Inside this Article
What We Look For in the Best Credit Card Processing for Therapists1. Leaders Merchant Services: Custom Rates to Suit Any Practice2. PAYARC: Best Invoicing Tools and Advanced Features for Therapists3. Flagship Merchant Services: Support for Your Growing Practice4. Chase Payment Solutions: Dedicated Processing Solutions for the Healthcare Industry5. Stax: Best for Therapists With Multiple Income Streams6. CreditCardProcessing.com: Free Clover HardwareThese Are the Best Credit Card Processing for TherapistsFAQ
Short on Time? These Are the Best Credit Card Processors for Therapists in 2023
- Leaders Merchant Services – Custom plans, low transaction fees and appointment scheduling integration for therapists.
- PAYARC – Abundance of billing and invoicing tools and advanced features for health professionals through its Rectangle Health integration.
- Flagship Merchant Services– Affordable rates and various business funding options to help you to grow your practice.
What We Look For in the Best Credit Card Processing for Therapists
Though every therapy practice is unique, there are some common payment processing features that almost any in-person or virtual practice will benefit from. Here are the therapist-friendly features I made sure every processor on my list offers:- HIPAA compliance. If you want to use any built-in software or software integrations, you’ll need to keep an eye out for HIPAA compliance. Every payment processor on this list is either HIPAA compliant itself or integrates with third-party software that is.
- Various payment methods. While credit cards are still a popular payment method, they’re not everyone’s preferred way to pay. Offering a variety of payment methods will make it easier for your clients to pay your invoices on time.
- E-commerce integrations. E-commerce integrations allow your clients to schedule and pay for therapy sessions online. This means you can spend more time supporting your clients and less time on administrative tasks.
- Invoicing. Invoicing software that allows partial payments or custom payment plans will make your services accessible to clients who can’t pay upfront or all at once. Every credit card processor on this list either integrates with third-party invoicing software or offers one or more virtual terminals with invoicing functionality built-in.
A Note on HIPAA Compliance
Credit card processing itself is not considered a HIPAA-covered activity because you’re not storing any health-related information in your merchant account. However, if your payment processor offers built-in software solutions to help you manage invoices, bookings, health records, or any other aspect of your practice, then this needs to be HIPAA-compliant.
Similarly, any third-party software you integrate with your merchant account needs to be HIPAA compliant if it can access personal health information (PHI). This, unfortunately, limits what integrations you can use with your payment processor.
Free Card Reader

Best Credit Card Processor in 2023
Best Credit Card Processor in 2023
Negotiable Low Credit Card Processing Rates
Monthly Fee:
$9
Transaction Fee:
From 2% + 0¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Quick setup. It takes less than 5 minutes to apply for an LMS merchant account, and most accounts receive approval within 2 business days. Once approved, you can start accepting payments the next business day.
- 24/7 fraud and chargeback management team. Whether you operate within standard business hours or offer out-of-hours appointments and therapeutic support, LMS will still be available to help resolve any issues if something goes wrong. The processor has a dedicated fraud protection department that provides rapid problem resolution.
- Cash advances. These collateral-free loans are a flexible financing option that’s ideal if you’re a new therapy practice or need some extra capital to expand your business. You can simply repay the loan through a small commission on your future sales.
- Variety of payment methods. On top of the standard debit/credit card payments and ACH transfers, you can also accept bank transfers, digital wallets, and check payments if you purchase the mini check reader from LMS.
Integrates with HIPAA-compliant software | ✔ |
Third-party HIPAA-compliant software solutions |
|
Security features |
|
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ~2% + 0¢ |
Monthly subscription on cheapest plan | $9.00 |




