Kurv
Kurv (Electronic Merchant Systems LLC) is a US-based omnichannel payment processor serving 30,000+ SMBs across multiple verticals. It offers in-person, online, mobile, and embedded payment solutions via transaction fees, tiered SaaS subscriptions, hardware, and ISO channel partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Kurv does
Kurv is the commercial brand of Electronic Merchant Systems LLC, a privately-held US payment processing company with over 40 years of industry history and 400+ employees. The company operates an omnichannel, cloud-based payment processing platform spanning in-person (Tap to Pay on iPhone/Android, NFC contactless, hardware terminals), online (payment gateway, virtual terminal), mobile (QR codes, Text to Pay, Merchant App), self-service (unattended kiosks), recurring billing, and embedded payments (white-label APIs and webhooks for SaaS platforms). Kurv is a registered Independent Sales Organization / Merchant Services Provider (ISO/MSP) of BMO Bank NA, Central Bank of St. Louis, Esquire Bank NA, and Merrick Bank, which underwrites and processes transactions on its behalf. PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant, with HIPAA support for healthcare merchants and GDPR/CCPA-compliant data practices.
The platform powers 30,000+ businesses across more than ten verticals (automotive, B2B, eCommerce, healthcare, hospitality, restaurants, retail, wellness, field services, self-service, SaaS platforms), processing 1M+ transactions weekly. Kurv generates revenue through a multi-stream model: per-transaction processing fees (2.50% + $0.10 swiped; 2.90% + $0.25 keyed/online; a 0%-merchant-fee/3.95%-cardholder-fee zero-cost option), tiered SaaS subscriptions for the merchant portal (Start at $0, Build at $9.95, Scale at $29.95, Perform at $59.95/month), hardware sale/rental (terminals at $199–$399 purchase or $24.95–$49.95/month), professional services (chargeback representment, dispute fees), and revenue-share with embedded platform partners.
Go-to-market is hybrid: a product-led self-serve channel (instant online approval, Finicity-powered KYC, 24-hour merchant onboarding), an enterprise/mid-market field sales motion via 12 regional US offices and 350+ dedicated professionals, an ISO/agent reseller network, and an ISV/SaaS embedded-payments channel with developer APIs and a Plaid-powered partner portal. Strategic integrations include Shopify, QuickBooks, WooCommerce, Salesforce, Sage 300, Xero, Zendesk, Gilbarco, FuelMaster, and Dejavoo, contributing to a stated 1,000+ platform integration footprint.
Kurv firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kurv
- Legal name
- Electronic Merchant Systems LLC d/b/a Kurv
- Website
- https://kurvpay.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Kurv (Electronic Merchant Systems LLC) is a US-based omnichannel payment processor serving 30,000+ SMBs across multiple verticals. It offers in-person, online, mobile, and embedded payment solutions via transaction fees, tiered SaaS subscriptions, hardware, and ISO channel partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kurv industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Processing
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integrated Payment Processors (PSP/Acquirer) (FSAMABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Integrated POS Payments (ISVs & Vertical POS Platforms) (FSAMADAD), POS, SoftPOS & In-Person Acceptance Infrastructure (FSAGABAO), Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout) (FSAMACAA), Recurring Billing & Subscription Payments Enablement (FSAMACAF), Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB), Risk, Compliance & Controls for Embedded Finance (KYB/KYC/AML, Fraud, Disputes) (FSAGALAK)
Keywords
Where Kurv is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Kurv business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transaction Processing Fees: Percentage-based fees charged on each payment processed. Swiped: 2.50% + $0.10; Keyed/Online: 2.90% + $0.25; Zero Cost: 0% merchant fee with 3.95% cardholder fee
- Merchant Portal Subscriptions: Monthly platform fees for tiered merchant portal plans: Start ($0), Build ($9.95), Scale ($29.95), Perform ($59.95) per month plus transaction fees
- Hardware Sales & Rental: Sale and rental of payment terminals including Handheld Smart Terminal ($199 purchase / $24.95/mo rental) and All-in-One Terminal ($399 purchase / $49.95/mo rental)
- Professional Services: Chargeback representment fees ($25 per representment), dispute fees ($25 per dispute), and setup/onboarding support
- Embedded Payments Revenue Share: Revenue sharing with platforms and SaaS providers for embedded payment processing, including subscription and branded gift card monetization
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Flat Rate Swiped: 2.50% + $0.10 per transaction |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Keyed & Online: 2.90% + $0.25 per transaction |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Zero Cost Processing: 0% merchant fee, 3.95% cardholder fee |
| Freemium | Monthly | Start Plan: $0/month + transaction fees |
| Subscription | Monthly | Build Plan: $9.95/month + $0.10 per transaction |
| Subscription | Monthly | Scale Plan: $29.95/month + $0.05 per transaction |
| Subscription | Monthly | Perform Plan: $59.95/month |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Handheld Smart Terminal: $199 purchase or $24.95/month rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | All-in-One Terminal: $399 purchase or $49.95/month rental |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Kurv product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kurv operates an omnichannel payment processing platform that enables businesses to accept in-person, online, mobile, and self-service payments, complemented by merchant hardware (handheld and countertop terminals), a tiered Merchant Portal SaaS (START through PERFORM), and developer APIs for embedded payments inside SaaS and marketplace platforms. Revenue comes from per-transaction fees, monthly SaaS subscriptions, hardware purchase and rental, and revenue share from embedded partner integrations. The platform serves 30,000+ businesses across automotive, eCommerce, healthcare, hospitality, retail, restaurant, B2B, and field-services verticals with PCI-DSS Level 1 compliance and 24/7 U.S.-based support.
