Start with your question
10 decisions that matter to merchants
Practical guides organized around buying decisions, not search-volume rankings.
What are the cheapest credit card processing rates for my business?
Compare interchange-plus and flat-rate processing using your effective rate, transaction mix, and full monthly fees, not a headline percentage.
Read the answerHow can I lower my credit card processing fees?
Read your merchant statement, separate fixed and variable charges, and identify practical ways to reduce payment processing costs.
Read the answerWhat is the best credit card processor for high-risk businesses?
Compare high-risk processors on industry eligibility, reserves, funding, dispute controls, and written terms instead of guaranteed-approval claims.
Read the answerCan I get a merchant account after being shut down by Stripe?
Explore merchant account options after a Stripe, Square, or PayPal closure, including disclosure, MATCH review, and a safe transition checklist.
Read the answerHow quickly can I get approved for credit card processing?
Learn what affects merchant account approval timing, which documents to prepare, and why approval and going live are separate steps.
Read the answerCan I accept credit cards without paying processing fees?
Understand cash discounts, dual pricing, and credit-card surcharges, including debit restrictions, disclosures, and costs that can remain.
Read the answerWhat is the difference between a payment gateway and a merchant account?
A gateway transmits payment information; a merchant account provides acquiring. Learn how both fit into online, phone, and subscription payments.
Read the answerHow long does a credit card payment take to reach my bank?
Understand authorization, capture, settlement, payout schedules, and the cutoff times or reserves that can delay merchant deposits.
Read the answerWhy is my merchant account holding my money?
Distinguish payout delays from reserves and account holds, gather the right documents, and request written release conditions from your processor.
Read the answerWhich payment processors support adult, AI, and subscription businesses?
Understand acquiring eligibility, content safeguards, subscription disclosures, and migration requirements for adult, AI, and recurring-revenue businesses.
Read the answerYour next step
Get an answer specific to your business.
Tell Centurion your industry, monthly volume, sales channels, and current challenge. We’ll review the fit before recommending a processing path.
Approval, pricing, reserves, limits, and funding are subject to underwriting and written agreement. No guaranteed approval or savings.
Need a technical deep dive? Explore the high-risk knowledge hub for reserves, underwriting, and disputes, or the payment processing glossary for key terms.