Sekure Payment Experts Review 2024: Can You Trust It?

Cheap Processing With Freebies but Aggressive Marketing Might Be a Turn-Off

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Sekure Payment Experts isn’t a typical payment processor. It employs Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) certified payment experts across the US and Canada to source the best credit card processing and POS equipment for your business.

While it won’t reward you with a gift card like some processors, it does offer the Rate Sekurity Guarantee™. If it fails to match your current rates, Sekure may cover your current processor’s cancellation fees when you commit to a 3-year contract. Its interchange-plus rates and simplified flat rate pricing is available on month-to-month agreements and you can tailor these to suit your business model.

Sekure’s flat rate pricing is beneficial for new, low-volume businesses or high-risk merchants. You can also save up to 100% on your processing costs with Edge, its zero-cost processing program.

Due to its cost-effective approach and pricing models, Sekure is the most suitable for small businesses – although it’s open to working with larger businesses, too. If you’re new to payment processing or want to cut costs, you can take advantage of free equipment without monthly, annual, or PCI compliance fees. Sekure also offers free same or next-day funding, and setup can take as little as 48 hours.

Businesses will also find an e-commerce toolkit suited for small brick-and-mortar businesses venturing into online sales. It includes the essentials like a simple checkout with a “buy now” button and customizable hosted payment pages, as well as the option to send branded digital invoices via email. You can also use a free virtual terminal and a payment gateway at a discounted price.

My weeks-long dive into Sekure indicates that it’s a reliable processor, provided you carefully review your contract terms. Keep reading to see if it’s a fit for your business.

Essential, Money-Saving Features for Small Businesses

Sekure stands out for its numerous freebies, like free POS equipment to reduce initial setup costs so you can invest in other business areas. Additionally, free same-day or next-day funding ensures quick access to your earnings to aid efficient cash flow management. Thanks to its expansive partner network, Sekure can match you with solutions tailored to your industry.

Free Equipment for Fast and Seamless Processing

Sekure, like some competitors, provides free equipment with no monthly or annual fees – even if you don’t sign a long-term contract. The sales agent assured me that every merchant, regardless of contract length, receives free equipment. If you’re a larger business, you can even get more than one device for free. I must admit this is one of the most generous offers I’ve seen in the industry.

However, you’ll need to return the equipment at some point to avoid additional fees. Sekure will cover the shipping costs and replace it as long as you continue to use its payment processing. While Sekure has partnerships with many brands, it offers free Payanywhere hardware like credit card readers, tap-and-pay terminals, and contactless POS systems. You can also purchase additional devices to optimize your business operations further.

Discounts for Authorize.net Payment Gateway and Other E-Commerce Solutions

Unlike some processors like Stax or Square, Sekure doesn’t offer proprietary e-commerce solutions. However, the lack of in-house solutions means that Sekure can offer an expansive network of partnerships with industry-leading e-commerce solutions. These include online selling platforms like Magento and BigCommerce, as well as shopping carts OpenCart and ZenCart.

Sekure also provides Authorize.net’s payment gateway at much lower rates than usual. In some cases, it may even waive the gateway fees.

If you have a small online store, you can easily sell your products with one-click “Buy Now” checkout buttons that you can attach everywhere from social media to your website, encouraging quicker decision-making. You’ll be able to add your branding to hosted payment pages without being responsible for the technical and security aspects.

Sekure offers a free virtual terminal, benefiting businesses that collect payments over the phone or via email and text. This simplifies online payments for businesses without a website or shopping cart.

A Range of Payment Methods And Fast Payouts

Besides credit and debit cards, you can accept a variety of payment methods with Sekure Payment Experts, including digital wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Sekure Payment Experts releases your funds faster than most alternatives by default. You receive free, fast payouts, often on the same or next day. Quick access to funds maintains a healthy cash flow, allowing prompt reinvestment in your business and supporting growth and stability in a competitive market.

Save Up to 100% on Your Processing Costs

Sekure’s Edge program is a zero-cost processing solution that shifts your processing fees onto your card-paying customers. Edge differs from traditional cash discounts where you offer a lower fee to cash-paying customers. Instead, you can add a price increase per item to cover your costs.

