Intro

Clover is a credit card processing company that offers flat-rate pricing, virtual terminals, and high-quality hardware. It is geared toward small and medium-sized businesses and offers several hardware and software packages.

Cloud synchronization and fast credit card processing allows you to use Clover anywhere, signing up for an account is easy, and the company offers a 60-day return policy (90-day software-only trial period).

Clover in Brief

Monthly fee: $14.95-$84.95/month

Per swipe fee: 2.3% + $0.10 per transaction for in-person purchases; 3.5% + $0.10 for virtual payments or those entered by hand

Setup fee: $150 for application; $50 for debit card setup

Cancellation fee: $500-$750

PCI compliance fee: $20/month

Best for: Restaurants, retailers, and service-oriented businesses

Terminals: Clover offers entry-level card readers, handheld devices, small and full-sized POS systems, and virtual terminals.

POS Solutions

Clover offers two handheld payment processing systems for those who only need the basics.

The first is Clover Go, a smartphone card reader that’s compatible with Android and iOS devices. It comes with a 5-inch touchscreen that allows you to print receipts in addition to processing payments.

The second is Clover Flex, a handheld POS device with a 5-inch touchscreen that allows you to process payments and print receipts.

Clover also offers three stationary POS systems with more extensive features. The Clover Mini comes with a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen, receipt printer, and card reader.

Meanwhile, the Clover Station comes with a 14-inch high-definition touchscreen on a swivel, a card reader, a cash drawer, and a receipt printer with custom display options.

Lastly, there’s the Clover Station Pro, which comes with a 14-inch high-definition merchant-facing touchscreen, a 7-inch customer-facing touchscreen, a card reader, a cash drawer, a receipt printer with custom display options, and fingerprint login.

All of Clover’s POS solutions run on the cloud, and all of the plans allow you to log in to a virtual terminal via smartphone to manually key in transactions. You can also accept PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

Additionally, each system allows you to set up digital and physical gift cards, sync third-party apps, view staff schedules, manage shifts, and process refunds, returns, and exchanges.

Regardless of the hardware or software you choose, you’ll have access to a range of tracking and reporting tools. These will enable you to view revenue, monthly sales trends, total sales per employee, best-selling or busiest items, and end-of-day reports, among other things.

All Clover POS solutions also come with food service industry features that allow you to create menu items, map tables, accept payments, and customize orders. You can also send orders directly to the kitchen with one click, manage takeout orders, and set up pre-set tip amounts.

Merchant services

Clover provides merchant accounts through its parent company, Fiserv and has a dedicated merchant account solutions team that will help you define your payment processing needs. You can select from options including contactless payments, mobile payments, online payments, and chip card acceptance.

With Clover’s merchant credit card processing solutions, you can accept payments via a web browser, POS device, mobile device, virtual terminal, website, or e-commerce store. Clover also helps to ensure you comply with PCI standards to protect your data and your customers’ data.

Pricing

How much you pay for Clover will depend on the monthly plan and hardware package you choose. For hardware packages, you can opt to make a one-time payment or split your payments into monthly installments. Clover Go costs $199, Clover Compact costs $249, Clover Flex costs $649, Cover Flex Pocket Costs $599, Clover Mini costs $799, Clover Station Solo costs $1699, and Clover Station Duo costs $1799.

Clover also offers 5 software pricing plans: Clover Payments, Clover Essentials, Clover Register, Clover Counter Service Restaurant, and Clover Table Service Restaurant. These plans range from $0-$94.85/month.

The free plan, Clover Payments, is only available to those paying for POS hardware in full. The most expensive plan, Clover Table Service Restaurant, costs $94.85/month and is best for full-service restaurants and bars.

Clover also charges a one-time application fee of $150 and a debit card setup fee of $50. Credit card processing fees range from 2.3% to 3.5% + 10 cents per transaction.

Also, keep in mind that the above prices represent what you would pay if you were to purchase through Clover directly. You may encounter different pricing should you buy through a third party.

Applying and Contracts

To purchase a Clover POS system and plan, you’ll need to contact the company by phone or through an online form on the website. You can use Clover’s online calendar to schedule a date and time to meet with a sales representative via phone.

When you connect with a representative, you’ll go over your business’ needs so they can help pick the best plan for you.

Once your hardware arrives, head to Clover.com to create an account and set up your tasks and services. Each POS system comes with a quickstart guide that walks you through how to set everything up.

When first logging on, you'll choose a language, check the internet connection, and enter an activation code to get started. You can begin to accept payments as soon as your account and hardware (if applicable) are set up.

Keep in mind that while Clover charges monthly for its subscriptions, you will need to lock into a 36- or 48-month contract. Clover also offers a 60-day return policy (90-day software-only trial period). After that, you’ll be faced with a termination fee of $500 or more.

About Clover

Clover offers POS solutions and credit card processing services, and is owned by Fiserv, a financial technology and payments provider. It launched in April 2012 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

You can purchase a Clover hardware and software bundle directly through the company or through a third-party vendor. Thousands of third-party vendors, merchant services, and banks sell Clover, including Wells Fargo, SunTrust, and Citi Bank.

Customer Support

Clover offers 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat. You may call Clover directly at 1-855-853-8340, or you can email the company at support@clover.com. You should be able to get through to a customer service representative via phone in about 5-10 minutes.

Clover typically replies to emails within 24 hours. Or if you reach out via live chat, you can expect to get your question answered within 10 minutes.

Clover also offers a help center and FAQ page on its website. The help center features articles on how to set up, log into, and get help with your Clover device. The FAQ page covers topics related to choosing a Clover system and getting familiar with your current system.

In Conclusion

Clover is a great fit for small to medium-sized businesses looking for comprehensive POS systems with plenty of customization options. With multiple hardware and software packages to choose from, there is something for every business and budget. The hardware systems are easy to set up, and the software is intuitive and user-friendly.

While the upfront costs can be steep, Clover can help you streamline operations, improve customer service, and drive business success. Plus, the generous 60-day return policy ((90-day software-only trial period) means you have plenty of time to decide if it’s the right solution for you.