Total Merchant Services
Total Merchant Services (operating as North) is a US-based, privately-held payment processor and merchant services provider founded in 1996, serving SMB and mid-market merchants across restaurant, retail, specialty, enterprise, and services verticals via ISO partnerships with six major US banks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersWoodland Hills, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Total Merchant Services does
Total Merchant Services, operating under the "North" brand (a DBA of NorthAB, LLC), is a US-based payment processing and merchant services provider founded in 1996. The company delivers end-to-end payment acceptance and back-office management solutions to small and mid-market merchants across five vertical segments: restaurant (quick-service and full-service), retail (convenience, clothing/apparel), specialty (CBD, telemedicine, online pharmacy, gaming, online dating), big business (enterprise, franchise, utility and government), and services (contractors, beauty and fitness, healthcare). Its core platform encompasses in-person, online, mobile, and hybrid payment acceptance with PCI DSS-validated point-to-point encryption and tokenization, complemented by proprietary Authorization Optimization and Fraud Prevention technology.
The technology stack rests on a cloud-based payment processing platform with integrated POS systems, hardware (terminals, card readers, Tap to Pay on iPhone), and the North Developer API/SDK platform enabling ISV and VAR integrations across mobile apps, websites, and POS systems. Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based processing fees, supplemented by hardware sales, recurring software subscriptions (billing, reporting, gift and loyalty, inventory, ATM services), and licensing for developer integrations. The company operates as a registered ISO of six major US banks (BMO Harris, Citizens, The Bancorp, FFB, Wells Fargo, PNC), giving it diversified payment network access.
Distribution is multi-channel: direct field sales for enterprise and larger merchants, self-serve web onboarding for SMBs at a payments hub portal, a partner program targeting ISVs and VARs, and digital marketing across social, blog, and developer channels. Notable strategic history includes the 2013 acquisition of Groovv. Leadership includes Joe Kaplan as CEO with a relatively flat C-suite structure (CIO, COO, and operating directors).
Total Merchant Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Total Merchant Services
- Legal name
- NorthAB, LLC
- Website
- https://totalmerchantservices.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Total Merchant Services (operating as North) is a US-based, privately-held payment processor and merchant services provider founded in 1996, serving SMB and mid-market merchants across restaurant, retail, specialty, enterprise, and services verticals via ISO partnerships with six major US banks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Total Merchant Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Processing & Merchant Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marketplace / Platform Acquiring (PayFac & Sub-Merchant Management) (FSAMABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vertical-Specific Merchant Acquirers (e.g., Hospitality, Healthcare, Education) (FSAMABAG), High-Risk / Specialty Merchant Acquirers (FSAMABAE), Merchant Acquiring & Processing Platforms (BPAMAFAB)
Keywords
Where Total Merchant Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Woodland Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Total Merchant Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Payment Processing Services: Transaction-based payment processing fees charged to merchants for credit/debit card transactions. Revenue accrues per transaction processed through in-person, online, mobile, or hybrid payment channels.
- Hardware Sales: Sale of payment terminals, card readers, POS hardware, and related equipment to merchants requiring physical payment acceptance infrastructure.
- Software and Merchant Services: Subscription and service fees for back-office tools, reporting, inventory management, billing/invoicing, gift & loyalty programs, and ATM services.
- Integrated API Services: Developer and ISV/VAR integration fees for access to North's payment APIs, SDKs, and extensions for embedding payment capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Quote-based pricing for merchants of all sizes |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Total Merchant Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Total Merchant Services, operating under the brand name North, provides credit card and payment processing services for merchants across in-person, online, mobile, and hybrid channels. The company offers point-of-sale hardware, payment terminals, ecommerce gateways, and merchant software including billing, reporting, gift/loyalty, fraud prevention, authorization optimization, inventory management, and ATM services. It also exposes developer APIs and SDKs for ISVs and VARs to embed payment capabilities into third-party applications.
Product overview
North is a merchant services and payment technology platform offering a comprehensive suite of payment processing and business management solutions. The platform operates on a unified architecture with Accept Payments as the core product covering in-person, online, mobile, and hybrid payment channels, supported by Hardware solutions. Complementing the payment core, Run Your Business provides add-on modules including North Billing Solutions for invoicing, Reporting for analytics, Gift & Loyalty for customer engagement, Authorization Optimization for transaction success, Fraud Prevention for security, Back Office Tools for operations, Funding for cash flow acceleration, Inventory management, and ATM services. The platform also includes an Edge Program for cash discounts and Tap to Pay on iPhone for contactless payments. North Developer enables integration through APIs, SDKs, and extensions for mobile apps, websites, and POS systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Accept Payments Comprehensive payment acceptance solution for merchants covering in-store, online, mobile, and hybrid channels with support for credit cards, contactless payments, and ecommerce gateways.
- In-Person Payments Point-of-sale hardware and merchant services for physical business locations, enabling flexible payment solutions at the place of business.
- Online Payments Streamlined payment acceptance and ecommerce gateways for online transactions.
- Mobile Payments Secure wireless terminals and smartphone-compatible devices for mobile payment acceptance.
- Hybrid Payments Omnichannel payment processing that fits business models requiring both online and offline payment acceptance.
- Integrated Payments APIs, SDKs, and extensions that integrate with merchant websites and existing systems for embedded payment processing.
