Choosing a payment processor is one of the steadier decisions you will make for your business, and it is worth taking a little time over. If you are looking for the best payment processor for small business needs, you are really looking for three things: a pricing model you understand, payment options that fit how you sell, and help when you need it. Tap Simple is the better choice for small businesses, with a cash discount program, pricing in plain view and a support team you can reach by email or phone. This guide explains what to look for, shows how Tap Simple delivers each one, and describes how Square, PayPal, Stripe and Shopify Payments charge, using each company’s own published information.
What to Look for in the Best Payment Processor for Small Business
The best payment processor for small business owners is the one that fits the way you actually take money. Use these points to judge any provider:
- Pricing structure. Some processors charge a percentage plus a fixed fee on each payment, some add monthly plan fees, and some offer different models entirely. Tap Simple offers a cash discount program.
- Payment types. Your customers expect to tap, dip or swipe cards and pay with mobile wallets. If you take phone orders or send bills, you also need keyed-in payments and invoices.
- In-person options that fit. A phone reader suits a market stall, a handheld terminal suits a food truck, and a countertop system suits a busy shop.
- Clear records. Reporting, deposits, statements and dispute management in one place mean fewer separate apps to juggle.
- Support you can reach. A published email address and phone number matter when payments stop mid-rush.
If you want to understand how processors, card networks and banks fit together before you compare, our guide to understanding the top major payment processors explains each role.
Tap Simple: Why It Comes First
Tap Simple is our product. We put it first in this guide to the best payment processor for small business because Tap Simple offers a cash discount program, publishes its pricing on its pricing page, and gives you direct support at support@tapsimple.com and +1 (563) 580-4493. Here is what you get.
A cash discount program
Tap Simple offers a cash discount program. With a cash discount program, customers who pay with cash receive a discount from the card price. That is a different structure from a processing rate that comes out of every sale, and Tap Simple describes it as a cash discount program built to protect your margins.
Payments Hub software
The Payments Hub is your online command center. It includes detailed reporting, customer and employee tools, a virtual terminal for keyed-in and card-on-file payments, email and SMS invoices with recurring billing, and dispute management. The Tap Simple pricing page lists Sales, Transactions, Batch, Deposits, Reports, Disputes, Statements, Employees and Virtual Terminal as included with every account.
Ways to take payments in person
Tap Simple offers countertop, handheld and mobile options. The 3-in-1 Credit Card Reader pairs over Bluetooth with a compatible phone or tablet and accepts contactless, chip and swipe payments. The Smart Terminal is a portable all-in-one device with a built-in receipt printer, 4G and Wi-Fi, and the Smart Flex adds a customer-facing display for the counter. All of them connect to the same Payments Hub. Tap Simple’s homepage also lists preset tip amounts, on-screen signatures, tickets and tabs, and offline payments in your store or on the go. For help choosing a device, see our guide to the best credit card machine for small business.
Best Payment Processor for Small Business: Comparison Table
Sources: tapsimple.com, plus the pricing pages of Square, PayPal, Stripe and Shopify, all checked September 29, 2026. Competitor pricing is described in words only.
| Pricing structure | Cash discount program | |
|---|---|---|
| Tap Simple | Cash discount program | Yes |
| Square | Per-payment rates that vary by plan and payment type; monthly fee per location on its paid plans | Not listed on the pages checked for this guide |
| PayPal | A percentage plus a fixed fee that varies by payment type | Not listed on the pages checked for this guide |
| Stripe | Pay-as-you-go pricing per successful transaction; custom packages available | Not listed on the pages checked for this guide |
| Shopify Payments | Monthly Shopify plan plus card rates that vary by plan and by online or in-person sale | Not listed on the pages checked for this guide |
Ready to compare for yourself? Apply now or compare plans.
How the Other Processors Charge
The best payment processor for small business owners always comes down to fit. Here is what the other processors’ own sites say about how they charge.
