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About This Guide

This section describes this guide and where to find further information.
Audience and Purpose
This guide is intended for companies boarding merchants in the Partner Portal.
Conventions
This statement appears in this document:
An
Important
 statement contains information essential to successfully completing a task or learning a concept.

Recent Revisions to This Document

26.06.1

Initial version.

About This Guide

Pilot Program

As a selected pilot partner, you have early access to this platform. The pilot includes a focused set of features designed specifically for partner workflows. Your feedback during this phase will help shape the platform's future development.

What This Guide Covers

This guide will help you:
  • Understand the Partner platform and its capabilities.
  • Add new merchant accounts step-by-step through the 4-step boarding process.
  • Configure merchant settings, pricing, and payment processing options.
  • View and manage your merchant portfolio.
  • Access and understand residual reports to track your earnings.
  • Follow best practices for merchant boarding and management.
  • Troubleshoot common issues and find answers to frequently asked questions.

How to Use This Guide

This guide is organized to support both learning and reference:
  • New to the platform? Read sections 1-4 to get started with merchant boarding.
  • Need specific instructions? Use the table of contents to jump to relevant sections.
  • Looking for best practices? Review sections 6-7 for tips and recommendations.
  • Troubleshooting an issue? Check section 8 for common problems and solutions.

Introduction to the Partner Platform

The Partner Platform enables you to efficiently board and manage merchants who need payment processing services.

Platform Overview

The Partner Platform provides a streamlined interface for merchant boarding, management, and residual reporting.
The Partner Platform enables you to efficiently board and manage merchants who need payment processing services. The platform provides a streamlined interface for:
Merchant Boarding
Add new merchants with complete business and payment configuration.
Manage Merchant
View, edit, and manage merchant accounts.
Residual Reporting
Track your earnings from merchant transactions.

Key Platform Features

Merchant Boarding
4-step process to add new merchants with business info, pricing, and configurations.
Flexible Pricing
Set custom buy and sell rates for each merchant.
Product Configuration
Configure payment processors, card types, currencies, and fraud management.
Merchant Workspace
Centralized view of all your merchants with search and filtering.
Residual Reports
Monthly reports showing your revenue share from merchant transactions.
The Partner Platform is currently in a pilot phase with a limited feature set.

Understanding Your Role as a Partner

As a Partner, you act as an intermediary between Visa Acceptance Solution for SMB and merchants.
Perform these tasks as a partner:
Board merchants
Use this platform to create and configure their accounts.
Set pricing
Define the rates you charge merchants (sell rates)
Earn residuals
Profit from the difference between what you pay (buy rates) and what you charge (sell rates)
Provide support
Help merchants activate and use their accounts.

Getting Started

Learn how to access the Partner Platform and understand the dashboard and workspace.
This section covers how to access the platform, navigate the dashboard, and understand your merchant workspace.

Accessing the Platform

Learn how to log in to the Partner Platform.
  1. Navigate to your Partner Portal URL that is provided during boarding.
  2. Enter your username and password.
  3. Click
    Sign In
    .

Understanding the Dashboard

Learn about the main navigation menu and key sections of the Partner Platform.
After logging in, the main navigation menu appears with these key sections:
Merchants
Add, view, and manage merchant accounts.
Reports
Access residual reports and download data.

The Merchant Workspace

The Merchants section is your primary workspace for managing merchant accounts.
The Merchants section is your primary workspace for managing merchant accounts, which lets you perform these tasks:
  • View all merchants you've boarded.
  • Search and filter merchants
  • Add new merchants
  • Edit merchant details
  • Send activation links to merchants.
If you are new to the platform, start by exploring the Merchants section. When you first log in with no merchants added, a welcome screen appears with an option to add your first merchant.

Managing Merchants

The Merchants section is the heart of the Partner Platform where you add new merchants and manage existing accounts.
This section covers adding new merchants, viewing and managing your merchant portfolio, and editing merchant details.

Adding a New Merchant

Adding a merchant is a straightforward 4-step process.
Adding a merchant is a straightforward 4-step process. Each step collects specific information needed to set up the merchant's payment processing account.
Before you begin, have this information ready:
  • Business legal name and DBA (Doing Business As) name.
  • Business website URL
  • