2-minute approval SignUp Link
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Resolve PaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastalPay announced a strategic partnership with Resolve Pay to enable its merchants to offer 30, 60, and 90-day net terms and installment financing at checkout. The integration is backed by Resolve's AI-powered credit infrastructure, allowing Coastal Pay to offer embedded B2B finance capabilities without building proprietary credit infrastructure. This partnership targets B2B merchants seeking to reduce cart abandonment with flexible payment terms.
• Go High LevelcoreTechnology or IntegrationCoastal Pay launched a Go High Level plugin designed for agencies and digital marketers, enabling instant, cost-free payment processing for their merchant clients. The plugin simplifies onboarding and reduces costs for agencies managing multiple merchant accounts. This enables Coastal Pay to reach a broad base of SMB merchants through the agency channel.
• Wells FargocoreOthersCoastal Pay Inc. is a registered ISO/MSP (Independent Sales Organization/Member Service Provider) with Wells Fargo, Concord, CA. This banking relationship enables Coastal Pay to process card transactions and settle funds through the Wells Fargo acquiring network.
• Axiom Bank, N.A.coreOthersCoastal Pay Inc. is a registered ISO/MSP of Axiom Bank, N.A., headquartered in Maitland, FL. The partnership with Axiom Bank serves as an additional acquiring bank relationship, providing processing redundancy and expanded merchant underwriting capabilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Helcim: Transparent SMB payment processor with interchange-plus pricing and integrated software — a directly comparable flat-rate/honest-pricing alternative for the same SMB and small-mid-market merchant base.
• National Processing: ISO-led SMB payment processor with strong agent/channel distribution, very similar structure to Coastal Pay including bank sponsorship and vertical specialization.
• Stax (Fattmerchant): Subscription and flat-rate payment processor targeting SMBs with transparent pricing and no monthly fees — a near-direct flat-rate competitor to Coastal Pay's 2.5%+$0.15 model.
• Payment Depot: Interchange-plus and flat-rate SMB payment processor that competes on transparent pricing and ISO/agent channels, very similar in target customer and go-to-market to Coastal Pay.
• Flagship Merchant Services: ISO-style SMB processor competing on flat-rate pricing and agent channel, very comparable in go-to-market motion and target SMB segment.
• North American Bancard: Large ISO/MSP-style SMB payment processor with similar bank sponsorship, agent channel, and tiered pricing — broadly comparable operating model to Coastal Pay.
• Cutter Pay: Specialized payment processor with notable presence in timeshare and high-ticket verticals, directly comparable to Coastal Pay's timeshare-focused product line.

Emerging players

• Toast: Vertical SaaS + payments stack for restaurants — adjacent rather than directly competitive to Coastal Pay, but illustrative of integrated software-plus-payments models Coastal Pay will increasingly compete against in the restaurant vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments): Large, established ISO/processor owned by Global Payments with broad SMB and enterprise coverage — overlaps Coastal Pay's vertical and SMB focus but at materially greater scale and breadth.
• Square (Block): Dominant SMB flat-rate processor with bundled hardware, software, and capital — directly overlaps Coastal Pay's core SMB card-present offering, though with a much broader ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coastalpay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@coastalpay
• Facebookfacebook.com/coastalpayusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-pay
• Instagraminstagram.com/coastalpay

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coastal Pay