Helcim is a payment processing service that prioritizes simplicity, ease of use, and an honest and transparent pricing system. With no contracts and no extra fees, you’ll pay only your processing fee (with a fixed margin on top of the interchange costs) and the fixed purchase price for your devices. It’s also really quick and easy to get started, with no complicated application form. For growing businesses where budget and speed are key, Helcim is a great choice, especially as costs will diminish as your success increases.
Monthly fee : No monthly fee
Per swipe fee: Average in-person 1.92% + 8¢
Average keyed and online 2.38% +25¢
Setup fee: No setup fee
Cancellation fee: As there is no contract, there is no cancellation fee
PCI compliance fee: No PCI compliance fee
Best for: Growing businesses that need budget transparency
Terminals are not included in a subscription plan. You will need to purchase the device you want from the Helcim shop, which is accessible from your dashboard once you register. Purchasing the devices means you aren’t tied into a lease, and you’ll own them outright. Shipping is free, and it should take around 2-3 days for your devices to arrive.
The Helcim card reader ($109) lets you accept payments from credit and debit cards through tap and PIN entry. It works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
It comes with a free countertop stand and connects to any other device you own, whether that’s a computer, tablet, or smartphone. If you want to add a protective case, you can purchase a compatible product from Otterbox so your devices won’t get damaged when out and about.
You can also order a thermal receipt printer ($79), which is portable and connects via Bluetooth or USB. It comes with a rechargeable battery so you can use it anywhere.
Helcim’s point-of-sale software can be added to any workstation, tablet, or mobile device. With your data held on the cloud, you’ll be able to access it on the go or from multiple sales locations. You can connect to the Helcim card reader or add your own devices.
The POS app comes with a host of features to help you manage your business and enables you to:
Helcim provides a range of other merchant services to help you build your business. For example, it allows you to accept international payments, charged in your currency, without conversions. Additionally, you can set up a virtual terminal to process payments online and take payments by text or email.
You can set up recurring billing and subscription plans, too. Storing customer card details is secure with the Helcim Card Vault. You can also sync your Helcim data with your accounting software if you use QuickBooks Online.
With Helcim’s inventory management system, you can add and organize products in your online store. Adding product images is simple, and you can create categories and collections to make store management much easier.
Helcim prides itself on transparent pricing, with no monthly fees and no contracts. There are also no setup fees, deposit fees, or cancellation fees. You’ll only pay a fixed purchase price for your terminals, plus the payment processing fees.
Payment processing is charged on a basis of “interchange plus,” which are charged by the card networks. Helcim passes the interchange cost to you at a wholesale rate. You are then charged a fixed margin on top. This margin is reduced as the number of payments you process goes up. As such, pricing is both transparent and cost-effective, even at scale.
To get started with Helcim, you just need to sign up on the website. You won’t need to complete a lengthy application form. Providing your basic details should take just 5 minutes. From this point, you can start using Helcim right away on the device of your choice. You’ll then need to order the hardware you want to use in your store or restaurant if you decide to go with Helcim’s card reader and printer.
There is no contract and therefore no cancellation fee. Because Helcim only charges for the payments it processes, as well as a fixed purchase price for your devices, it’s a fully flexible service that you can use for as long as you want. This could work well for businesses that need to work quickly and make rapid changes.
Helcim Commerce was launched in 2017 and has offices in both the US and Canada. Its founding principles are transparency and honesty. It sets out to differentiate itself from more traditional payment processing services by making payments affordable and easy. The business has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Out of 93 reviews on Trustpilot, 81% are rated Excellent. Customers note its excellent customer service (although this also features in a couple of complaints) and the simplicity of fee structures.
The Helcim website has a helpful FAQ to help you get started and figure out problems as you use the service. If you need further support, you can also contact the support team by email or by phone. Support is available Monday-Friday 9am-9pm ET, or Saturday-Sunday 11am-7pm ET.
Helcim is a great choice if you’re running a growing business. Firstly, its honest and transparent pricing system means you’ll easily be able to assess how much you’ll be charged, and charges go down as your business scales. It takes just minutes to sign up, as you won’t need to fill in a complicated application form. Although terminals are not included in a subscription package, the flat purchase fee means you will own rather than lease them and can buy only what you need. Secondly, the POS software works on any device, including tablets and mobile phones.
With total flexibility, Helcim doesn’t tie you into a contract, so there’s no cancellation fee. This makes it ideal for businesses that need to be agile. If you’re looking for a simple, easy-to-use, and cost-effective payment processing service, Helcim is a great option.