BlueDog Review

Rates and Fees
80/100
Truth in Advertising
90/100
Consumer Reviews
90/100
Customer Support
90/100
4

Best for

Standard and high-risk merchants who want to pick their own pricing model

Specializes in

Payment processing, terminals, POS, mobile payments, virtual terminal, ACH processing, APIs & integrations

Pricing Summary

Setup Fee: $0

Monthly Fee: $19.95

Swipe Rate: 1.49% + $0.15

Keyed-in Rate: 2.98% + $0.15

Early Termination Fee : $0

Contract Terms:

3 Years
Visit BlueDog

BlueDog is a merchant account provider that provides several payment processing solutions. They work with merchants across varying risk profiles, including those that operate in high-risk industries. A merchant can use BlueDog to procure payment processing, terminals, POS software, mobile payment solutions, and several related services.

BlueDog Overview

 

BlueDog was founded in 2010 by a co-founder of the Eliot Management Group. The company is headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida, and is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank. BlueDog works with a wide variety of merchants, including those who operate in sectors like:


  • Cannabis

  • Healthcare

  • Guns and firearms

  • Gaming

  • Electronics

  • SAAS

  • Restaurants and bars


BlueDog resells payment processing products from First American Payment Systems and First Data. They also resell Clover POS products. The company offers a variety of payment processing solutions, including terminal leases, ACH processing, and mobile payment processing.

BlueDog gives merchants the option of using an interchange+ or flat-rate pricing model. Its rates vary based on the merchant’s risk profile and the type of payment that’s being processed. The company favors a three-year contract with an early termination fee.

There have been some complaints about BlueDog’s sales tactics. But the company doesn’t advertise misleading quotes and it currently has an A rating with the BBB.

Quick Facts

Head Quarters

Vero Beach, Florida

Year Founded

2010

CEO

Ron Eliot Dichter

Employees

50

Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Industries Served

  • Clothing & Apparel
  • Convenience Store
  • Electronics
  • Gaming
  • Gas Station
  • Guns & Firearms
  • Healthcare
  • Hunting & Outdoor Equipment
  • Marijuana / Cannabis
  • Moving Companies
  • Personal Service
  • Property Management
  • Restaurant / Bar
  • SAAS
  • Self Defense, Tasers & Stun Guns
  • SEO & SEM Services
  • Thrift Store
  • Web Design Services

Business Types Served

  • Ecommerce
  • Enterprise Merchant Accounts
  • High Risk
  • Mobile
  • Mom & Pop
  • MOTO
  • Non Profit
  • Online
  • Retail / Card Present
  • Small Business
  • Wholesale

BlueDog Products & Services

 

Payment Processing and Virtual Terminals


BlueDog stands out from its competitors by offering a variety of payment processing pricing models to choose from. Merchants can pick between the following options:

  • Interchange+

  • Cash discount

  • Flat-rate

  • High-risk


This gives you some flexibility in finding the fee structure that works best for your company. BlueDog’s virtual terminal lets you run a variety of transaction types, securely store customer records, and set up recurring billing, among other useful features.

POS Solutions

BlueDog says that its POS solutions let you run your business through a single device. That might be a bit overstated. But the company’s POS products do offer a lot of capabilities. There are several different options to choose from, including Vend. This is a POS solution that offers a number of helpful tools to make selling, managing, and reporting easier for merchants.

Terminals

You can also get a terminal through BlueDog. The company’s options include the following:

  • Fetch A920

  • Fetch Z11

  • Fetch Z9

  • Fetch Z6

  • Clover Flex

  • Clover Mini


Each of these devices has its own set of features. But all of them will accept virtually any payment type that you might want to process in person.

BlueDog Payment Processing

  • ACH Check Transactions
  • Chargeback & Fraud Prevention
  • Check Services
  • Contactless NFC
  • Credit Card Processing
  • Credit Card Terminals
  • Debit Card Processing
  • eCheck & ACH Processing
  • EMV Processing
  • Gift & Loyalty Program
  • High-Risk Industries
  • Merchant Cash Advance
  • Mobile Card Reader
  • Online Payments
  • Online Shopping Cart Integration
  • Payment Gateway
  • POS Equipment
  • Virtual Terminal

BlueDog Billing & Invoicing

  • Mobile Payments
  • Online Invoicing
  • Online Payments
  • Payment Processing
  • Recurring/Subscription Billing

BlueDog Advertising & Sales

 
BlueDog’s advertising practices seem pretty fair on the whole. The company does say that it offers great low rates but it’s not specific about what those look like. But this is fairly standard practice across the payment processing industry.

The company’s sales practices are a bit disappointing. They use independent sales agents alongside in-house telemarketers. Several merchants have complained about BlueDog’s misrepresentation of rates and nondisclosure of fees during the sales process.

Truth in Marketing

Discloses All Important Terms

Yes

Public Pricing Available

Yes

BlueDog Pricing, Rates & Fees

 

The company’s pricing structure can vary a bit depending on the risk profile of the merchant. But we do know a bit about what their standard fees look like. 

For its virtual terminal, BlueDog charges 1.89% + $0.23 - 2.9% + $0.30. The company’s keyed-in rate starts around 2.98% + $0.15. And its interchange-plus rate is IC + 0.3% + $0.15 usually.

BlueDog does not charge any payment gateway fees or PCI compliance fees. But the company does have an early termination fee of $495. It also charges a $9.95 monthly fee and a $5 statement fee.

Pricing at a Glance

Pricing Model

Interchange PlusFlat Rate

Swiped Rate

1.49% + $0.15

Keyed-in Rate

2.98% + $0.15

Mobile Payment Rate

Virtual Terminal Rate

1.89% + $0.23 - 2.90% + $0.30

Monthly Fee

$19.95

Payment Gateway Fee

None

Batch Fee

Early Termination Fee

$0

PCI Compliance Fee

$495

Equipment Lease Terms

48 Month (locked)

Address Verification Service (AVS)

Application Fee

Account Setup Fee

$0

Gateway Setup Fee

Annual Fee

Monthly Minimum

Statement Fee

$5 Per Month

BlueDog Contract & Terms

BlueDog favors a three-year contract. This has an early termination fee of $495. So you want to make sure that you’re going to be a long-term client of BlueDog before agreeing to sign a contract with them.

The company also offers equipment leases. Merchants can purchase terminals outright or lease them over the course of a 48-month contract.

Contract Length

3 Years

Early Termination Fee

$0

BlueDog Setup & Support

 

Setup Highlights

  • Documentation / Knowledge Base
  • Live Online (1-on-1)
  • Recorded Video Training

Support Highlights

  • Domestic Phone Support (Business Hours)
  • Offshore Tech Support (After Hours)

BlueDog Complaints, Ratings & Reviews

BlueDog currently has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau. The company has received a moderate number of merchant complaints. Most of these revolve around unexpected fees, deceptive sales tactics, and poor customer service. But BlueDog’s low number of complaints suggests that experiences like these aren’t common.

Ratings

BBB

A- and has been Accredited since 2019. (5 Reviews; 19 Complaints)

Google

4.7 Stars / 380 Reviews

Facebook

N/A

Yelp

N/A

Reviews

Total Online Reviews

400+

Total Online Complaints

20+

Lawsuits

None

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