Elite Merchant Solutions

What Elite Merchant Solutions does

Elite Merchant Solutions is a US nationwide merchant services provider founded in 2002 and headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, operating as a registered ISO/MSP of Woodforest National Bank. The company processes credit and debit card payments, supports EMV chip and NFC/contactless acceptance (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Wallet), and extends into electronic check processing, ATM placement, gift card programs, working capital advances, and the 2A Pay sub-brand for the firearms vertical. Its technology stack rests on third-party infrastructure: Clover and Foundry POS hardware, VeriFone terminals, eProcessing Network payment gateway, and QuickBooks Pro for back-office integration, supplemented by its own DataMiner analytics portal and Yiftee-powered digital gift card capability.

The company generates revenue primarily through transaction-based processing fees on a wholesale-rate model, supplemented by partner referral revenue share, working capital interest and fees, and ancillary hardware/software margins. Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed, with a stated value proposition of up to 40% processing-fee savings versus industry-standard rates. Elite serves a predominantly SMB customer base spanning retail, restaurants, and service businesses, with named logos including The Paint Spot, Dio Deka, Baby Universe Inc, and Giacomino Drago. Distribution runs through a direct sales force with dedicated 24/7 account executives, an inbound toll-free and online quote channel, and a referral partner program that recruits banks, software companies, web designers, and associations to submit merchant leads. The company holds four US offices (CA, TX, MI, GA) and reports 101-250 employees, with historical recognition including four consecutive years on the Inc. 500 list starting 2008, Top 100 in The Nilson Report, and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.

Name

Elite Merchant Solutions

Legal name

Elite Merchant Solutions

Website

https://elitedatacorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Elite Merchant Solutions is a US nationwide merchant services ISO/MSP of Woodforest National Bank, providing credit card processing, POS systems, ATM placement, gift cards, and working capital to primarily SMB clients across retail and restaurant verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Processing Services

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant Acquiring Banks & ISO/MSP Acquirers (FSAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Payment Processors (PSP/Acquirer) (FSAMABAA), Card-Present Acquirers (Retail & POS Focus) (FSAMABAC), Merchant Acquiring & Processing Platforms (BPAMAFAB)

Keywords

• Payment processing services
• Merchant services
• POS systems
• Credit card processing
• Merchant cash advance

Headquarters

HQ city

Van Nuys

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Payment Processing Fees: Core revenue from processing credit and debit card transactions for merchants, charging transaction fees. The company offers wholesale rates and claims to save merchants up to 40% on processing fees compared to industry standards.
2. Partner Referral Revenue Share: Revenue generated through partnership programs where banks, software companies, and other partners refer merchants. Partners earn additional income through revenue share with recurring monthly payments and quarterly sales incentives.
3. Working Capital/Cash Advance: Merchant working capital funding services allowing businesses to expand and add features without personal guarantees. Revenue generated from interest and fees on cash advances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elite Merchant Solutions is a merchant services provider that supplies credit and debit card processing, point-of-sale (POS) systems, ATM machines, gift cards, electronic check processing, and merchant cash advance (working capital) products to small and mid-sized U.S. businesses. The company operates as an Independent Sales Organization (ISO) and Member Service Provider (MSP) of Woodforest National Bank, registered with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, and supports merchants across retail, restaurant, and service industries.

Product overview

Elite Merchant Solutions is a merchant service provider offering a comprehensive suite of payment processing products and services. The portfolio includes credit card processing terminals (VeriFone Vx520DC, VX 680, FD 130), Point of Sale systems (Clover, Foundry POS), ATM machines, software solutions (QuickBooks Pro integration, eProcessing Network payment gateway), gift card services (Gift Cards, Yiftee digital gifts), check processing (EZ Check), customer analytics (DataMiner), business financing (Working Capital/Cash Advance), and wholesale pricing programs. Core offerings center on payment acceptance infrastructure (terminals, POS systems, ATM machines, payment gateway) complemented by value-added services (gift cards, analytics, working capital) and the American Express OptBlue program for small merchants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 2A Pay: Payment processing solution for merchants including firearms industry.