Custom Payment Processing Plans With No Hidden Costs
Monthly Fee:
From $69
Transaction Fee:
From 0% + 15¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Advanced payment features. Rectangle Health’s Practice Management Bridge software offers plenty of advanced features. You can make your expertise accessible to a wider patient base by creating various payment plans. You can even give your patients access to healthcare financing without your direct involvement.
- Affordable payment gateway. PAYARC’s proprietary payment gateway is many times cheaper than popular options like Authorize.Net. Although not as feature-rich, it’s an excellent option if you need to take online payments securely.
- Free PAYARC mobile app. PAYARC’s mobile app allows you to access your dashboard and manage your business on the go. You can even use it to accept payments.
- No PCI-compliance fee. While most competitors will make you pay for your PCI compliance, PAYARC includes it in your monthly rate.
Integrates with HIPAA-compliant software | ✔ |
Third-party HIPAA-compliant software solutions |
|
Security features |
|
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 2.49% + 30¢ (in-person) |
Monthly subscription on cheapest plan | $0 |




Fast Onboarding & Quick Payouts With Same-Day Funding
Monthly Fee:
From $15
Transaction Fee:
From 1.58% + 19¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- 98% approval rate. With one of the highest approval rates in the industry, you’ll almost certainly be able to start processing payments within a few days of applying to Flagship (or even on the same day, in many cases).
- Payment gateway at a discounted rate. Through Flagship,you can access Authorize.Net and some of its advanced security features at a significantly lower fee than going through Authorize.Net.
- Free terminal. You’ll be able to get a free Clover Mini POS system. Clover’s POS software is HIPAA-compliant and allows you to set up an online booking system, manage your staff, and create financial reports.
- Same-day funding. While payments normally take two days to reach your account, Flagship offers same-day funding for an additional fee.
Integrates with HIPAA-compliant software | ✔ |
Third-party HIPAA-compliant software solutions |
|
Security features |
|
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 1.58% + 19¢ (in person) |
Monthly subscription on cheapest plan | $7.95 |




Favorable Flat Rate Pricing & E-Commerce Features for SMEs
Monthly Fee:
$0
Transaction Fee:
From 2.6% + 10¢
Pricing Model:
Flat rate
Flat rate
Flat rate pricing simplifies your payment processing bill by charging the same percentage markup on every credit or debit card transaction you receive. The payment processor still pays the variable interchange fee set by the card network (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) on each transaction, but you always pay the same fixed rate regardless.
Features and Benefits
- Chase Mobile app. The Chase Mobile app offers features like real-time transaction tracking and the ability to send and receive payments swiftly. It allows you to manage your business finances on the go, giving you more time to focus on your primary role: patient care.
- Recurring billing. To avoid payment delays, you can set up an automatic collection service. Chase allows you to securely store your patient payment data and use it to bill them automatically. This encourages eStatements and online payments that reduce paper waste and your overall processing costs.
- Free same-day funding. With a Chase Business Banking account, you can get free same-day funding, a benefit that is usually not available or comes at an additional cost. This quick turnaround is especially beneficial for managing operational expenses and optimizing financial planning.
- Zero liability protection. Chase Payment Solutions’ zero liability protection ensures that in the event of unauthorized transactions such as fraud or theft related to your Chase Business Banking account, you’re not held responsible for the costs. Chase promises to reimburse any money lost in these situations.
Integrates with HIPAA-compliant software | ✔ |
Third-party HIPAA-compliant software solutions |
|
Security features |
|
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 2.6% + 10¢ |
Monthly subscription on cheapest plan | $0 |




