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:
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 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:
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.
Head Quarters
Vero Beach, Florida
Year Founded
2010
CEO
Ron Eliot Dichter
Employees
50
Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance
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:
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:
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.
Discloses All Important Terms
Yes
Public Pricing Available
Yes
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 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 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 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.
BBB
A- and has been Accredited since 2019. (5 Reviews; 19 Complaints)
4.7 Stars / 380 Reviews
N/A
Yelp
N/A
Total Online Reviews
400+
Total Online Complaints
20+
Lawsuits
None
If you're in the market for a merchant account provider, be sure to check out our user reviews, our merchant accounts guide and our top popular merchant provider picks