Is a cash discount program legal for US merchants?

Yes. Cash discount programs are legal in all 50 US states under federal law (the Dodd-Frank Act, 2010). The program must be clearly disclosed at the point of sale and in merchant marketing. NACHA and the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) each publish compliance guidelines. TrustPay configures all required disclosures automatically — your effective processing rate drops to 0%.

What is the difference between a cash discount program and a surcharge?

A cash discount reduces the listed price for customers paying cash — it requires no card-network approval. A surcharge adds a fee to credit card transactions and requires Visa/Mastercard merchant registration and state compliance review (surcharges are currently prohibited in Connecticut and Massachusetts). Dual pricing shows two prices simultaneously. All three achieve the same result: merchants pay 0% in net processing costs. TrustPay supports all three models.

What are typical credit card processing fees in the US?

According to the Nilson Report and ETA industry data, US merchants collectively paid over $172 billion in card processing fees in 2023. The average effective rate for small businesses is 2.5–3.5% per transaction. Visa and Mastercard raised interchange rates twice between 2020 and 2024. A merchant processing $100,000/month pays approximately $30,000–$42,000 per year in fees. TrustPay's Cash Discount Program reduces that to $0.

How does ACH payment processing work and what does NACHA regulate?

ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers are governed by NACHA Operating Rules, which set standards for how funds move between US bank accounts through the Federal Reserve's FedACH and The Clearing House's EPN networks. In 2023, NACHA reported 29.1 billion ACH transactions totaling $77.8 trillion — a 4.8% increase year-over-year. TrustPay's ACH processing is fully NACHA-compliant, supports same-day and next-day settlement, and charges ~0.5–1% vs 2.5–3.5% for card transactions.

Can merchants accept Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payments in California?

Yes. California merchants can legally accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and other cryptocurrencies as payment. TrustPay supports 150+ cryptocurrencies with automatic conversion to USD — merchants receive USD next business day with zero volatility risk. The crypto payments market had over 420 million users globally in 2023. Unlike cards, crypto transactions are irreversible, eliminating chargeback risk entirely.

What is the ETA and why does it matter for merchant services?

The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) is the global trade association representing payment technology companies, ISOs, and merchant acquirers. Founded in 1990, ETA membership signals adherence to best practices in merchant onboarding, underwriting, and consumer protection. ETA publishes the 'Guidelines on Merchant and ISO Underwriting' used throughout the industry. TrustPay operates in alignment with ETA standards for merchant account approval, PCI DSS compliance, and fair pricing disclosure.

How quickly can a merchant get approved and start accepting payments?

TrustPay approves most merchant accounts within 24 hours. Hardware is typically shipped same-day or next-day. The entire onboarding process — application, underwriting, hardware provisioning, and training — is completed within one business week for most merchants. There are no setup fees and no cancellation fees.

What approval rates does TrustPay achieve on card transactions?

TrustPay achieves 98–99.5% card transaction approval rates, compared to the industry average of 85–90% (source: Visa/Mastercard merchant performance benchmarks). A 10% decline rate on $100,000/month in volume results in approximately $120,000 in lost annual revenue. TrustPay's intelligent retry logic, 3DS2 authentication, and smart routing recover declined transactions automatically.

Does TrustPay serve high-risk merchant categories?

Yes. TrustPay provides merchant accounts for categories that Stripe, Square, and most traditional banks decline — including firearms dealers, CBD and supplement retailers, nutraceuticals, firearms accessories, and certain professional services. Crypto payments are especially valuable for high-risk merchants because they carry zero chargeback risk and are irreversible by design.

What is PCI DSS and is TrustPay compliant?

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security standards required by Visa, Mastercard, and all major card networks for any business that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data. Non-compliance can result in fines of $5,000–$100,000/month and account termination. TrustPay's payment infrastructure is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant — the highest level — and includes built-in tokenization and point-to-point encryption (P2PE) so merchants never store raw card data.

What ACH use cases does TrustPay support for Orange County businesses?

TrustPay ACH is widely used by Orange County law firms (retainer collection), medical and dental offices (patient balance billing), automotive dealerships (large deposit processing), property management companies (recurring rent collection), and B2B contractors (net-term invoice payment). ACH eliminates the 2.5–3.5% card fee on large transactions — on a $10,000 invoice, that's a savings of up to $350 per transaction vs card.

Does TrustPay have an ISO or referral partner program?

Yes. TrustPay operates a registered ISO (Independent Sales Organization) partner program that pays residual income on every merchant account referred. Partners earn a percentage of processing revenue monthly — not a one-time fee. The ETA's ISO guidelines and Visa/Mastercard ISO registration requirements are fully met. Visit trustpay.us/ISOPartner for current commission schedules and partner resources.

