How We Work

The Engagement Process

From first conversation to verified savings on your statement — here is exactly what to expect, what you need to provide, and what you will receive at each stage.

Typical Duration
4–8 Weeks
Documents Required
3 Months Statements
Fee Structure
Contingency-in-Arrears
PHASE 01 1–2 Business Days

Initial Consultation

No obligation. No sales pitch.

The engagement begins with a single conversation. We review your current situation — volume, locations, existing contracts, and any concerns you already have. The goal is to determine whether an audit is likely to produce meaningful savings.

What You Provide
  • Approximate monthly processing volume
  • Number of locations or processing entities
  • General description of your current provider relationship
  • Any specific concerns or upcoming contract events
What You Receive
  • Honest assessment of whether an audit is warranted
  • Preliminary estimate of savings potential based on your volume tier
  • Clear explanation of engagement structure and fee basis
  • No follow-up pressure if the answer is 'your deal is fair'

If the initial review indicates your contracts are at or near market rate, the engagement ends here. You owe nothing.

PHASE 02 5–10 Business Days

Document Collection & Analysis

Three pillars. One simultaneous audit.

We collect source documents across all three pillars — processing statements, equipment lease agreements, and SaaS/platform contracts. Every document is reviewed against current market benchmarks for your specific volume, industry, and card mix.

What You Provide
  • Last 3 months of merchant processing statements (all processors)
  • Equipment lease agreements or purchase records for all terminals and POS hardware
  • SaaS and platform contracts: payment gateway, POS software, reporting tools
  • Any existing processor agreements or rate schedules
What You Receive
  • Secure document intake — no third-party sharing, no provider notification during this phase
  • Confirmation of receipt and preliminary review timeline
  • A single point of contact for any questions during collection

Documents are reviewed under strict confidentiality. We do not contact your provider, lessor, or SaaS vendor during this phase.

PHASE 03 3–5 Business Days After Analysis

Findings Report & Negotiation Brief

Plain math. No ambiguity.

The deliverable is a written Findings Report covering all three pillars. Each finding is quantified in annual dollars, benchmarked against current market data, and accompanied by specific negotiation language your team can use directly with the vendor.

What You Provide
  • A 60-minute review call to walk through findings
  • Confirmation of any contract terms or nuances to factor into negotiation strategy
What You Receive
  • Written Findings Report: line-by-line analysis of every fee, rate, and contract term
  • Annual overcharge estimate per pillar, with conservative and aggressive recovery scenarios
  • Negotiation Brief: specific ask language, fallback positions, and walk-away thresholds for each vendor
  • Priority ranking: which contracts to renegotiate first based on savings magnitude and timing
  • Benchmark data supporting every finding — so your CFO can defend the position internally

The report is designed to be shared with your CFO, Controller, or legal team without modification.

PHASE 04 Ongoing Through Contract Execution

Negotiation Support & Verification

We stay until it's done.

Clearline Payments Group remains engaged through the full negotiation and contract execution process. We attend vendor calls, review counter-proposals, and advise on final terms. Our fee is calculated only after verified savings appear on your statement.

What You Provide
  • Authorization to participate in vendor negotiations on your behalf
  • Access to counter-proposals and revised contract drafts for review
What You Receive
  • Live support on all vendor negotiation calls
  • Written review of every counter-proposal before you respond
  • Final contract review confirming all negotiated terms are accurately reflected
  • Post-execution savings verification: we confirm new rates appear correctly on your first statement
  • Ongoing advisory access for the life of your contracts at no additional cost

Our fee is a percentage of verified, annualized savings — calculated only on what actually appears on your revised statement.

Common Questions

Before You Reach Out

Ready to Start

The First Conversation Costs Nothing

If your volume is above $500,000 per month, there is a reasonable probability we can find recoverable margin. The only way to know is to have the conversation.