Apply Now — Starter Rates by Industry (No Statements Required)
Beat Square & Shopify with industry‑calibrated starter pricing. Get fast approvals, Free Equipment Placement, and access to Payments Hub + Virtual Terminal. As your business grows, your rates will be re‑evaluated faster than the industry standard.
Who This Page Is For
- New businesses with no processing history.
- Merchants who prefer not to upload statements.
- Businesses needing fast approval and predictable starter pricing.
- Entrepreneurs looking for room to improve rates as they scale.
Starter Rates That Beat Square & Shopify
Select your industry to see your starting flat rate. These rates are crafted to beat typical effective costs of Square and Shopify at common ticket sizes and card‑present mixes. Custom rates are available after underwriting.
2.50% + 10¢
These are starter rates for new/no‑history merchants. Rates vary by industry and may adjust after underwriting every 3–6 months or at ≥25% volume change.
Savings Estimator
Compare your estimated costs with Square or Shopify versus our starter rates. Adjust your monthly volume and average ticket to see your estimated savings. We use baseline assumptions of Square 2.60% + 15¢ and Shopify 2.70% + 0¢ for in‑person transactions (assumed; validate).
$20000
$25
Vendor Effective Rate: %
Our Starter Effective Rate: %
Estimated Monthly Savings: $
Confidence: High
Estimates use assumptions for average ticket, volume and mix. Final pricing may vary after underwriting. Starter rates are for new/no‑history merchants and vary by industry.
Why Choose Critical BS Inc.
- Free Equipment Placement – modern smart terminals, keypads and POS systems at no up‑front cost.
- Payments Hub & Virtual Terminal – manage invoicing, recurring billing, reporting, customer tracking and disputes in one portal.
- Next‑day & Same‑day Funding – receive funds quickly with flexible cut‑off times.
- White‑glove Onboarding – paperless sign‑up, device configuration and 24/7 customer support.
- Secure & Compliant – tokenization, encryption and PCI‑compliant processing.
Recommended Devices (Free Equipment Placement)
Choose devices based on your monthly transaction volume. All support EMV chip, NFC and magstripe, plus built‑in printers, Wi‑Fi/4G and barcode scanning where applicable. They integrate seamlessly with our Payments Hub for virtual terminal and advanced reporting.
| Monthly Transactions | Use Case | Recommended Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| ≤1 000 | Solo operator, pop‑up stall, stylist | Smart Terminal Mini or Smart Keypad; optional handheld |
| 1 000–3 000 | Cafe, salon, small grocery | Desk/3500 + PIN pad; add 1–2 handhelds |
| 3 000–8 000 | Restaurant, retailer, service business | Smart POS+ plus Desk/3500 + PIN pad and 2 handhelds |
| 8 000+ | High‑volume or multi‑lane store | Multi‑lane Smart POS+ with PIN pads per lane and handhelds for mobility |
All devices shown are included in Critical BS Inc. Free Equipment Placement (program terms apply).
Apply Now
You can start processing today without uploading statements. Complete the form below to lock in your industry starter rate. If you later wish to upload statements, we’ll re‑evaluate your pricing.
FAQ
How do starter rates work?
Starter rates are pre‑set pricing for new or no‑history merchants. They beat typical Square and Shopify rates and include sufficient margin to support free equipment and services. We re‑evaluate your rates every 3–6 months or when your volume or average ticket changes significantly.
What triggers a re‑evaluation?
A 25% change in your monthly volume or a significant shift in average ticket triggers a pricing review. Otherwise, rates are reviewed every 3–6 months.
When do I receive funds?
Funding is next‑day by default. Same‑day funding is available when you batch by 10:30 AM ET.
How quickly do devices ship?
Devices ship within two business days of approval. They arrive pre‑configured and ready to use, with 24/7 support available.
Can I submit statements later?
Yes. You can start without statements and upload three months of processing history later to qualify for a custom rate.
Estimates and starter rates are for informational purposes only and assume typical industry volumes, tickets and mixes. Final pricing follows underwriting and may vary. Devices remain property of Critical BS Inc. and must be returned according to the Free Equipment Placement terms.