Products and services

• Credit Card Processing
• POS Systems
• ATM Machines
• Gift Cards
• Working Capital / Merchant Cash Advance Working capital advances and small business financing, funded against future card processing volume for merchants that need short-term liquidity.
• Electronic Check Processing (EZ Check) Electronic check (ACH) acceptance and conversion service for merchants, replacing paper checks with electronic transactions.
• QuickBooks Pro Integration Integration between Elite Merchant Solutions processing platform and Intuit QuickBooks Pro accounting software, enabling automatic posting of daily batch settlements to merchants' books.
• American Express OptBlue American Express OptBlue program enabling small and mid-sized merchants to accept Amex transactions directly through their existing Elite Merchant Solutions processor.
• eProcessing Network Gateway Payment gateway service supporting online and integrated card-not-present transactions for merchants using the Elite Merchant Solutions platform.
• DataMiner Reporting Proprietary reporting and analytics tool that helps merchants track sales, batches, chargebacks, and processing performance.
• 2A Pay Specialty payment service offered to firearms retailers and related merchants, providing compliant credit card processing for the firearms industry.
• AmeriDoc Telemedicine Telemedicine benefit offering bundled with merchant processing services, giving merchants and their employees access to remote physician consultations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% savings on processing fees compared to industry standard
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Woodforest National BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElite Merchant Solutions is a registered ISO/MSP (Independent Sales Organization/Merchant Service Provider) of Woodforest National Bank, Houston Texas. This partnership enables the company to offer payment processing services under the bank's regulatory umbrella.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationCompany is fully licensed by Visa for payment processing services
• MasterCardcoreTechnology or IntegrationCompany is fully licensed by MasterCard for payment processing services
• American ExpresscoreTechnology or IntegrationCompany is fully licensed by American Express for payment processing services. Offers American Express OptBlue program for small merchants.
• Discover CardcoreTechnology or IntegrationCompany is fully licensed by Discover Card for payment processing services
• PCI Compliance Certified PartnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElite Merchant Solutions has partnered with a certified company to provide PCI compliance services at preferred rates, ensuring businesses achieve and maintain PCI DSS compliance.
• Bank PartnersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with banks to provide full-service merchant programs. Banks refer merchants and Elite handles sales and setup, creating additional revenue streams for partners.
• Software Companies/Web DesignersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with software companies and web designers to integrate merchant services into their offerings. Partners can provide full-service merchant programs without managing them.
• Association PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with various associations including fraternities/sororities and religious organizations, enabling them to offer merchant services to members as an additional benefit.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Toast: Restaurant-vertical SaaS-plus-payments platform with strong SMB penetration in foodservice. Highly relevant to Elite's restaurant merchant testimonials (Dio Deka, Giacomino Drago); represents the integrated-software competitor challenging traditional ISOs.
• SumUp: Global mobile-card-reader and SMB processing platform with transparent pricing. Comparable to Elite on SMB and micro-merchant focus, with a more product-led distribution model.

Direct peers

• Helcim: Transparent, interchange-plus SMB processor with online sign-up, integrated gateway, and merchant-friendly pricing. Comparable to Elite's SMB target market, with more transparent pricing and self-service UX as a differentiator.
• Stax (formerly Fattmerchant): Subscription-based SMB payment processor offering interchange-plus pricing, omnichannel processing, and integrated software. Comparable to Elite on SMB focus, card-present underwriting, and value-added software bundles.
• Payment Depot: Subscription-based interchange-plus model targeting SMB card-present merchants, with quote-based sales and dedicated support. Mirrors Elite's approach to the SMB residual model with an alternative pricing structure.
• Dharma Merchant Services: SMB-focused merchant acquirer emphasizing transparent interchange-plus pricing, no hidden fees, and white-glove support. Comparable on merchant size, processing-rail choice, and direct-sales distribution.
• Heartland Payment Systems: Now part of Global Payments, Heartland is a long-standing SMB card-present ISO/MSP with full service processing, POS, and lending. Direct comp on business model, customer segment, and length of operating history.
• North American Bancard: One of the largest independent ISO/MSPs in the US, focused on SMB card-present processing with dedicated reps and value-added services. Closely comparable as a sales-led, multi-state ISO with similar residual economics and merchant mix.

Broad incumbents

• Clover (Fiserv): Fiserv's SMB POS and payments platform with extensive app marketplace and ISV partnerships. Overlaps with Elite's Clover resale strategy and SMB merchant focus, but at vastly larger scale and with proprietary hardware ecosystem.
• Block (Square): Dominant SMB self-serve acquirer with integrated POS, software, lending, and banking products. Represents the digital-native direct competitor whose transparent pricing and low-friction onboarding reshape SMB merchant expectations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elite-merchant-solutions

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Elite Merchant Solutions