Benchmark Payment Networks
Benchmark Payment Networks is a US-based merchant payment processor serving over 2,000 SMBs across all 50 states with credit card processing, a flagship Zero Cost Processing cash discount program, POS systems, and ISV-integrated payment solutions for field services, retail, e-commerce, and high-risk verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersCold Spring Harbor, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Benchmark Payment Networks does
Benchmark Payment Networks is a US-based merchant payment processor founded in 2006 and headquartered in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. The company provides electronic payment processing services across card-present, card-not-present, e-commerce, mobile, and ACH channels to SMB and mid-market merchants in all 50 US states and multiple international markets. Its flagship product is Zero Cost Processing, a Durbin Amendment-compliant cash discount program that allows merchants to eliminate credit card processing fees by passing costs to customers. The platform includes tokenization, fraud detection with 3D Secure, Level 2/3 processing, multi-MID gateway management, recurring billing, and APIs/SDKs for third-party integration.
Benchmark Payment Networks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Benchmark Payment Networks
- Legal name
- Benchmark Payment Networks
- Website
- https://benchmarkpaymentnetworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Benchmark Payment Networks is a US-based merchant payment processor serving over 2,000 SMBs across all 50 states with credit card processing, a flagship Zero Cost Processing cash discount program, POS systems, and ISV-integrated payment solutions for field services, retail, e-commerce, and high-risk verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Benchmark Payment Networks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cold Spring Harbor
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Benchmark Payment Networks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Payment Processing Fees: Traditional transaction fees where merchants pay processing fees for credit card transactions. Traditional rates typically between 2.5% and 3.5% per transaction depending on business type.
- Zero Cost Processing: Cash discount model where processing fees are added to customer receipts instead of merchant paying them. Fee (approximately 4%) is paid by customer, eliminating merchant processing costs. ACH offered as no-fee alternative.
- Payment Gateway Services: Gateway platform fees for processing payments across e-commerce, retail and mobile. Includes tokenization, fraud detection, reporting, and integration capabilities.
- Business Capital Services: Working capital financing including lines of credit, merchant cash advances, SBA loans, receivable financing, and bridge capital. Revenue from interest and financing fees.
- POS Systems: Point-of-sale hardware and software solutions for retail, restaurant, and service businesses. Customized for specific industries.
- Chargeback Mitigation Services: Fraud detection, chargeback prevention, and chargeback representation services to protect merchants from payment disputes.
- Partner Referral Residuals: Revenue sharing with referral partners and sales agents who bring new merchant accounts. Partners earn lifetime monthly residuals based on merchant processing volume.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Zero Cost Processing - Merchant pays 0% processing fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Traditional Processing - Standard rates apply |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | ISV/Partner Pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Benchmark Payment Networks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Benchmark Payment Networks is a merchant payment processor that provides electronic credit card and ACH payment processing services to businesses across all 50 US states and multiple countries. Its flagship offering is Zero Cost Processing, a cash discount program where merchants shift processing fees to customers via compliant receipt pricing under the Durbin Amendment, allowing businesses to eliminate up to 100% of their payment processing costs. The company supports omni-channel transactions including retail, e-commerce, mobile, card-not-present, and field service payments through its gateway, POS hardware/software, and integrations with ISV platforms.
Product overview
Benchmark Payment Networks operates as a payment processing platform offering a comprehensive suite of merchant services. The core flagship product is Zero Cost Processing, which allows merchants to eliminate processing fees by shifting costs to customers via a cash discount model. This core offering connects to multiple specialized product modules: Merchant Processing serves as the foundational service, while e-Commerce, Mobile Processing, Retail, and Card-Not-Present address different payment channels. Supporting services include Gateways for payment routing, POS Systems for point-of-sale operations, and ACH Services for electronic check processing. The platform extends into business financing through Business Capital, and offers specialized solutions for High Risk industries and Global markets. Partner programs via Trade Partnerships and ISV Consulting enable third-party integration and distribution. Mitigation Services provides fraud and chargeback protection across all offerings. Together, these products form an integrated payment ecosystem supporting merchants across all 50 states and multiple countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zero Cost Processing
Quantifiable outcome
- Home inspectors can save up to $90,000 per year
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Benchmark Payment Networks
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Benchmark Payment Networks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration15 records
Feature7 records
Benchmark Payment Networks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Trade Associations (Alliance Program)coreBenchmark partners with national and local trade associations to offer payment solutions to their association members. Associations earn revenue share by referring members to Benchmark.
