The Best Clover POS Service Providers

Clover is everywhere these days. All the hip new stores seem to have this modular, Apple-esque point-of-sale system. In fact, both of the coffee shops I regularly write from use Clover (including the one I’m working from right now), and as a freelancer, Clover’s “email receipt” option makes calculating meal expenses a breeze come tax time. I also like the convenient swivel stand that lets me sign for purchase right on the screen with my index finger. It’s fast and easy, meaning it takes less time to get my Belgian waffle. Which I just finished. Mmmm…

Clover has a lot of benefits from a retailer’s/restaurateur’s standpoint as well. This all-in-one system is super easy to use and set up, and looks sleek and modern on your countertop to boot. You can choose from the Clover Station, Clover Mini, or Clover Go hardware depending on your business type/needs, and you can further customize your system for just about any industry using apps from the Clover Market.

So, where can you get a Clover system? That’s where it gets a little tricky. Numerous vendors sell Clover point-of-sale systems, but you want to choose your Clover reseller very carefully: Clover is almost always sold with a merchant services contract, meaning the entity from which you buy your Clover hardware will also determine your credit card processing rates and monthly service fees and provide system support should anything go wrong.

It’s no easy task to choose the best Clover reseller. In this article, I’ll walk you through important information about the largest distributors of Clover POS systems. Then I’ll give you Merchant Maverick’s recommendations for the best resellers in terms of payment processing rates, contract terms, and other factors.

The Best Clover POS Sellers For 2018

Note that all of the vendors below team up with Clover’s parent company, First Data, for payment processing.

The Best Places To Buy Clover POS Products

Payment Depot 

Payment Depot (see our review) is the other reputable Clover/First Data reseller. PD offers a transparent membership pricing structure, whereby a flat monthly fee covers just about everything – depending on your membership level, you pay a 0% + $0.05 to $0.25 markup over interchange. There is no ETF, and you can pay month-to-month or yearly. You also get next-day deposits, which is pretty much the only advantage B of A had over the other vendors on this list.

Through Payment Depot, Clover Station costs $1,299 for the hardware; with the most popular membership package, you’ll pay a flat fee of $49/month, plus $0.15 + interchange on each transaction. Not too shabby!

National Processing

National Processing (see our review) is a great service for businesses that want low rates from a reliable company. If you’re hoping for some massive free software suite like Square offers with POS, analytics and such included, you might not find what you want here. But keep in mind that you could easily end up saving enough money with National Processing to buy all that software and more from whichever software provider you want. This low cost and overall versatility makes National Processing a great option for many businesses. While an early termination fee is charged under some circumstances, the fact that it’s waived for businesses that are sold or closed and for those who can find a better deal elsewhere makes it a fair deal. If you don’t need free hardware, a month-to-month option should be available. Low-cost ACH/eCheck payment processing alongside an inexpensive payment gateway help to tip the potential value scale even more in National Processing’s favor. And, if you’re the type who likes to see a company giving back, National Processing gives 10% of its profits to charity.

Dharma Merchant Services 

Dharma (see our review) is one of the few reputable First Data resellers we know of. Dharma is very upfront about all their fees: They exclusively use the interchange-plus pricing model (i.e., the best pricing model), and charge excellent in-person processing rates of 0.25% + $0.10 over interchange, per transaction. They have no early termination fee, and charge only $10/month for the monthly service fee. Dharma also has super customer service, and month-to-month contracts.

Dharma charges $1,349 for the Clover Station hardware, plus a $49/month service fee (on top of the $10/month processing fee). Dharma also offers a wealth of information about their terms and fees for Clover POS systems on their website.

Note that you can’t run a high-risk business or process less than $10k month in sales if you want to sign up with Dharma.

Popular (Not Recommended) Clover POS Resellers

Bank of America Merchant Services 

Bank of America Merchant Services (see our review) is a 3.5-star Clover reseller that partners with First Data to provide their merchant services. B of A has good customer service and offers the considerable advantage of next-day deposits; however, they do not offer the lowest rates. You also have to sign a three-year contract and agree to a $500 early termination fee – not particularly competitive terms in this day and age.

Again, B of A is a decent merchant services provider for Clover and one of the largest Clover resellers. But unless the perk of next-day deposits outweighs the service costs and commitment, you may want to search elsewhere for your Clover POS system.
B of A’s advertised rates for Clover are as follows:

• Credit card processing: Ranges from 1.89% + $0.20 to 2.50% + $0.20 (depending on monthly sales volume)
• Other service fees: $49/mo for first Clover Station; $25/mo for each add’l station
• Equipment costs: $1,264 for Clover Station hardware bundle

Clover Connect 

Clover Connect is a new service that partners First Data with Live Oak Banking Company. We don’t know too much about Clover Connect yet, but the pricing they advertise on their website, “From 2.69% + 9¢ per swipe,” is by no means the lowest available. Also, they’re selling the Clover Stations themselves for $1,799, which is relatively expensive.

Generally, I think we can expect Clover Connect to provide similar terms and levels of service as you’d get with a traditional First Data merchant account. Which brings us to …

First Data 

You can also get your Clover with a traditional First Data (see our review) merchant services account. First Data is a huge name in payment processing and it’s always nice to buy your POS system from the same company that makes it; that way, there’s no middlemen marking up the price.

However, while FD may be a decent choice for large businesses, small businesses probably won’t find the best rates here. Rates vary from business to business, but First Data could set you up with any number of billing options, including tiered, interchange-plus, flat rate, or enhanced billback – you really don’t want that last one.

Sam’s Club Merchant Services 

In addition to flat-screens and 24-packs of Pringles, Sam’s Club (see our review) also sells First Data’s merchant services. This may seem strange, and it kind of is. Aside from its brand name, Sam’s Club doesn’t provide any additional value to First Data’s merchant services offering – their products and fees are the same as First Data’s, and you can’t get next-day deposits the way you can with B of A. So, while it might be a great store at which to buy toilet paper, it’s probably not the best place to buy a merchant services contract.

Wells Fargo Merchant Services 

WFMS (see our review) is another major Clover POS system reseller/First Data merchant account reseller, but it’s no better than Sam’s Club. Some things you can expect with WFMS include hefty processing fees, an early termination fee if you break your four-year merchant services contract, and outrageously expensive terminal leases – please never lease a POS system; it’s always better to just scrounge up the thousand-some bucks to buy it outright.

WFMS does not disclose their rates for Clover online or elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

Literally thousands of different banks and merchant services providers sell Clover. But the institution you buy it from matters a lot; remember, you’re also buying an accompanying merchant services contract from that vendor. Be sure to read the fine print when purchasing Clover and the associated merchant account contract that comes with it.

Here are some final pieces of advice I have when it comes to buying Clover:

• Don’t lease your terminal.
• Don’t buy your Clover on eBay.
• Be advised that Clover hardware is almost always sold with a merchant services contract.
• Be advised that you must use First Data payment processing with Clover (though your FD merchant account can come from one of many resellers).
• Try to buy Clover from Payment Depot, National Processing, or Dharma Merchant Services if you can.

If you’re unsure about a Clover reseller, you can research merchant account providers in our merchant account reviews section, or contact us for some personalized help in choosing a merchant account provider and Clover reseller.

A Last Look At The Best Clover POS Sellers For 2018…