You’ll receive clear signage to indicate the two prices and inform customers that cash payments save them money. Sekure Payment Experts also offers PCI-compliant technology and hardware to automatically adjust prices based on the payment method.

Many processors provide zero-cost processing programs – but when paired with free equipment without monthly or annual costs, Sekure becomes one of the most cost-effective options for businesses with budget constraints.

Flexible Automatic Payments

By automating online payments, Sekure ensures fast checkout for your repeat customers. Your customers can securely save their data for future purchases, removing the need to re-enter payment details each time.

Like other payment providers, Sekure allows you to set up subscriptions and recurring billing, automating the process to support your cash flow. With customizable branded invoices, the personalized touch for each transaction can foster brand loyalty and customer engagement.

Easy to Sign Up, Onboard, and Start Taking Payments

Signing up for credit card processing with Sekure is straightforward and quick.  The process is extremely beginner-friendly, ensuring that you can efficiently integrate it into your business without having to navigate technical complexities.

Getting Started With Sekure Payment Experts

You can call or submit your business details to request a callback. If you’re currently processing elsewhere, I recommend requesting a personalized savings analysis. For this, you’ll need to provide a recent payment processing monthly statement.

Sekure then assesses your fees and searches for a better deal for your business through its partner network. Be aware that as a primary reseller of North American Bancard, Sekure might favor this processor over others, but you can ask for other options.

Once approved, you’ll find Sekure’s onboarding process, guided by your personal payment expert, is straightforward and informative. You’ll gain access to your account, followed by a comprehensive walkthrough of the platform’s features and tools.

Access to Personalized, Industry-Specific Software

Like its e-commerce solutions, Sekure doesn’t have any proprietary software on offer. The good news is that Sekure works with renowned equipment and software vendors to ensure that you get set up with a payment management system that fits your needs.

For example, if you run a retail business, Sekure Payment Experts might suggest RetailCloud, a specialized retail POS solution that includes a customer relationship management (CRM) system, employee time and attendance scheduling, loyalty marketing, and other features specific to retail. If you have a hospitality business, you might get matched with HotSauce, comprehensive software that caters to restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

ETA-Certified Personal Payment Experts

Sekure stands out for its ETA-certified personal payment experts, who bring specialized, industry-specific expertise to payment processing. Their guidance makes navigating the complex landscape of processing payments easy, freeing up time for business growth and customer engagement.

Versatile Pricing Models and Low Rates but Beware of Hidden Fees

Sekure offers a choice of four pricing models: custom pricing, interchange-plus pricing, Simplified Pricing, and The Edge Program.

The first option suits businesses with unique needs where traditional interchange-plus models might not be effective. Sekure’s payment experts will analyze your monthly processing statements and business needs to establish a custom pricing model that caters to your specific needs, ensuring you’re only paying for the features you need.

On the interchange-plus plan, there’s no monthly fee and you’ll pay the interchange fee set by the credit card networks plus a fixed markup by the payment processor. Sekure sets interchange rates on a case-by-case basis but the sales agent told me the default per-transaction fee is 2.99% + 19¢ (in-person & online), which falls within industry standards. While this model is transparent, your processing costs will vary every six months.

If you can’t afford unpredictable expenses, the Simplified Pricing model might suit your business better. You won’t need to qualify for a merchant account, which is helpful for new and high-risk businesses. You’ll only pay a single flat fee of around 3.5% + 19¢ (in-person & online) for all transactions – convenient for businesses processing a low volume of big-ticket items.

Sekure’s zero-cost processing Edge program allows you to save up to 100% on processing costs by leveraging an additional 4% charge to card-paying customers. You’d only have to pay $39.95/month for the program. The Edge program, along with free equipment, can make a significant difference for businesses that can’t afford additional expenses.

While this model can save you money and gives customers a chance to pay a lower price if they opt for cash, it may not be a suitable option for your business or clientele. For instance, nonprofits and unique product/service sellers can pass processing fees to customers without negative repercussions, but clothing or convenience stores may deter customers.