- Trusted Advisors (Accountants, Attorneys, Financial Planners)corePartnership with trusted advisors including accountants, attorneys, and financial planners to offer processing solutions to their clients. Advisors earn referral fees for each client referred.
- SpectoracoreHome inspector scheduling and software platform with seamless integration to Benchmark Zero Cost Processing for home inspectors.
- ISN (Inspection Software Network)coreHome inspector software platform integrated with Benchmark payment processing solutions.
- HomegaugecoreHome inspector software platform integrated with Benchmark payment processing solutions.
- HorizoncoreHome inspector software platform integrated with Benchmark payment processing solutions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Benchmark Payment Networks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Payment Depot: Payment processor offering interchange-plus pricing for SMBs with similar cost-reduction value proposition. Competes directly in cash discount-style programs for small and mid-sized merchants.
- PaymentCloud: High-risk merchant account provider serving CBD, adult, supplements, and other specialty industries. Direct peer to Benchmark's high-risk solutions vertical with similar multi-processor approach.
- Helcim: SMB-focused payment processor with interchange-plus pricing and cash discount program. Closest direct peer to Benchmark's Zero Cost Processing value proposition and SMB vertical focus.
- Square (Block): Payment processor and POS provider serving SMBs across retail, mobile, and field services — directly overlapping Benchmark's target market and multi-channel offering including cash discount-style pricing models.
- Toast: Vertical SaaS payment platform for restaurants combining POS software with payment processing. Comparable integration model between software and payments for vertical-specific SMB segments.
- Stripe: Leading integrated payment processor serving SMBs and enterprises with API-first approach. Directly competes with Benchmark in e-commerce, card-not-present, and omnichannel payment processing, with broader developer ecosystem.
- Stax Payments (formerly Fattmerchant): Subscription-based payment processor with flat-rate pricing model targeting SMBs and ISV/SaaS partners. Directly comparable ISV strategy and transparent pricing approach.
- National Processing: SMB payment processor with sales-agent model and residual program, similar in scale and distribution approach to Benchmark with comparable merchant acquiring services.
Broad incumbents
- Fiserv (Clover): POS and integrated payments platform from Fiserv serving SMBs across retail, restaurant, and service verticals. Competes directly in POS systems, gateway services, and SMB acquiring.
- PayPal: Massive incumbent in payment processing with Braintree, Venmo, and PayPal Checkout serving SMB merchants globally. Overlaps with Benchmark in e-commerce, card-not-present, and SMB acquiring.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Benchmark Payment Networks social profiles
Digital presenceBenchmark Payment Networks compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Benchmark Payment Networks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Benchmark Payment Networks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Benchmark Payment Networks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Benchmark Payment Networks 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 Benchmark Payment Networks
What does Benchmark Payment Networks do?
Benchmark Payment Networks is a merchant payment processor that provides electronic credit card and ACH payment processing services to businesses across all 50 US states and multiple countries. Its flagship offering is Zero Cost Processing, a cash discount program where merchants shift processing fees to customers via compliant receipt pricing under the Durbin Amendment, allowing businesses to eliminate up to 100% of their payment processing costs. The company supports omni-channel transactions including retail, e-commerce, mobile, card-not-present, and field service payments through its gateway, POS hardware/software, and integrations with ISV platforms.
Is Benchmark Payment Networks a public or private company?
Benchmark Payment Networks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Benchmark Payment Networks founded?
Benchmark Payment Networks was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Benchmark Payment Networks based?
Benchmark Payment Networks is headquartered in Cold Spring Harbor, United States, in the North America region.
How does Benchmark Payment Networks make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Payment Processing Fees are the primary driver. The others are zero Cost Processing, payment Gateway Services, business Capital Services, POS Systems, chargeback Mitigation Services and partner Referral Residuals.
Who are Benchmark Payment Networks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Payment Depot, PaymentCloud, Helcim, Square (Block), Toast, Stripe, Stax Payments (formerly Fattmerchant) and National Processing. Broad incumbents are Fiserv (Clover) and PayPal.
Does Benchmark Payment Networks have an API?
Yes. Benchmark offers a developer-friendly API integration with configurable API endpoints, Level 1 PCI Security, scalable to millions of users. The API supports integration with software providers for omni-channel payments including email invoices, POS systems, in-field payments, and online bill pay. Partners can white-label solutions. The ISV FAQ indicates partners have integrated their system in as quick as 10 days, with typical timeline from first meeting to integration to onboarding being 30-45 days.