Product overview
Kurv is a payment processing platform offering a unified ecosystem of payment solutions across in-person, online, mobile, and embedded payment channels. The core product portfolio includes the Payment Gateway, Virtual Terminal, Invoicing platform, Contactless Payments, Tap to Pay (software-based NFC), QR Code Payment App, Text to Pay, and the Merchant Portal dashboard. Hardware offerings comprise the Handheld Smart Terminal and All-in-One Terminal. The platform operates on tiered pricing plans (START, BUILD, SCALE, PERFORM) ranging from free to $59.95/month. Solution verticals include In-Person Payments, Online Payments, Mobile Payments, Self-Service Payments, Embedded Payments, and Recurring Payments. Add-on modules for Fraud Prevention and Chargeback Protection are available. The platform integrates with 1000+ platforms including Shopify, QuickBooks, WooCommerce, Salesforce, and Sage, with APIs and webhooks available for embedded payment use cases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kurv Merchant App: Mobile application for merchants to accept payments, manage transactions, and access the Kurv dashboard.
- Kurv Research Group
Products and services
- Payment Gateway Online payment gateway that integrates with third-party shopping carts and supports customized branding, real-time fraud screening, and checkout protection for online retailers.
- Virtual Terminal Browser-based virtual terminal built into the Payment Gateway that enables secure payment acceptance from any computer, tablet, or phone without additional hardware.
- Invoicing Invoice management platform for creating, sending, and tracking professional invoices via email or text, including single, recurring, and batch invoicing with real-time status tracking.
- Contactless Payments NFC-based contactless payment acceptance that allows customers to tap cards or devices over terminals for fast, secure transactions, supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other mobile wallets.
- Tap to Pay Software-based contactless payment solution using NFC technology to accept secure payments directly on iPhone or Android devices without additional hardware, free with every merchant account.
- QR Code Payment App Scan-to-pay QR code solution for instant mobile payments that lets customers scan and pay from their phone without app downloads or account registration, supporting static and dynamic QR codes for in-person, remote, and invoice scenarios.
- Text to Pay SMS-based payment link solution that allows merchants to send secure payment links via text message for instant customer payments without app downloads or accounts.
- Handheld Smart Terminal Wireless portable Android-based POS terminal that accepts Tap to Pay, chip, and swipe payments on the go, with built-in inventory tools and one free unit per location for new customers.
- All-in-One Terminal Dual-facing countertop terminal with real-time inventory sync, dual pricing, and advanced checkout features, available for purchase at $399 or rent at $49.95 per month.
- Merchant Portal Unified omnichannel payment management platform providing real-time transaction reporting, customer management, inventory tracking, fraud protection, and multi-location performance monitoring from a single dashboard.
- Embedded Payments White-label payment integration for SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and ISVs, offering developer-first APIs, real-time webhooks, merchant onboarding automation, transaction routing, and a PCI-compliant customer vault with revenue share.
- Recurring Payments Automated subscription and membership billing with customizable billing cycles, secure card-on-file storage, automated invoicing, payment reminders, and smart retry logic for failed payments.
- In-Person Payments Solution POS-based payment acceptance solution supporting tap/dip/swipe credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, and custom QR codes, with built-in zero-cost processing support and physical/digital gift card programs.
- Online Payments Solution eCommerce payment processing with payment gateways, virtual terminals, recurring billing tools, and payment links, including real-time fraud screening and custom-branded invoices.
- Mobile Payments Solution On-the-go payment acceptance for mobile service providers using QR codes, Text to Pay links, Tap to Pay on iPhone, and invoice links for on-site or field payment collection.
- Self-Service Payments Solution Unattended kiosk and vending machine payment acceptance for busy environments such as gas stations, car washes, parking facilities, and quick-service restaurants, with touchscreen interfaces and rugged hardware.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,000+ businesses powered by Kurv
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Kurv
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kurv technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration17 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
Kurv partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ShopifycoreIntegration enabling secure payment acceptance directly through Shopify storefronts with real-time reporting and inventory sync.
- QuickBookscoreSync payments with invoicing and accounting for faster reconciliation and fewer manual errors. Two-way QuickBooks integration available.
- WooCommercecoreEnable seamless checkout and automate payment tracking with Kurv's WooCommerce integration for open-source eCommerce.
- SalesforcecoreAccept and track payments within Salesforce CRM to simplify sales and billing workflows for enterprise customers.
- GilbarcocoreFuel pump and petroleum payment integration for gas stations and convenience stores with compatible fuel controllers.
