What Group ISO Merchant Services does

Group ISO Merchant Services (legal entity: Group Independent Sales Organization Inc.) is a Newport Beach, California-based payment processing company founded in 2001 that operates as a registered Independent Sales Organization (ISO) and Full-Service Provider (FSP) of Commercial Bank of California. It serves U.S. merchants across small business, retail, restaurant, e-commerce, hospitality, and a broad set of high-risk verticals including CBD, firearms, adult, vaping, nutraceuticals, travel, and telemarketing — categories where mainstream acquirers frequently decline service. The company handles underwriting, risk assessment, and merchant support entirely in-house, with 24/7 customer service available in over 30 languages and a stated 20+ years of continuous operation.

Its technology stack is anchored by the proprietary GroupISOGateway for online and in-person card acceptance, complemented by native payment integrations into QuickBooks, Sage 50/100, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Salesforce, and Oracle ERP/CRM. The product portfolio spans Level 2 and Level 3 B2B processing, a virtual terminal, mobile acceptance, recurring billing, chargeback mitigation, PCI compliance tooling, merchant working capital funding ($3,000 to $500,000+), and two proprietary POS systems (Genius POS for restaurants and retail; Vital Select). Hardware is resold across Ingenico, Dejavoo, VeriFone, PAX, and BBPOS product lines. Group ISO holds PCI DSS Level 1 v4.0.1 certification and is listed on Visa's Global Registry of Service Providers.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based interchange-plus-markup fees on processed card volume, supplemented by hardware sale/lease of terminals and POS equipment, and recurring monthly or per-transaction fees for gateway services. Distribution combines direct consultation-based sales with a channel partner program paying up to 75% revenue share to outside agents and sub-ISOs, plus inside sales, twice-weekly webinars, trade show participation, content marketing, and organic social channels. Operations are entirely domestic with no international footprint disclosed, and the company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or institutional ownership.

Name

Group ISO Merchant Services

Legal name

Group Independent Sales Organization Inc.

Website

https://groupiso.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Group ISO Merchant Services is a Newport Beach, California-based payment processor, founded in 2001, providing credit card processing, POS systems, and merchant funding to U.S. small businesses and high-risk verticals including CBD, firearms, and adult via direct sales and an agent network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Processing Services

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant Acquiring Banks & ISO/MSP Acquirers (FSAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Merchant Acquiring & Card Processing (PSPs) (CRAFALAB)

Keywords

• Merchant services
• Payment processing
• Card processing
• POS systems
• High-risk merchant accounts

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Payment Processing Fees: Transaction-based fees charged to merchants for processing credit card payments. Includes interchange fees, assessment fees, and markup margins.
2. Equipment Sales and Leasing: Sale and lease of payment terminals, POS systems, card readers, and related hardware
3. Gateway Services: Monthly or per-transaction fees for using the GroupISOGateway payment processing platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Group ISO Merchant Services is a registered Independent Sales Organization (ISO) and Full-Service Provider (FSP) that delivers credit card and electronic payment processing services to businesses of all sizes, including high-risk merchants. The company processes transactions through its proprietary GroupISOGateway, supplies payment terminals and POS systems (Genius POS, Vital Select), and supports ERP-integrated payments, Level 2/3 processing, mobile and contactless acceptance, and ancillary services such as chargeback mitigation, PCI compliance, merchant funding, gift/loyalty, and EBT/SNAP acceptance. All services from risk assessment and underwriting to customer support are handled in-house.

