Key Takeaways:
- Outdated payment systems can slow down sales, strain cash flow and frustrate your customers.
- Modern merchant services eliminate friction by streamlining transactions and back-office tasks.
- Comerica Merchant Services with Commerce360 helps businesses sell across channels with one secure, integrated system.
Running a business demands your full attention. Getting paid shouldn’t.
The last thing a business owner needs — while juggling customers, operations, marketing and a growing to-do list — is an issue at checkout or a delay in cash flow.
But that’s exactly where many businesses struggle. Old card readers that glitch, payment options your customers don’t like or systems that don’t talk to each other. These hiccups add friction to a process that should be simple.
There’s got to be a smarter, easier way. And there is.
This guide introduces merchant services. It walks through what they are, how they solve everyday payment pains and how Comerica Merchant Services with Commerce360 can help your business grow.
Getting paid shouldn’t slow you down. And with the right tools, it won’t.
What are Merchant Services?
Merchant services are the tools that help your business accept payments, get paid quickly and keep the checkout process running smoothly.
Think of merchant services like the engine under the hood of your sales process. You may not see these tools in action, but they power your transaction process from the moment a customer reaches for their wallet to the moment funds land in your account.
A modern merchant services setup often features:
- Payment Processing: Accept credit, debit and mobile payments securely — whether in-store, online or on the go.
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems: Tools that handle checkout, track inventory and help you manage your day-to-day operations.
- Online Payment Tools: Accept payments through your website, email invoices or social media platforms.
- Fraud Protection: Reduce chargebacks and flag suspicious transactions to help keep your business and customers safe.
Some merchant services, like Comerica’s, go a step further, offering built-in tools to support business growth. This includes features like selling directly through social media, setting up an online store and tracking what your customers are buying. As an owner, you get a clearer picture of your buyers and more confidence in your next move.
Merchant services go beyond basic transactions. They help you grow, track performance and deliver better service.
The Real-World Benefits of Merchant Services
As your business grows, yesterday’s tools can start holding you back.
Maybe it’s the aging point-of-sale system that crashes on your busiest days. Or the payment app that takes three days to deposit funds. Or the growing pile of spreadsheets from tracking inventory and sales by hand.
That kind of friction is costly. Merchant services eliminate it so you can focus on running your business.
Merchant services help small business owners with:
Faster, More Reliable Payments
No more chasing deposits or dealing with laggy checkouts. Payments clear quickly, and cash flow stays steady so you can focus on what’s next.
Customer-Focused Payment Options
Whether it’s your website, your storefront, or your social feed, you can meet customers where they want to shop. Then, check them out with confidence.
Less Tech Stress
Modern systems are easier to set up, easier to use and backed by real support. That means fewer workarounds and more time doing what you do best.
Everything in One Place
With integrated tools, you can track payments, inventory and customer activity from a single dashboard. No more digging through spreadsheets or hopping between apps.
A Stronger Customer Experience
From faster checkout to more payment options, merchant services help your business feel more polished and professional.
Less stress. More control. Merchant services provide a smoother way to run your business.
How Comerica Merchant Services Supports Small Business Growth
We see merchant services as a business advantage.
As the Leading Bank for Business*, Comerica delivers more than payment processing. We offer an integrated solution designed to simplify how you manage sales across in-person and digital channels. Here’s how:
- Reliable payment processing across in-store, online, and mobile channels
- Secure technology that helps protect customer data and reduce fraud risk
- Customizable POS systems with contactless and wireless capabilities
- Integrated reporting tools that make it easier to track and reconcile sales
- 24/7 support to keep your systems running — and your business moving
Marshall Severs, Co-owner & CFO at SUNDEK, experienced the Comerica difference firsthand when moving his company over. “We changed how we did business a little bit. We used their guidance — and in the first year, we saved several hundred thousand dollars in fees.”
What You Get With Commerce360
For businesses ready to modernize beyond basic POS tools, Comerica also offers Commerce360, our omni-commerce platform powered by GoDaddy.
With Commerce360, you can:
- Sell anywhere — online, in-store, on social media or in marketplaces
- Create and manage your own website with e-commerce built in
- Track inventory across channels in real time
- Offer flexible payment options customers expect, like buy-online-pickup-in-store
- Streamline back office tasks with integrations into accounting, payroll, and scheduling tools
- Analyze performance with real-time dashboards and sales reporting by channel, product or team member
Commerce360 is ideal for growing businesses that want modern systems, not more headaches. You get one platform, one support team and full visibility across your sales ecosystem.
With Merchant Services with Commerce360, small businesses can simplify selling and eliminate payment bottlenecks.
Is Your Business Set Up for Smarter Selling?
If you’re weighing an upgrade to your merchant services, start here. This quick checklist can help you spot opportunities to streamline and grow:
- Are you juggling separate tools for in-store and online sales?
- Are payment delays or high processing fees impacting your margins?
- Do you lack a single dashboard to track sales, inventory and customer data?
- Can your customers pay how they prefer (online, mobile or contactless)?
- Are key business tasks like reporting, scheduling or invoicing still manual?
- Do you want expert support without having to hire more staff?
Even one “yes” could mean your systems are slowing you down.
Ready to take the complexities out of payments? Learn more about Comerica Merchant Services and see how your business can thrive with a smart solution.
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Comerica has partnered with Worldpay LLC to provide credit card processing. Merchant Services are offered through Comerica Bank. Ancillary services are offered through Worldpay or other service providers and may require a separate agreement with those service providers.
*Comerica ranks first nationally among U.S. bank holding companies with greater than $70B in assets, based on commercial and industrial loans outstanding as a percentage of assets, as of December 31, 2024. Data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