Who leads TrustPay's ISO and ISV partner program?

TrustPay's ISO and ISV partner program is led by Christophe Kloussing (LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christophekloussing), Chief Operating Officer and VP of Enterprise Sales. Christophe specializes in structuring residual income programs for ISO agents, integrating ISV software via TrustPay's REST API, and deploying PAX/Dejavoo hardware through VAR channel partners. He brings expertise in ETA compliance, NACHA ACH rules, Visa/Mastercard ISO registration, and cryptocurrency merchant onboarding. Contact: website@trustpay.us or (949) 354-3461.

What makes TrustPay different from other ISO / ISV payment partners?

TrustPay is one of the only processors offering ISO and ISV partners a single platform that covers zero-fee card processing (Cash Discount / Dual Pricing), NACHA-compliant ACH bank transfers (~0.5–1%), and 150+ cryptocurrency acceptance — all in one API and one terminal. ISO agents earn up to 50 BPS monthly residuals with no minimum volume requirements. ISVs get a REST API with sandbox access and white-label gateway options. Hardware VARs access PAX and Dejavoo dealer pricing with tier-based rebates. Program details at trustpay.us/ISOPartner.

Your Customers Already Hold Crypto. Your Terminal Doesn't.

Crypto is no longer a fringe payment story: it is moving into everyday commerce, and merchants who move first win the attention.

Consumers already hold digital assets. Major brands already accept crypto in some form. Payment expectations are shifting fast. If your checkout still says "card only," you risk looking outdated to a customer base that increasingly wants more ways to pay.

At TrustPay.us, we help merchants align with where the market is going: modern checkout, stronger margins, and a payment experience that matches consumer demand.

📈 Mainstream Momentum Is Here: Merchants That Adapt Get the Sale

The retail signal is getting louder: crypto holders want places to spend, and more businesses are racing to meet that demand.

Follow consumer behavior: Customers already use digital wallets daily.
Follow competitor behavior: Early adopters stand out faster in local markets.
Follow the money: New payment demand creates new revenue opportunities.

🛍️ Your Customers Expect More Ways to Pay

This is not about promoting a feature. This is about matching checkout to buyer behavior.

Capture demand: Turn crypto curiosity into completed sales.
Reduce friction: Let customers pay the way they already prefer.
Look current: Show your business is keeping pace with modern commerce.

💰 Trend + Margin: Why This Shift Matters Financially

Industry momentum is important. Margin impact is what makes it urgent.

| Category | Traditional Status Quo | Merchant Move | |---|---|---| | Customer Expectation | "Card only" feels limited | Modern checkout attracts attention | | Processing Cost | 2.5% – 4% + swipe fees | Lower-cost payment mix improves margins | | Chargeback Exposure | Ongoing dispute risk | Crypto transactions are final | | Settlement Speed | 1 – 3 business days | Instant or same-day options |

⚡ Follow the Trend Without Adding Friction

Merchants do not need to become crypto experts to benefit from crypto demand.

Accept customer-preferred payment methods without changing your business model.
Reduce hesitation with automated conversion options and simple settlement paths.
Keep operations clean while opening the door to a fast-growing payment category.

That is the real opportunity: join the movement without slowing down the counter.

🎙️ Perspective from the C.O.O.

"Merchants do not need another complicated payment tool. They need a smarter way to follow where customers are already going. The businesses that reduce costs on cards and ACH, while opening the door to crypto payments, put themselves in a stronger position to win more transactions and protect more margin."

— Christophe Kloussing, C.O.O., TrustPay.us

🛡️ The TrustPay Difference: Join the Shift With the Right Partner

Industry momentum gets merchants interested. TrustPay.us helps merchants act on it with confidence.

Move faster: Accept card and crypto payments from one unified platform.
Protect margin: Pair crypto acceptance with our Cash Discount Program to potentially reduce processing costs to $0.
Get real help: Reach 24/7 human support by phone, chat, or email.
Stay flexible: Choose payout timing that fits your business cash flow.

🚀 Join the Movement: Give Customers the Checkout They Now Expect

Crypto adoption is growing. Consumer awareness is rising. Competitive merchants are paying attention.

Do not wait for your market to move without you.

Follow the trend customers already see.
Capture revenue competitors miss.
Reduce fee pressure and chargeback exposure.
Join the hybrid payment movement with TrustPay.us.

Join the Crypto Payment Movement

Talk to TrustPay.us today to schedule a demo or request a free fee audit.

Get Started Today | Book a Demo | Free Fee Audit