- FuelMastercoreFuel management system integration for fleet and commercial fuel payment processing.
- PlaidcoreCredit decisioning powered by Plaid for instant bank verification and merchant onboarding KYC compliance.
- FinicitycoreBank verification and identity verification integration for fast merchant onboarding and KYC compliance.
- BMO Bank, NAcoreRegistered Independent Sales Organization/MSP partner bank headquartered in Cincinnati, OH.
- Central Bank of St. LouiscoreRegistered Independent Sales Organization/MSP partner bank in St. Louis, MO.
- Esquire Bank, NAcoreRegistered Independent Sales Organization/MSP partner bank in Jericho, New York.
- Merrick BankcoreRegistered Independent Sales Organization/MSP partner bank in South Jordan, UT.
- XerocoreAccounting software integration for automated reconciliation and financial reporting.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kurv competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- North (formerly North American Bancard): North is a large US-based ISO/merchant services provider offering omnichannel payment solutions to SMBs. Operates a similar ISO-based model with broad vertical coverage and ISV partnerships, comparable to Kurv.
- Stax (by Fattmerchant): Stax is a flat-rate, subscription-based payment processor focused on SMBs. Closely comparable to Kurv's transparent tiered pricing model and multi-vertical SMB focus.
- PaymentCloud: PaymentCloud is a US-based ISO/merchant services provider focused on SMB and high-risk merchants. Operates with a similar ISO model, multi-channel GTM, and SMB/vertical specialization as Kurv.
- Helcim: Helcim is a payment processor offering transparent interchange-plus pricing and an integrated POS/online gateway. Comparable to Kurv in transparent pricing, omnichannel acceptance, and SMB focus.
- Gravity Payments: Gravity Payments is a private, US-based payment processor serving SMBs with transparent pricing and dedicated account management. It is closely comparable to Kurv's trust-based, relationship-driven SMB model.
Broad incumbents
- Clover (Fiserv): Clover is a major POS-based merchant services platform distributed through ISOs and banks. It competes with Kurv's in-person and POS hardware offerings, particularly in restaurant and retail verticals.
- Square (Block, Inc.): Square is a leading integrated payments and POS provider for SMBs with both software (Square POS, Square Online) and hardware. Directly competes with Kurv's in-person, online, and mobile payment offerings, especially for SMBs.
- Stripe: Stripe is a dominant online payment processor and embedded-payments platform. It competes directly with Kurv's gateway, online payments, and embedded payments solutions for SaaS/ISV partners and eCommerce merchants.
- PayPal Zettle: Zettle is PayPal's SMB-focused POS and mobile payment solution. Comparable to Kurv's mobile and in-person payment suite for small merchants.
Emerging players
- Toast: Toast is a vertical SaaS-plus-payments platform targeting restaurants. It overlaps with Kurv's Restaurant & Bar vertical and demonstrates the software-led embedded payments model Kurv is pursuing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kurv social profiles
Digital presenceKurv compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Kurv financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kurv leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kurv funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kurv 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 Kurv
What does Kurv do?
Kurv operates an omnichannel payment processing platform that enables businesses to accept in-person, online, mobile, and self-service payments, complemented by merchant hardware (handheld and countertop terminals), a tiered Merchant Portal SaaS (START through PERFORM), and developer APIs for embedded payments inside SaaS and marketplace platforms. Revenue comes from per-transaction fees, monthly SaaS subscriptions, hardware purchase and rental, and revenue share from embedded partner integrations. The platform serves 30,000+ businesses across automotive, eCommerce, healthcare, hospitality, retail, restaurant, B2B, and field-services verticals with PCI-DSS Level 1 compliance and 24/7 U.S.-based support.
Is Kurv a public or private company?
Kurv is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Kurv founded?
Kurv was founded in 1988.
Where is Kurv based?
Kurv is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kurv make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Transaction Processing Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchant Portal Subscriptions, hardware Sales & Rental, professional Services and embedded Payments Revenue Share.
Who are Kurv's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are North (formerly North American Bancard), Stax (by Fattmerchant), PaymentCloud, Helcim and Gravity Payments. Broad incumbents are Clover (Fiserv), Square (Block, Inc.), Stripe and PayPal Zettle. Toast is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kurv have an API?
Yes. Kurv offers developer-first APIs and webhooks for embedded payments. Features include: real-time webhooks for gateway events (additions, removals, reconfigurations); merchant onboarding alerts and status updates; flexible transaction routing APIs with rules for channel routing by risk, cost, or transaction size; rich webhook events across transaction types (sales, authorizations, captures, voids, refunds, failures, reversals, ACH transactions, device-based sales activity). Available for ISVs, SaaS companies, and platforms. No-code widgets, hosted pages, and embeddable forms also available. Developer documentation is at kurvpay.com/developers.
What industry is Kurv in?
Kurv's product category is Payment Processing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMABAA, Integrated Payment Processors (PSP/Acquirer), with a secondary code of FSAMADAD, Integrated POS Payments (ISVs & Vertical POS Platforms). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 7371.