QuickBooks Merchant Service

You can apply online in about 20 minutes. Of course, if you don't have a full 20 minutes to spare at once, you can always save your application and return to it anytime.

No, you won't. You can apply for QuickBooks Merchant Service right online - just click the button at the top of this page to begin the application process. When you're done, you'll simply submit it via fax or email... whatever's easiest for you.

And if you're looking for pricing, please click here to get the full breakdown of our low fees. No quote required!

The full application process is broken into 3 steps:

1. You apply online (just click the button above)
   It typically takes about 20 minutes to fill out the application, from start to finish. Then, you'll submit it via fax or email.
    
2. We conduct a credit review
   In most cases, you'll receive a decision on your application via email within 4 business days.
   
   Sometimes, we may need to request additional information - like name clarification, your SIN number, financial statements - to help us arrive at a decision. In these cases, we'll phone you directly to request the information... and contact you with the decision in as little as 1 business day.
    
3. You begin processing credit cards
   After your application is approved, we'll send you a welcome email containing ALL of the info you'll need to begin processing credit cards directly in QuickBooks.
   
   If you've requested a PIN pad, you should expect to receive it within 5 business days of receiving your welcome email.
   
   The first time you process a credit card, you may be asked to log in to your Intuit Merchant Service account.

The following is a general list of information you should have available when completing your application. Some exceptions may apply, but exceptions will normally be highlighted in the application itself.

• Standard business contact info, such as your address
• The legal name of your business
• The date your business was established
• Your QuickBooks customer number
• The SIN of the applicant(s)
• Two (2) pieces of government identification
• Estimates of annual cash, debit & credit sales
• Business bank account information (e.g., month & year account opened)

Do You Own Less Than 50% of the Company?

If so, please also gather the name, address & drivers license (or other ID) of other principals owning 51% or more.

Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by our credit underwriting department. In most cases, you will receive a decision on your application within two (2) business days (often quicker). We will contact you via email with a decision.

Occasionally, a business will be asked to supply additional information in order for us to arrive at a decision. After receipt of any additionally requested information, you will be notified of a decision within 1 to 5 additional business days.

If Your Application Is Approved...

Upon application approval, your new merchant account must be activated at the bank and throughout the credit card processing network. This takes up to two (2) more business days. You will receive another email notifying you when your account has been activated.

Once your account has been activated, you can start processing credit cards in QuickBooks.

Approximately 85% of applications are approved.

Please check your email SPAM folder to ensure that the email regarding the decision on your application has not been directed there.

If you do not receive an email, please contact sales & service at 1-877-860-3321. This line is open 9am to 8pm EST.

Yes, you do have to sign a contract as part of the application process. It is a one (1) year term and will automatically renew annually. However, you may cancel your service at anytime by providing ten (10) business days' advance written notice. If cancelling, note:

• There are no cancellation fees⁶
• You can continue to process payments during the 10-day notice period
• Rental equipment must be returned within thirty (30) days of the termination date, or you'll be charged the retail price for the equipment

For a breakdown of QuickBooks Merchant Service fees, please click here

Additional info that may help you - such as term definitions and associated fees - follows:

• Discount Rate: The discount rate is the percentage of each VISA or MasterCard transaction charged as a fee. You are billed for the accumulated charges of each batch submitted.
• Transaction/Authorization Fee: Rates range from $0 to $0.08 per transaction. This amount is charged each time a card transaction is submitted for authorization.
• Monthly Service Fee: A monthly minimum may be charged for VISA and/or MasterCard. If you don't accumulate $10 of discount fees in a given month for VISA and/or MasterCard, then an incremental transaction fee will be charged to bring the sum of discount fees up to $10. EXAMPLE: If the VISA discount fees for the month equal $8, then a $2 charge would occur to bring total discount fees for VISA to $10 for the month.
• Setup Fee: This is one-time fee to set up the merchant account.
• Chargeback Fee: This fee is applied when a customer or the card-issuing bank disputes a charge from a previous sales transaction. The funds from disputed charge are also debited to the merchant’s account while the dispute is investigated.   When/If this happens, you will be asked to provide a copy of the receipt as proof that the cardholder authorized the sale.

With QuickBooks Merchant Service, you can accept:

• VISA and MasterCard (comes standard)
• Interac Direct Payment
• American Express

Note that an additional application is necessary to accept American Express. We do our best to keep this application process very simple; it usually requires little more than a telephone conversation, following which we submit the application on your behalf.

All transactions will be processed in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Yes, you can process credit card transactions directly in QuickBooks once you complete the setup process. Note that you'll pay a slightly higher discount fee for transactions that aren’t swiped

You will not be able to process debit transactions until you receive your PIN pad.

Yes, you can accept debit cards. You will need a PIN pad (terminal) to accept debit cards.

You can accept international credit cards just as you would any Canadian card.

All charges will be processed in Canadian (CAD) dollars. Your international customers will see the currency converted to their home currency on their regular statement.

If you only want to accept credit cards, then you can process transactions directly in QuickBooks and save the expense of a PIN pad.  You will pay a slightly higher discount fee for these transactions, but this is a great option for businesses with a significant amount of phone or mail orders or small volumes, where it doesn’t make sense to pay monthly PIN pad rental fees.

A K23 PIN pad is going to cost $30 per month to rent or $550 to purchase outright.

When you apply, if you request debit services, you will then complete the process of requesting such equipment.

Intuit recommends a PIN pad if:

• You accept (or want to accept) debit cards
  NOTE: You must have a PIN pad to accept debit cards
• You always have your customers’ credit cards in hand when you make a sale AND you process over $25,000 per month in credit card sales

Because of the cost of renting or buying a PIN pad, Intuit does not recommend a PIN pad if:

• You don’t accept debit cards
• You don’t usually have the credit card present when you make a sale (e.g., phone or mail order sales)
• You process less than $25,000 per month in credit card sales

Whether you are protecting against fraud over email, phone, or face-to-face, it’s important to use a variety of tactics to ensure your transactions are safe. Top tips to identity & prevent fraud during a sales transaction: 

• Check the security features on the card. VISA, MasterCard and American Express have unique features to identify against fraudulent cards. Visit their websites periodically to keep up with the latest features and the technology.
• Be cautious with big ticket items & expensive brands. Because people using stolen credit cards are quickly found out today, they are more likely to spend a lot at once (rather than using the stolen card repeatedly). Be especially wary when a customer buys the same ticket item in bulk.
• Think twice before shipping to a mail drop (e.g., a PO box). Also beware of customers who disguise their mail drop with a suite number.
• Watch for email addresses from free providers. Unfortunately, many free email services make it easier for a customer to hide their identity. Although this alone shouldn’t prevent you from completing an order, it is a factor worth considering when in combination with other warning signs.

A chargeback is a reversal of a sales transaction, as viewed from the perspective of the merchant. Chargebacks occur for many reasons primary among which are customer disputes, fraud and processing errors. The card issuer sends the transaction back electronically to the merchant’s bank. Here are a few ways to help protect against chargebacks:

• Clearly disclose your return policy on the customer’s copy of the sales draft. The sales slip, along with the invoice (if included) must disclose the terms of your refund and cancellation policy.
• Do not give "cash-backs" for returns. Only return funds back to the same payment card used during the transaction. This prevents customers from attempting to initiate a chargeback after already receiving a refund on their purchase.

You can have your credit card payments deposited into any business bank account that accepts electronic funds transfers. You will specify this sort of information during the application process.

Get answers to your questions by visiting our support centre