Cliq
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersCosta Mesa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Cliq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cliq
- Legal name
- Cliq, Inc.
- Website
- https://cliq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cliq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Processing
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB)
Keywords
Where Cliq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Costa Mesa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cliq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Payment Processing Fees: Transaction fees charged on credit, debit, and ACH payments processed through the platform. Revenue scales with transaction volume; the company processes $3.8 billion in monthly transactions.
- Merchant Services and SaaS Subscriptions: Subscription and service fees from merchant accounts, dashboards, chargeback management tools, invoicing, and hosted payment page services.
- Chargeback Representment Services: Fees earned from chargeback representment and dispute resolution services, leveraging a 53% win rate to recover disputed revenue for merchants.
- Embedded Lending Origination: Revenue from facilitating business loans through the Jaris partnership, including origination fees, one-time fixed fees, and interest income from merchant lending products ranging from $5,000 to $5 million.
- Agent and ISO Residuals: Residual income shared with ISOs and agents based on merchant transaction volume, providing recurring revenue streams for channel partners.
- Prepaid Card Program Fees: Fees from payroll cards, expense cards, and general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards issued in partnership with Pathward, N.A., including issuance and reload fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Jaris Business Loans - Fixed fee option |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Revenue-Based Lending - $5,000 to $5 million |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Merchant Services - Standard Processing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cliq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cliq is a full-service payment processing and fintech platform that processes $3.8 billion in monthly transactions across credit, debit, and ACH, supported by chargeback management, prepaid card programs (payroll, tip, expense), embedded lending, and accounting software integrations. The platform combines a Pay By Cliq merchant/agent dashboard with white-label APIs for ISV partners and is built on Visa Acceptance Platform and CyberSource infrastructure.
Product overview
Cliq is a full-service payment processing and fintech platform positioned as 'Champions of Ecommerce,' processing $3.8 billion in monthly transactions. The platform operates a unified ecosystem of integrated modules centered on Payment Processing (credit, debit, and ACH), supplemented by Chargeback Management (AI-driven fraud prevention and dispute representment), ACH Processing, Treasury management, and Prepaid Cards (payroll, tip, and expense card programs). The product portfolio includes the Pay by Cliq Dashboard as the primary merchant and agent portal, alongside complementary modules: Invoicing, Hosted Payment Page, Buy Now Pay Later, Lending Solutions, Hardware Options, Payment Gateways, and QuickBooks & Xero Integration. A branded sub-product, Tips by Cliq, provides electronic tip disbursement for the hospitality sector. Cliq's platform is differentiated by its integrated API-first architecture, white-label capabilities for ISV partners, and strategic banking relationships with Pathward (card issuing), Fifth Third Bank (ACH), and sponsor banks PNC, North American Banking Company, and Avidia Bank.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Payment Processing End-to-end payment processing for online, in-person, and mobile transactions, supporting credit, debit, and ACH payments with real-time reporting, risk mitigation, and next-day funding options.
- Chargeback Management
Quantifiable outcome
- Processes $3.8 billion in monthly transactions
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cliq
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Cliq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration24 records
AI capability4 records
Feature8 records
Cliq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, significant and minor.
- JariscoreStrategic partnership with Jaris (all-in-one lending, instant payouts, and financial services platform) integrates bank-backed business loans directly into the Cliq merchant portal. Merchants can access $5,000 to $5 million in financing with same-day funding, one-time fixed fees, no interest, and automated repayment through card sales. Loans are issued by First Internet Bank of Indiana and serviced by Jaris.
- GymdesksignificantStrategic integration bringing Cliq's payment processing solutions to Gymdesk's gym management platform serving thousands of fitness businesses across 34 countries. Features include split settlement for trainers, embedded payment technology, POS hardware options, and business growth tools including merchant cash advances.
- Biller GeniesignificantIntegration with Biller Genie (Intuit QuickBooks' preferred 3rd party integration) streamlines accounts receivable, automates invoice generation and sending, and enables secure acceptance of ACH and credit card payments directly within merchants' accounting software. Saves merchants hours of weekly administrative work and accelerates collections by up to 15 days.
- Biller GeniesignificantPartnership with Biller Genie to streamline accounts receivable for merchants, enabling acceptance of both credit card and ACH payments alongside automated invoicing and reconciliation tools that help streamline invoicing and payment collection workflows. Integrated with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero.
- Pathward (N.A.)corePathward, N.A. serves as the issuing bank for Cliq's payroll card and expense card programs (Cliq Visa Payroll Card and Cliq Expense Prepaid Mastercard), as well as a general-purpose reloadable card program. This is a foundational partnership enabling Cliq to offer FDIC-insured prepaid card products under Visa and Mastercard licenses.
