Merchant Rate GuideTraditional processing
- One processor
- One pricing relationship
- Competition ends
How it works
How Avendo lowers card fees without changing your checkout
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Avendo lowers card fees by connecting your existing checkout to multiple payment processors and sending each online transaction to the one offering the best available rate at that moment.
Avendo is an e-commerce payment routing platform. Customers pay on the same checkout page as before, while Avendo evaluates eligible processors in real time and routes the sale where it costs the business the least. Merchants see every transaction and its pricing in one dashboard, and Avendo never bills them directly.
How does Avendo pick a processor for each payment?
Avendo picks the processor offering the best available rate for that specific transaction, in real time. When the next customer pays, it compares again. That repeat selection is the whole idea: instead of one processor setting your price for years, several processors have to earn each sale.
What happens during one transaction
A customer enters card details on your checkout, exactly as they do today. Avendo receives the transaction, checks which connected processors are eligible, and routes it to the one with the best available rate. The processor authorizes and settles the payment through the card networks, and you see the result in your Avendo dashboard.
Avendo describes it simply: nothing changes in how you accept payments; what changes is how much revenue you keep. Because each sale is a new opportunity to compete, pricing does not freeze at whatever you negotiated on day one.
Your existing checkoutCustomer pays as usual
A
Avendo compares eligible processorsBest available rate, in real time
- Processor ACompeted
- Processor BSelected for this sale
- Processor CCompeted
Next transaction: processors compete again.
Credit card processor for small business: three approaches compared
Most merchants either stay with one processor or shop around once. Avendo adds a third option.
Shopping for a processor
- Compare several processors
- Pick one
- Competition ends after selection
Avendo
- Multiple eligible processors
- Compete for each transaction
- Competition continues
What stays the same at checkout
Avendo integrates directly with checkout pages you may already use and currently supports custom-cart integrations. Platforms such as WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento may need a compatibility review. Avendo is available for e-commerce transactions only, and it cannot onboard Shopify, Wix, Square, or GoDaddy stores today.
What the dashboard shows
The Avendo dashboard brings payment activity and pricing into one place, with transaction data and reports across processors. Avendo calls it a clear, plain-language view of how your transactions are priced and where each cost comes from, so you always know what you are paying for.
How Avendo gets paid
Merchants never receive an invoice, bill, or direct charge from Avendo. Its compensation is a 10 cent per transaction Avendo Services Fee billed to the payment processor. Card network interchange and assessment fees still apply and are charged by your processor. Details are on Avendo's pricing page.
Security and PCI DSS
Avendo gives merchants access to PCI DSS compliant processors and gateways. Co-founder Alex Popovics, a licensed attorney, created the company's compliance framework under PCI DSS and privacy laws including the CPRA and EU GDPR. Learn about the standard at the PCI Security Standards Council.
Getting started takes one application
You tell Avendo about your business once. Avendo collects everything in one place and sends it to eligible processors for review. Once they accept your account, they compete on price for each transaction you process. Avendo estimates the application takes about 10 minutes when your documents are ready.
Want the bigger picture first? Our pillar guide to the best credit card processing for small business online compares Avendo with every common pricing model, and our processing cost guide shows what you pay today.
Common questions
Short answers here. The full credit card processing FAQ covers 47 questions.
- How does Avendo choose a processor for each transaction?
- Avendo connects your checkout to multiple processors and, for every transaction, routes the payment to the processor offering the best available rate in real time. The next transaction is evaluated again, so processors keep competing for your business instead of competition ending the day you sign.
- Do I have to change my checkout to use Avendo?
- No. Nothing changes in how you accept payments and it integrates directly with checkout pages you may already use. It currently supports custom-cart integrations, and platforms such as WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or Magento may need a compatibility review first.
- What does the Avendo dashboard show?
- The dashboard shows your payment activity and pricing in one place, including transaction data and reports across the processors you use. It is a plain-language view of how transactions are priced and where each cost comes from, so you always understand what you are paying for.
- Do I need to apply to each processor separately?
- No. You complete one application with Avendo, which collects your details in one place and sends them to eligible processors for review. Once processors accept your account, they compete on price for each transaction you process, and you see all of it in one dashboard.
- What do I need to apply with Avendo?
- The application requires five items: your SSN, EIN, or ITIN; a voided check or bank letter showing account and routing numbers; three months of processing statements, or three months of bank statements instead; your business address and contact details; and a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license or passport.
- Will I be locked into one processor?
- Avoiding lock-in is the point. Avendo selects the best available option at the time of each transaction, which helps merchants avoid long-term lock-in and excessive processing costs. There is no obligation to switch before you evaluate the opportunity.
- What does PCI DSS compliant mean for a small online store?
- PCI DSS is the card industry’s security standard for handling card data. Avendo connects merchants to PCI DSS compliant processors and gateways, and its co-founder created the company’s compliance framework under PCI DSS. Your own obligations depend on how your checkout handles card data, so confirm them with your processor or the PCI Security Standards Council.
Find out how much your store could save on card fees
Contact Avendo with your monthly card volume and average ticket. Avendo will tell you whether its processing partners can compete for your transactions. Avendo never bills merchants, and there is no obligation to switch.