Payment Processing Consultant in San Diego
Independent fee audits, rate negotiation, and processor selection for San Diego merchants — without the commission kickback conflict of interest.
Quick Answer
- What you want: Someone who reads your merchant statement, finds the junk fees (PCI non-compliance, batch fees, tiered pricing markup, "network access" padding), and negotiates them down — or moves you to interchange-plus.
- What I do: Flat $100/hr statement audit. No processor commissions, no residuals, no kickbacks. I don't sell you a terminal — I tell you what you're actually paying above interchange.
- Typical San Diego result: Restaurants and retail saving 0.4%–1.2% of gross card volume after a 2-hour audit. A shop running $80k/month recovers $400–$900/month.
- What to bring: Your last 3 merchant statements (Stripe, Square, Clover, Heartland, whoever) and I'll show you line-by-line where the leak is within a week.
Statement audits that find real money
Most San Diego merchants are on tiered or bundled pricing that hides a 40-80 bps markup. I decode the effective rate, separate interchange from processor margin, and show you the three line items bleeding you monthly.
Processor-agnostic recommendations
I don't have a preferred processor because I don't take residuals. Stripe vs. Square vs. Helcim vs. Stax vs. a direct interchange-plus ISO — the answer depends on your ticket size, card mix, and whether you swipe or key.
AI-powered reconciliation
For high-volume operators I build automated reconciliation between POS batches, processor deposits, and your bank. Catches underpaid batches, chargeback leakage, and refund errors that manual review misses.
Rate negotiation leverage
Once your current processor knows you've been audited, rates drop. I draft the exact email with the competing interchange-plus quote attached. Most merchants keep their existing processor at a 30-50% lower effective rate.
PJ · Encinitas, CA · 858-461-8054
Send me your last three merchant statements and I'll tell you exactly where the markup is — no sales pitch, no switching pressure. If there's nothing to save, I'll tell you that too.
Stop paying markup you can't see
North County San Diego merchants: 30-minute call, zero obligation.
Text 858-461-8054