- Visa Acceptance Solutions / CyberSourcecoreIntegration with Visa Acceptance Platform and CyberSource technologies provides Cliq with access to global payment networks, enhanced scalability, and built-in compliance and security capabilities. VPC (Visa Processing Center) implementation supports transaction oversight and security across all Cliq payment programs.
- LendistrysignificantLendistry is a certified CDFI lender and SBA 7(a) lender offering SBA loans, NMTC financing, and flexible term loans for underserved businesses. Cliq partnered with Lendistry during the COVID-19 PPP program, processing $4.7 billion in loans and supporting Lendistry's rise to a top 10 PPP lender. Lendistry evaluates merchants for unsecured financing based on business performance.
- PNC Bank, N.A.minorCliq is a registered ISO (Independent Sales Organization) of PNC Bank, N.A., Pittsburgh, PA - Member FDIC.
- North American Banking CompanyminorCliq is a registered ISO/MSP (Independent Sales Organization / Member Service Provider) of North American Banking Company, Roseville, MN.
- Avidia BankminorCliq is a registered ISO/MSP (Independent Sales Organization / Member Service Provider) of Avidia Bank, Hudson, MA.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves17 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Cliq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PaymentCloud: High-risk and SMB-friendly ISO/agent payment processor with diverse vertical coverage and partner residuals. Comparable to Cliq's ISO program and high-risk-adjacent merchant mix.
- Stax (formerly Fattmerchant): Subscription-style SMB payment processor with an ISO/agent channel, embedded APIs, and value-added services (chargebacks, invoicing, capital). Closely comparable to Cliq's SMB-focused, multi-product, ISV-friendly model.
- Helcim: Direct SMB and mid-market payment processor with interchange-plus pricing, integrated invoicing, recurring billing, and an API/embed story. Comparable to Cliq on SMB payment processing, multi-gateway architecture, and merchant self-service tooling.
- Payment Depot: ISO-style SMB payment processor with membership pricing, agent/partner programs, and POS hardware. Direct comparable to Cliq's ISO/agent distribution and merchant services model.
- National Processing: SMB payment processor that sells through agent and ISO channels, offering merchant cash advance and chargeback mitigation. Closely comparable to Cliq's ISO/agent-led go-to-market and value-added service bundling.
Emerging players
- Finix: Pure-play B2B payment infrastructure/PayFac that lets SaaS platforms and ISOs embed payments and monetize transactions. Comparable to Cliq's ISV/PayFac embed motion for vertical software platforms.
- Tilled: PayFac-as-a-Service for ISVs and vertical SaaS, offering embedded payments with revenue share. Directly comparable to Cliq's API-first ISV/white-label program.
Broad incumbents
- Square (Block): Mass-market SMB payments and software incumbent covering in-person, online, lending, and prepaid/ Cash App cards. Broadly comparable as a full-stack SMB fintech that overlaps with most of Cliq's product modules.
- Stripe: Global payments and embedded finance platform serving internet businesses and software platforms. Comparable to Cliq on the embedded-payments/ISV API story and the broader SMB and mid-market processing market.
- Green Dot: Bank-issued prepaid card and banking-as-a-service provider (payroll, tip, and general-purpose reloadable cards). Comparable to Cliq's prepaid card issuing programs issued through Pathward.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cliq social profiles
Digital presenceCliq compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Cliq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cliq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Cliq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cliq M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cliq
What does Cliq do?
Cliq is a full-service payment processing and fintech platform that processes $3.8 billion in monthly transactions across credit, debit, and ACH, supported by chargeback management, prepaid card programs (payroll, tip, expense), embedded lending, and accounting software integrations. The platform combines a Pay By Cliq merchant/agent dashboard with white-label APIs for ISV partners and is built on Visa Acceptance Platform and CyberSource infrastructure.
Is Cliq a public or private company?
Cliq is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cliq founded?
Cliq was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cliq based?
Cliq is headquartered in Costa Mesa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cliq make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Payment Processing Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchant Services and SaaS Subscriptions, chargeback Representment Services, embedded Lending Origination, agent and ISO Residuals and prepaid Card Program Fees.
Who are Cliq's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PaymentCloud, Stax (formerly Fattmerchant), Helcim, Payment Depot and National Processing. Emerging players are Finix and Tilled. Broad incumbents are Square (Block), Stripe and Green Dot.
Does Cliq have an API?
Yes. Cliq offers a comprehensive API suite enabling seamless ACH and card payment processing with endpoints for sales, refunds, voids, and account verification. The platform provides developer-friendly APIs with robust documentation, sandbox testing, and live developer support. Integration tools include PayFac technology for ISVs and white-label payment processing capabilities. Developer documentation is at apidocs.cliq.com.
What industry is Cliq in?
Cliq's product category is Payment Processing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGALAB, Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6199.