Blunt decision rule
Start here
Do not sign until the reseller, processor, software plan, hardware ownership, processing schedule, contract length, renewal, support owner, and cancellation cost are written in one comparison record. Buying hardware does not automatically mean the account is free to move to another processor.
Identify every party
- Clover/Fiserv platform role
- Bank, ISO, or reseller legal name
- Payment processor
- Hardware seller or lessor
- Support provider
- Any separate app or integration vendor
Normalize the money
- Card-present percentage and transaction fee
- Keyed, online, card-on-file, debit, and international rates
- Monthly software and statement fees
- PCI, gateway, batch, chargeback, and annual fees
- Hardware purchase, financing, or lease total
- Installation, training, shipping, and replacement cost
Read the exit
- Initial term and automatic renewal
- Cancellation notice window
- Early termination formula
- Hardware return or remaining lease balance
- Data export access after cancellation
- Gift-card and loyalty transition
Assign support ownership
Ask who handles a frozen register, payment dispute, hardware replacement, deposit mismatch, software problem, and cancellation request. “Call support” is not enough when several companies are involved.
Official starting points
Sources to confirm before buying
Features, terms, support, and compatibility can change. These links are starting points; the written quote and agreement control the actual purchase.