Company Profile
This professional merchant service provider was founded back in 2001 which means that it is one of the most experienced players in this industry. It has a wide range of services and products that it offers to small- and medium-sized businesses which help them grow by allowing them to also accept credit cards. Flagship has reportedly served more than 100,000 customers so far with hardware, software, and professional assistance. Here is everything you need to know about this company.
Why Choose Flagship
Any small- and medium-sized business owner should consider Flagship as a good alternative because of the variety of services and products it offers. It supports in-store, online, and mobile commerce through its multitude of offerings. You get restaurant, clover, retail, and EMV and NFC for the in-store offer. You also get phone and mail orders and e-commerce for the online offer as well as wireless for the mobile offer. Some of its additional services include merchant cash advances and gift cards for clients. Flagship is also a good solution for those who do not wish to lock themselves into a contract.
What Flagship Offers - Features and Functionality
Flagship offers a wide range of features and services to its clients. This makes it an ideal choice for small- and medium-sized businesses that also need support for credit cards and not only. Here is a more in-depth look at what this company can provide to you.
Features and uses
- POS systems: the company offers everything you need in terms of POS systems and that includes the very popular Clover Mini terminal. Keep in mind that you will need to pay a software subscription fee on a monthly basis for them;
- iPad POS system: this type of POS system is great for when your business needs to accept payments on the go through an iPad or iPhone. While not as advanced as an actual POS terminal, it is still useful and can be considered an interesting addition to the overall offer. This is also a very good idea for a business that doesn’t have a shopping cart app as it also acts as one.
- Credit card terminals: after your first account setup, Flagship will offer you a free credit card terminal. This is a very nice thing to offer, even if you will still pay for the equipment through your monthly fees. However, in order to find out all the details about the available credit card terminals on offer, you should contact the company;
- Virtual terminals: for the virtual terminal offering, Flagship uses the Authorize.Net gateway which comes with such a terminal even if the official website fails to offer any more details about it. Through this partnership, Flagship also offers secure card payments, access to some third-party applications, as well as a flexible API for better overall integrations;
- Fast funding: usually, your funds are transferred to your business bank account within two working days which is a short time, especially in comparison with some competitors;
- Mobile processing: if you are in need of mobile payment processing, Flagship can offer a physical card reader along with the iPayment’s Mobile Pay app which you can use on both Android and iOS operating systems. However, you should know that there is a monthly fee to be paid for this service. The MobilePay Merchant Portal is also included in this offer and it comes with the possibility to manage your inventory, see analytics, and many other things;
- Business management: speaking of analytics, Flagship also offers iAccess with its accounts. This helps you access the analytics of your business, it has a reporting tool, and it is all cloud-based;
- Merchant cash advance: Flagship also offers something that could seem a bit unusual but it’s actually not. It offers merchant cash advances to people who need funds for their businesses. These clients can take the money from the company and then repay everything with certain portions of your business transaction funds. You can borrow as much as $150,000 at once;
- Gift cards: The customers of your business can enjoy gift cards and loyalty programs thanks to Flagship’s collaboration with Pirq.
Plans & Pricing
All businesses are different which means that they have different needs and can pay different amounts. This is exactly why Flagship prefers not to offer any upfront pricing details on its official website. Instead, it asks its potential future clients to fill out a form with some necessary details which will allow the company to come up with a custom quote for you. You can also contact the company directly via phone to find out what could be the best option for your business. What’s nice about this system is that it doesn’t require a lot of in-depth information on your business or yourself and that its approval rate is very high. So, you should not worry about your business situation before applying on the Flagship website.
When it comes to standard fees, there are some that each client should know about. For example, the Flagship monthly statement fee starts at around $7.95 per month. The monthly minimum for your business is between $15 and $25 but you can negotiate it if you think this will be a problem. Plus, seasonal merchants also have the option to waive it completely during months of inactivity. The monthly gateway fee is no more than $10.
The PCI compliance fee is $99 per year and if you are non-compliant with the PCI, you will be charged an extra $19.95 per month. The average discount rate for credit cards is apparently 0.38% but you should always check first to be sure. The retail transaction fee for credit cards and the gateway transaction fee are both $19. The cost of the equipment that Flagship sells is variable and depends on each client.
Ease of Use
Overall, the official Flagship website is user-friendly and offers enough information for it to be easily accessible even for people without a lot of business experience. Its processing solutions are all explained in-depth. Keep in mind that you will also benefit from guidance from a company representative when you have decided to purchase something. You will also get custom quotes that you can negotiate and find a way to make the entire process easier for you and your business.
Customer Support
Flagship doesn’t offer a whole lot of customer support methods, especially in comparison with some of its competitors. In case you need to know more and require some information on what the company offers, you can call its toll-free number which is 866-781-8781. Unfortunately, the working hours for this number are not displayed on the website but from what we could gather, they are available 24/7. In case you are an existing customer who has an inquiry to make, you should fill out the contact form on the official website with your details and message. A company representative should contact you as soon as possible with a solution.
Contract Terms
Flagship Merchant Services does not impose a long-term contract on its customers. It also doesn’t charge an early cancellation fee in case you have changed your mind. You are also free to close your account without any issues but keep in mind that by doing this you will also have to return all provided equipment. The standard way in which Flagship functions is a month-to-month billing that you can give up on whenever you feel like it. It’s also important to note that all companies need to maintain your account as inactive for six months in case you change your mind and decide to continue with its services.
Conclusion
To wrap it all up nicely, it must be said that what Flagship offers is affordability for its credit card processing services. This company’s services are mostly aimed at small- and medium-sized businesses that wish to grow and increase their revenue and clientele. Its monthly rates are low and its fees are limited even if you will have to contact the company to find out precisely what you will have to pay for the services and types of equipment of your choice.
Moreover, its cancellation policy is simple and its customer support staff is helpful and professional. All in all, the Flagship offerings are meant for businesses that aim to develop nicely and include credit card payment processing.
Physical Address
100 City Square, 4th Floor
Charlestown, MA 02129-3730