- Payment Hardware Sale of payment terminals, card readers, and POS hardware equipment for merchants requiring physical payment acceptance infrastructure.
- Credit Card Processing Core credit card processing services for merchant transactions.
- North Billing Solutions Billing and invoicing solutions to accelerate payment collection from customers.
- Gift & Loyalty Gift card and customer loyalty programs designed to attract and retain customers for merchants.
- Fraud Prevention Security solutions to protect merchants and customers against payment fraud and threats.
- Fast Funding Cash flow acceleration service offering same day or next day funding options to merchants.
- Inventory Management Cloud-based product tracking and inventory management system for merchants.
- ATM Services Automated teller machine placement solutions that enhance customer traffic and generate additional revenue for merchants.
- North Developer APIs and SDKs Developer platform offering APIs, SDKs, and extensions for embedding payment capabilities into mobile apps, websites, and POS systems, including In-Person Payment APIs for Retail, B2B API, and International and High Risk API.
- Edge Program (Cash Discount) Cash discount program that allows merchants to eliminate processing fees by passing card costs to customers through surcharged transactions.
Companies that use Total Merchant Services
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Total Merchant Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Total Merchant Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- North Developer Ecosystem (ISVs, VARs)coreNorth maintains an ecosystem of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Value-Added Resellers (VARs) who integrate with North Developer APIs and SDKs to build and deploy payment solutions for merchants across various platforms including mobile apps, websites, and POS systems.
Scale indicators1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Total Merchant Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Square (Block): Square by Block is a leading integrated payment processor and POS hardware provider serving SMBs across retail and restaurant verticals with the same omnichannel acceptance model and bundled software suite North competes against.
- Stripe: Stripe is a developer-first payment processor offering APIs, SDKs, and integrated acquiring solutions. It overlaps directly with North's North Developer platform and competes for the same online and integrated payments merchants.
- Toast: Toast is a restaurant-specialized integrated POS and payments platform. North's restaurant vertical (quick-service to fine dining) directly competes with Toast for the same merchant base with similar POS-plus-processing bundles.
- Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments): Heartland, now part of Global Payments, is a long-standing direct merchant acquirer offering SMB payment processing, POS, and vertical-specific solutions — closely comparable to North in business model, ISO-style distribution, and vertical coverage.
- Payment Depot: Payment Depot is an SMB-focused merchant services provider offering interchange-plus pricing and POS solutions, directly competing with North for cost-conscious SMB merchants across similar verticals.
- Helcim: Helcim is an SMB-focused payment processor offering transparent interchange-plus pricing, online and in-person payments, and integrated software — directly comparable to North's SMB self-serve and API offerings.
Broad incumbents
- PayPal (Braintree): PayPal operates Braintree as a merchant acquiring platform alongside its broader consumer wallet and checkout products, directly competing with North in online, mobile, and omnichannel payment processing for SMBs and enterprises.
- Clover (Fiserv): Clover is Fiserv's SMB-focused integrated POS and payment processing platform. It competes head-on with North's SMB offering across retail, restaurant, and services verticals with bundled hardware and software.
- Worldpay (FIS): Worldpay, now part of FIS, is a global merchant acquirer serving SMB through enterprise across omnichannel payment acceptance. It overlaps with North's enterprise, retail, and restaurant processing at the larger end of the market.
Emerging players
- Dharma Merchant Services: Dharma is a high-risk and specialty merchant acquirer serving cannabis, firearms, nutraceuticals, and other regulated verticals. It overlaps with North's CBD, telemedicine, and online pharmacy specialty offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Total Merchant Services social profiles
Digital presenceTotal Merchant Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Total Merchant Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Total Merchant Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Total Merchant Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Total Merchant Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Total Merchant Services
What does Total Merchant Services do?
Total Merchant Services, operating under the brand name North, provides credit card and payment processing services for merchants across in-person, online, mobile, and hybrid channels. The company offers point-of-sale hardware, payment terminals, ecommerce gateways, and merchant software including billing, reporting, gift/loyalty, fraud prevention, authorization optimization, inventory management, and ATM services. It also exposes developer APIs and SDKs for ISVs and VARs to embed payment capabilities into third-party applications.
Is Total Merchant Services a public or private company?
Total Merchant Services is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Total Merchant Services founded?
Total Merchant Services was founded in 1996. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Total Merchant Services based?
Total Merchant Services is headquartered in Woodland Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Total Merchant Services make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Payment Processing Services are the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales, software and Merchant Services and integrated API Services.
Who are Total Merchant Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Square (Block), Stripe, Toast, Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments), Payment Depot and Helcim. Broad incumbents are PayPal (Braintree), Clover (Fiserv) and Worldpay (FIS). Dharma Merchant Services is listed as an emerging player.
Does Total Merchant Services have an API?
Yes. North Developer platform provides APIs, SDKs, and extensions for payment integration. Offers In-Person Payment APIs for Retail, B2B API, and International and High Risk API. Enables merchants, ISVs, and VARs to integrate payment solutions into mobile apps, websites, and POS systems. Developer documentation is at developer.north.com.
What industry is Total Merchant Services in?
Total Merchant Services's product category is Payment Processing & Merchant Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMABAF, Marketplace / Platform Acquiring (PayFac & Sub-Merchant Management), with a secondary code of FSAMABAG, Vertical-Specific Merchant Acquirers (e.g., Hospitality, Healthcare, Education).