Product overview

Group ISO Merchant Services operates as a comprehensive payment processing platform offering integrated merchant services across all industries from small retail businesses to high-risk merchants. The core portfolio centers on Level 2 and Level 3 Processing for B2B transactions, Integrated Payments connecting with major ERP/accounting systems (QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics), Card Not Present processing for eCommerce and MOTO orders, and Recurring Billing for subscription businesses. The product line includes two proprietary POS software solutions (Genius POS for restaurants and retail, Vital Select with inventory management), supplemented by an extensive range of payment terminals from major hardware manufacturers including Ingenico (Desk 3500, Move 5000), Dejavoo (Z8 Tri Comm, Z9 v4, QD4, QD2), VeriFone (V400C, V200C-Plus), PAX (A920 Pro v.3, S920), and BBPOS card readers. Supporting services include chargeback mitigation, PCI compliance tools, merchant funding programs, virtual terminal, mobile processing, gift/loyalty cards, EBT/SNAP acceptance, and electronic check/ACH processing. All services are handled in-house with 24/7 customer support in over 30 languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Level 2 and Level 3 Processing Advanced transaction processing service providing detailed line-item data for commercial and government transactions, enabling lower interchange rates, enhanced reporting, and improved security for B2B merchants.
• Integrated Payments Payment processing solutions integrated with ERP and accounting systems including QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics for synchronized financial workflows.
• Card Not Present (CNP/MOTO) Mail/telephone order payment processing for merchants accepting orders without physical card presence, including e-commerce and virtual transactions.
• Recurring Billing and Invoicing Subscription and recurring payment processing with automated invoicing for continuity businesses, subscription services, and regular billing cycles.
• Chargeback Help Chargeback mitigation and dispute resolution services to help merchants reduce fraudulent transaction claims and recover disputed funds.
• PCI Compliance Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance tools and certification support for secure payment processing.
• Merchant Funding Working capital financing from $3,000 to $500,000+ for merchant business growth and cash flow support.
• Genius POS Full-featured point-of-sale system for retail and restaurant establishments with menu management, employee controls, reporting, multi-location management, tableside service, split payments, gift cards, loyalty programs, and support for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and online ordering.
• Vital Select Full-featured POS system with inventory management, customer payments, employee management, pricing and discounts, and tax reporting. Features 15.6-inch touch screen with customer-facing display, receipt printer, barcode scanner, chip card reader, NFC reader, PIN pad, and cash drawer.
• Ingenico Desk 3500 Countertop payment terminal supporting NFC contactless, EMV chip and PIN, swipe payments. Features 2.8-inch backlit QVGA display and secure Telium TETRA OS. Compatible with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Wallet, Visa PayWave, and MasterCard PayPass.
• Ingenico Move 5000 Portable payment terminal with enhanced customer engagement features, sleek design for high-end environments, intuitive interface, and automatic network switching for uninterrupted connectivity.
• Dejavoo Systems QD4 Touch screen terminal with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth connectivity. Features 50-foot paper roll, internal PIN pad, contactless support, and AURA software compatible with Dejavoo Z Line.
• Dejavoo Z8 Tri Comm Countertop payment terminal with EMV and NFC contactless support, tri-comm capability (dial, IP, and WiFi), 2.4-inch color LCD with backlight, and favorites menu for quick access.
• Dejavoo Systems Z9 v4 Touch screen terminal with Wi-Fi, 4G, and Bluetooth connectivity. Features 3.5-inch color LCD for signature on display, EMV and NFC contactless built in, and support for Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Visa payWave, and MasterCard PayPass.
• VeriFone V400C Versatile countertop terminal accepting all payment types including NFC/contactless, mobile wallets, EMV, and magstripe. Supports VeriFone estate management for remote device management and optional dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 BLE.
• VeriFone V200C-Plus Countertop terminal with Ethernet, dialup, optional Bluetooth and WiFi. Features 2.8-inch QVGA color LCD and accepts all payment inputs including NFC/contactless, EMV, and magstripe.
• PAX A920 Pro v.3 Wireless Android terminal with 4G, dual-band WiFi, and Bluetooth. Features 5.5-inch IPS touchscreen, 1GB RAM with 8GB flash, standard laser scanner, 80mm-per-second thermal printer, and 5MP rear camera.
• PAX S920 Wireless terminal supporting 4G, 3G, Bluetooth, and WiFi with built-in NFC contactless and 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen.
• BBPOS EMV chip card reader supporting ISO7816 compliant cards, magnetic stripe reader for dual tracks, NFC contactless reader, with over-the-air firmware and key updates.
• Dejavoo QD2 Mobile Wireless Android Mobile Android terminal with 5.5-inch touch screen, eSIM for worldwide coverage, 7.4V dual battery system, and DejaPayPro software.
• Virtual Terminal Web-based terminal for processing credit card payments over the phone or for card-not-present transactions without physical hardware.
• Mobile Credit Card Processing Mobile payment processing solutions enabling businesses to accept credit cards on smartphones and tablets for on-the-go transactions.
• Gift and Loyalty Cards Gift card program setup and loyalty card management for customer retention and reward programs.
• EBT/SNAP Acceptance Electronic Benefits Transfer payment processing for government food assistance programs at eligible retail locations.
• Check Processing Electronic check processing and ACH services for accepting check payments through virtual terminal or integrated systems.
• Poynt Payment Terminals Smart payment terminals distributed as part of Group ISO's hardware portfolio, launched in April 2019.
• Clover Station POS system introduced and supported as part of Group ISO's POS offerings in 2014.
• iPad and Android POS Systems Integration of iPad and Android-based POS systems to expand mobile and tablet-based payment processing capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24-hour funding and approvals for qualified merchants
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global eTelecom, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 24 October 2012Partnership for expanded electronic check processing and ACH services. Group ISO merchants gained the ability to quickly and reliably accept and process both paper and electronic checks in various environments.
• Girls Riders Organization (GRO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2012Partnership with non-profit GRO to create an automated fundraising system utilizing payment transactions. GRO is a charitable organization working to empower and support girls through riding programs.
• Commercial Bank of CaliforniacoreOthersGroup ISO is a registered Independent Sales Organization (ISO) of Commercial Bank of California, enabling them to offer merchant account services.
• QuickBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationSeamless integration with QuickBooks for synchronized financial data, streamlined workflows, and enhanced visibility into financial processes