Interchange Plus

2.99% + 19¢ (in-person & online) / transaction

Monthly Fee:$0

No Hardware Fees

No Software Fees

Payout Time:1–2 days

Accepted Payment Methods: Credit/Debit Cards, ACH, PayPal, Bank Transfers

Get Started

Simplified Flat Rate Pricing

3.5% + 19¢ (in-person & online) / transaction

Monthly Fee:$0

No Hardware Fees

No Software Fees

Payout Time:1–2 days

Accepted Payment Methods: Credit/Debit Cards, ACH, PayPal, Bank Transfers, Cryptocurrencies

Get Started

The Edge Program

0% (4% passed to customer) / transaction

Monthly Fee:$39.95

No Hardware Fees

No Software Fees

Payout Time:1-2 days

Accepted Payment Methods: Credit/Debit Cards, ACH, PayPal, Bank Transfers

Get Started

There are no monthly or annual fees for Sekure’s complimentary equipment and no PCI fees. You can stand to save even more with a free virtual terminal and discounted rates to use the trusted Authorize.net payment gateway. Expect to pay more if you need features like e-commerce software, and there’s a $25 chargeback fee for successful chargebacks (which is pretty universal among processors).

Sekure’s free equipment, discounted payment gateway, and competitive fees are suitable for small businesses on a budget, although I’d recommend Leaders Merchant Services if you’re looking for even lower negotiable rates1.

No PCI Compliance Fees and Advanced Fraud Detection

Sekure takes pride in never having a single customer’s information or account compromised. By using its free Payanywhere equipment, your business is automatically PCI compliant, an approach that positions it as a reliable choice for merchants seeking hassle-free payment processing solutions.

PCI Compliance & More

Sekure’s comprehensive PCI compliance program, PCI Plus, is free for qualified merchants. This program offers a hassle-free compliance experience and lets you skip the self-assessment questionnaires (SAQs), scans, and PCI compliance and non-compliance fees common among some processors.

Aside from handling PCI compliance for you, Sekure takes care of EMV compliance, which means Sekure will protect you and your customers from fraud when processing payments with Europay, Mastercard, and Visa.

Additional Security Features

Sekure offers HIPAA-compliant POS systems for healthcare businesses. These systems use specific measures, such as encryption protocols and access controls, to ensure patient privacy. You can further adhere to security standards by requesting an ETA-certified healthcare expert to help you navigate the complexities of storing patient information.

As part of its PCI Plus program, Sekure also offers breach forgiveness of up to $100,000 for businesses classified as PCI Level-3 or PCI Level-4. If your business suffers a data breach, you won’t have to reimburse any expenses unless the amount exceeds $100,000.

Additionally, Sekure provides advanced security features for fraud prevention. Its POS systems and e-commerce technology can instantly verify a customer’s information and decline any suspicious transactions, protecting your business from cyberattacks. You can set roles such as managers, administrators, and cashiers, and assign specific permissions like issuing refunds and voiding transactions directly from your POS.

Unlike some processors, Sekure doesn’t automate the chargeback management process to save costs. This practice often leads to false positives. Instead, the company has a dedicated team that assists merchants in fighting chargebacks to ensure only legitimate disputes go through and nobody is exploiting the system.

Responsive and Informative but Salesy

Sekure offers support via phone, email, and live chat. The live chatbot won’t let you proceed without leaving your phone number, making it challenging to protect yourself from its persistent sales calls. While some channels are available 24/7 for paying customers, its sales support seems to be available only during standard business hours.

Email support got back to me within an hour. The representative answered my questions in detail, suggesting that it’s best to hop on a call to discuss the specifics. I called and got in touch with another representative in less than a minute. Overall, he was very knowledgeable and provided me with the requested information. But the agent was also quite salesy, trying to convince me to either set up an account or leave some information to “lock the rates.”

Free resources for merchants include the Support Hub with articles on various topics, including equipment management, online payments, and maintenance. However, it’s not very extensive and doesn’t have video tutorials or images – likely because Sekure doesn’t offer proprietary solutions. The Sekure blog addresses industry-specific trends and practices. You can filter articles by industry and by topics such as payment processing and merchant services.

Sekure distinguishes itself with a savings calculator on its site. It may not be 100% accurate, but it’s a great way to roughly estimate potential savings and set your expectations. For more personalized analysis, you can request a comprehensive savings assessment from one of its payment experts.