Save Up to 40% on Credit Card Processing Fees
Monthly Fee:
From $99
Transaction Fee:
From 0% + 10¢
Pricing Model:
Subscription
Subscription
With subscription-style pricing, you’ll pay a fixed monthly fee instead of a percentage-based markup on each credit and debit card transaction. While this will considerably reduce your per-transaction fees, you’ll typically still pay a small flat fee on each transaction. This amount is unaffected by the variable interchange fees charged by the different card networks (e.g. Visa, Mastercard), helping to keep your payment processing fees more predictable.
Features and Benefits
- Built-in shopping carts. If you already have a website, clients can make bookings and pay for sessions or deposits with Stax’s one-click shopping cart.
- Analytics and reporting. Every Stax plan grants access to Stax Pay software and its reporting and analytics dashboard, allowing you to keep an eye on your practice’s financial health throughout the year.
- Industry-leading security. Stax has a comprehensive guide to help you achieve PCI compliance. You’ll also get a PCI compliance dashboard that guides you through your yearly security assessments and shows your current compliance status.
- Fraud protection. Stax’s virtual terminal uses the Address Verification Service (AVS) to detect potential fraud. It also places temporary holds on customer accounts that require additional verification, protecting you from fraudulent transactions and chargebacks.
Integrates with HIPAA-compliant software | ✔ |
Third-party HIPAA-compliant software solutions |
|
Security features |
|
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 0% + 10¢ (in-person) |
Monthly subscription on cheapest plan |
$99.00 |
6. CreditCardProcessing.com: Free Clover Hardware




Competitive Credit Card Processing Fees for High-Volume Businesses
Monthly Fee:
From $15
Transaction Fee:
From 0% + 0.05¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- High approval rate. CreditCardProcessing.com offers a solution for merchants with low credit scores, making it an excellent choice for new businesses or those deemed high risk due to their financial history.
- Free training. If you need help setting up iAccess or your POS hardware, CreditCardProcessing.com offers free training to help you to get up to speed and deal with common issues.
- 24/7 multi-channel support. You can access 24/7 support over the phone or via email, which is more than what most competitors offer.
- Data breach insurance. If you suffer any financial losses as a result of CreditCardProcessing.com having its data breached, you’re insured for up to $100,000.
Integrates with HIPAA-compliant software | ✔ |
Third-party HIPAA-compliant software solution |
|
Security features |
|
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 0% + 30¢ (Starter) |
Monthly subscription on cheapest plan | $15.00 |
These Are the Best Credit Card Processing for Therapists
While credit card processors don’t need to be HIPAA-compliant to handle your sales, your payment processing software does. This does limit what software you can use. Fortunately, all of the processors on this list have built-in or available integrations for HIPAA-compliant software. New and small practices will find a lot of support from Leaders Merchant Services. LMS offers custom pricing and cheap rates. On top of that, you can receive a free high-quality Clover device and business financing. It’s ideal if you need only the essentials and want to save on credit card processing. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for advanced features to streamline your therapy practice, PAYARC and its Rectangle Health integration could be the ideal choice for you. With this powerful combination, you can create patient plans, manage waitlists, and promote your practice, among other benefits. Moreover, PAYARC’s suite includes invoicing tools bundled within the monthly rate. Flagship Merchant Services is perfect if you’re looking to expand your practice with flexible business loans. You can access the necessary capital to drive growth, whether it’s for acquiring new equipment, upgrading your workspace, or launching a marketing campaign on the same day you apply. Flagship’s fees are affordable. You can even get access to the reputable Authorize.Net for a fraction of the price.Here’s a quick breakdown of the best credit card processors for psychologists and therapists.
Best Feature | Best For | Monthly fee on cheapest plan | Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ||
Leaders Merchant Services | Custom pricing tailored to your practice | Therapists looking for affordable processor that covers all the essentials | $9.00 | ~2% + 0¢ | |
PAYARC | A wide range of invoicing tools and Rectangle Health integration | Therapists who need robust appointment management and patient engagement features | $0 | 2.49% + 30¢ (in-person) | |
Flagship Merchant Services | Collateral-free business funding and low rates | Therapists who need capital to grow their practice | $7.95 | 1.58% + 19¢ (in person) | |
Chase Payment Solutions | A suite of HIPAA-compliant features through InstaMed integration | Established therapy practices with more complex needs | $0 | 2.6% + 10¢ | |
Stax | Comprehensive HIPAA-compliant payment and business management software | Therapists with multiple income streams that process a high volume of transactions each month | $99.00 | 0% + 10¢ (in-person) | |
CreditCardProcessing.com | Free Clover Mini POS device for merchants on the High Volume plan | Therapists that process a high volume of transactions each month | $15.00 | 0% + 30¢ (Starter) |