Professional Services

Professional service businesses operate on a fundamentally different billing model than retail or eCommerce. Whether you bill by the hour, by the project, on retainer, or on contingency, your clients expect professional invoicing, convenient payment options, and a level of financial sophistication that matches the quality of your services. The days of mailing paper invoices and waiting 30, 60, or even 90 days for a check to arrive are over — modern professional service firms need modern payment solutions.

Unison Payment Solutions provides the complete billing and payment toolkit for professional service businesses. Our professional invoicing system creates branded invoices with your firm's logo, detailed service descriptions, and a one-click online payment link. Clients pay directly from the invoice using credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer. The result: average accounts receivable cycles drop from 45 or more days to under 7 days. You get paid faster, your cash flow improves, and you spend less time chasing payments.

For firms that operate on retainer — law firms, marketing agencies, IT consultants, financial advisors — our automated recurring billing system is a game-changer. Set up monthly retainer charges that process automatically on a schedule you define. The system handles failed payment retries, sends automated receipts, and provides a client-facing portal where clients can view their billing history, update payment methods, and download statements. You eliminate the administrative burden of manually invoicing retainer clients every month.

Law firms have unique compliance requirements around trust accounts and IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts). Unison understands these requirements and can configure payment processing that correctly routes funds between operating accounts and trust accounts as needed. Client payments against trust obligations go to the trust account; payments for earned fees go to the operating account. Our team has experience working with law firms of all sizes to ensure billing compliance with state bar requirements.

For professional service firms that serve corporate clients — accounting firms, consulting agencies, architecture firms, engineering firms — Unison offers Level 2 and Level 3 data processing that qualifies corporate, purchasing, and government card transactions for significantly lower interchange rates. On a $10,000 consulting engagement paid by corporate purchasing card, Level 2/3 processing can save you $50 to $100 compared to standard card processing. Across a year of B2B transactions, these savings add up to thousands of dollars.

We integrate seamlessly with the software your firm already uses: QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Clio (for law firms), MyCase, PracticePanther, HoneyBook, Dubsado, and many others. Payments sync automatically to your accounting or practice management platform, eliminating manual data entry, reducing errors, and giving you real-time visibility into your firm's financial position. Whether you are a solo practitioner or a 200-person firm, Unison has the payment infrastructure to match your billing complexity.

Getting started is quick and easy. The entire application takes less than 10 minutes.

What You Need to Apply

• Basic business details (name, address, EIN)
• Recent processing statement (if switching providers)
• Voided check for deposit setup

Approval Timeline

Most businesses get approved within 24–48 hours. No hard credit pull. No obligation. Our team matches you with the right bank and setup for your business.

Setup & Onboarding

Once approved, we configure your terminal or gateway with your settings:

• Tax rates and tip options
• Receipt branding and employee access
• Software integrations
• Free training for your team

Transparent Pricing

We use interchange-plus pricing. You pay the wholesale rate plus a small markup. No hidden fees. No long-term contracts. No early termination penalties.

Your dedicated account manager monitors your account. They help optimize your setup and are always a call away.

Processing fees rank among the top business expenses — right behind rent and payroll. Most owners don't realize they're overpaying.

See What You're Really Paying

Flat-rate and tiered pricing hide the real costs. Interchange fees, assessment fees, and markup get bundled together. You can't tell what goes to the card networks versus your processor.

Interchange-plus pricing separates these costs. You see the wholesale rate on every transaction plus a clear markup. No guessing.

Real Savings Examples

• Processing $30K/month? A 0.5% rate cut saves $1,800/year
• Typical savings when switching: 20–40% of total fees
• Annual savings often reach $3,000–$10,000+

Eliminate Fees Entirely

Our cash discount program lets you pass processing costs to card users. Cash customers get a discount. Card customers pay the listed price. It's legal in all 50 states.

• Configured on your terminal by our team
• No ongoing management needed
• Redirect savings into payroll, marketing, or growth

The right POS system speeds up checkout, cuts admin time, and gives you real business insights. We carry the top brands.

Clover POS

• Options from mobile (Clover Go) to full station (Clover Station)
• App marketplace for loyalty, inventory, scheduling, and more
• Cloud dashboard — manage sales and reports from anywhere

PAX Technology

• Reliable, fast, and affordable
• PAX A920 and A920Pro — Android-based smart terminals
• Great for businesses that want a solid terminal without a full POS overhead

Dejavoo

• Compact, durable, and fast
• Handles high-volume periods without slowing down
• Supports chip, tap, and swipe payments

Not Sure Which to Pick?

Our team reviews your volume, workflow, features, and budget. We recommend the best fit. Every terminal ships pre-configured with free setup and training. Browse all POS systems →

Most professional services business owners lose money on payment processing because of avoidable mistakes. Here are the most common ones we see and how to fix them.

Staying on Flat-Rate Pricing Too Long

Flat-rate processors like Square and Stripe charge a single rate on every transaction, typically 2.6 percent plus 10 cents for card-present transactions. This is convenient but expensive. Once you process more than about $5,000 per month, interchange-plus pricing almost always saves money. The more you process, the bigger the gap.

Ignoring Your Processing Statement

Your monthly statement tells you exactly what you are paying. Most merchants never read it. Look for your effective rate by dividing total fees by total volume. If the number is above 2.5 percent for card-present transactions, you are likely overpaying. Unison clients typically achieve effective rates between 1.5 and 2.2 percent.

Not Using EMV Chip Readers

If a customer uses a chip card and you swipe instead of dip, you are liable for any fraud on that transaction. EMV chip readers also qualify transactions for lower interchange rates. Every terminal we provide supports chip, tap, and swipe payments.

Overlooking PCI Compliance

PCI compliance is required for every business that accepts cards. Non-compliance fees range from $20 to $100 per month. A data breach can cost $5,000 to $100,000 or more. Our PCI-certified terminals and guided compliance questionnaire make certification straightforward.

Signing Long-Term Contracts

Many processors lock merchants into 3-year contracts with early termination fees of $300 to $500. We do not require long-term contracts. Process month to month. If you are not happy, you can leave at any time without penalty.

Unison Payment Solutions has worked with hundreds of professional services businesses across the United States. We understand the specific challenges, compliance requirements, and payment workflows that professional services merchants face every day. Our goal is simple: give you the lowest possible rates, the best hardware, and support from someone who actually knows your industry.

Unlike aggregators that treat every business the same, we build custom solutions. Your pricing is based on your actual transaction data. Your terminal is configured for your menu, your tax rates, and your workflow. Your account manager works with professional services merchants regularly and can answer questions specific to your business.

Whether you are opening your first location, switching from another processor, or expanding to multiple sites, we make the process straightforward. Apply in minutes. Get approved quickly. Start saving from your very first batch.

Ready to see how much you could save? Request a free statement analysis or use our savings calculator to estimate your potential savings right now.