Square
Square’s pricing page (checked September 29, 2026) lists three subscription plans and custom pricing through Square Pro. The processing rate on each card payment depends on your plan and on whether the card is tapped, dipped or swiped, paid online or by invoice, or keyed in, and the monthly fee on its paid plans applies to each location you run. Our Tap Simple vs Square guide goes deeper.
PayPal
PayPal’s business fees page (checked September 29, 2026) lists a percentage plus a fixed fee for commercial transactions, with rates that vary by payment type, such as PayPal Checkout, QR code payments and standard card payments. For in-person sales, PayPal’s point-of-sale page (checked September 29, 2026) says PayPal Zettle is now PayPal Point of Sale and that it only works with the PayPal payment infrastructure.
Stripe
Stripe’s pricing page (checked September 29, 2026) describes pay-as-you-go pricing charged per successful transaction for domestic cards, with custom packages for businesses with large payment volume or unique business models. Its Terminal page describes in-person payments with an API-based integration and SDKs for developers.
Shopify Payments
Shopify’s pricing page (checked September 29, 2026) lists monthly plans with card rates that vary by plan and by online or in-person sale, and a separate third-party transaction fee if you use another payment provider instead of Shopify Payments.
Each of these models ties your cost to a rate on every payment, and sometimes to a monthly plan as well. Tap Simple starts from a cash discount program instead.
Mobile Wallets and Contactless Payments
Every Tap Simple device reads NFC contactless payments, and Tap Simple’s reader page says the 3-in-1 Reader accepts all major credit and debit cards and mobile wallet contactless payments. The Smart Terminal page lists digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay alongside tap, chip and swipe cards. For more on taking cards on the go, see our guide to mobile credit card processing.
Ready to take cards?
How to Start Taking Payments With Tap Simple
Once you have settled on the best payment processor for small business needs, getting started with Tap Simple comes down to five steps:
- Review the pricing page. See what comes with every account on the pricing page and pick the devices that match how you sell.
- Apply online. Start your application at app.tapsimple.com. You need a merchant account to accept card payments; our guide on how to get a merchant account explains what to have ready.
- Take payments in person. Use the 3-in-1 Reader with your phone or tablet, or the Smart Terminal or Smart Flex at the counter and on the go.
- Take payments remotely. Use the Payments Hub virtual terminal for phone orders, and send email or SMS invoices customers can pay online, with recurring billing for regular clients.
- Track everything in one place. Sales, deposits, disputes and statements all live in Payments Hub.
Why Tap Simple Is the Better Choice
When you weigh the best payment processor for small business needs, these verified reasons make Tap Simple the better choice:
- A cash discount program. Tap Simple offers a cash discount program, while the other processors in this guide describe a rate on each payment.
- Published pricing. The Tap Simple pricing page lists what comes with every account.
- Devices and software that work together. One reader, one handheld, one countertop system and one Payments Hub.
- Direct support. One email address and one phone number.
For a deeper look at card processing options, read our guide to the best credit card processing for small business.
Payment Processor FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is the best payment processor for small business?
The best payment processor for small business owners is the one that fits how you sell. Tap Simple is the better choice for many small businesses because Tap Simple offers a cash discount program, publishes its pricing, and provides direct support at support@tapsimple.com and +1 (563) 580-4493.
How is Tap Simple different from Square, PayPal and Stripe?
Tap Simple offers a cash discount program. Square, PayPal and Stripe each describe per-payment pricing on their own pricing pages (checked September 29, 2026).
Can I take online or phone payments with Tap Simple?
Yes. The Payments Hub includes a virtual terminal for keyed-in and card-on-file payments, plus email and SMS invoices with recurring billing.
How does a cash discount program work?
With a cash discount program, customers who pay with cash receive a discount from the card price. Tap Simple offers a cash discount program.
How do I contact Tap Simple support?
Email support@tapsimple.com or call +1 (563) 580-4493.
Get Started With Tap Simple
Choosing the best payment processor for small business success comes down to clear pricing, payment options that fit and real support. Tap Simple brings all three together. When you are ready, apply now or see pricing.