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Helcim: Helcim is a Canadian-based payment processor offering interchange-plus pricing, POS, and invoicing primarily to SMBs in North America. Comparable to Group ISO's SMB focus and transparent pricing model, though Helcim is more software-native and lighter on high-risk underwriting.
• Easy Pay Direct: Easy Pay Direct is a high-risk merchant account specialist serving verticals including CBD, firearms, adult, supplements, and travel. Directly comparable to Group ISO's high-risk underwriting capability and consultative sales motion.
• National Processing: National Processing is a US-based ISO offering credit card processing, POS, and gateway services to SMBs across retail, restaurant, e-commerce, and high-risk verticals. Overlaps directly with Group ISO's SMB-focused ISO model, pricing structure, and agent channel.
• Host Merchant Services: Host Merchant Services is an ISO/merchant account provider targeting SMBs with interchange-plus pricing, POS and gateway offerings, and an agent/reseller program. Closely comparable to Group ISO in target customer, product mix, and channel-led GTM.
• Stax (formerly Fattmerchant): Stax is a subscription-based payment processor offering interchange-plus pricing to SMBs alongside POS, invoicing, and billing tools. Comparable to Group ISO in SMB focus and integrated software-plus-processing model, though Stax leans more SaaS.
• PaymentCloud: PaymentCloud is a registered ISO specializing in high-risk and hard-to-place merchant accounts across verticals such as CBD, firearms, adult, nutraceuticals, and travel. Directly competes with Group ISO in the high-risk ISO segment with similar consultative sales and agent-driven distribution.
• Priority Payment Systems: Priority Payment Systems is a registered ISO offering payment processing, POS, and cash advance products to SMB and mid-market merchants, with a strong agent/partner channel. Direct competitor in the SMB ISO space with similar vertical and channel profile.

Broad incumbents

• Stripe: Stripe is a global payment processor and SDK-based platform serving online and omnichannel merchants with APIs, gateway, and POS. Overlaps with Group ISO's e-commerce and integrated-payments offerings, but operates as a PSP rather than an ISO and does not serve high-risk.
• PayPal: PayPal is a broad digital payments incumbent providing online checkout, Braintree gateway, POS (Zettle), and merchant services. Group ISO offers PayPal acceptance as a partner integration, while PayPal competes directly for many of the same SMB and e-commerce merchants.
• Square (Block): Square (part of Block) is a broad payments incumbent offering card-present, online, invoicing, POS software, and merchant services to SMBs. Competes with Group ISO for SMB merchants via simpler self-service onboarding and lower acquisition friction, though it does not serve high-risk verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/groupisoinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/groupiso
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/group-iso
• Instagraminstagram.com/groupiso

Compliance1 record

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 Group ISO Merchant Services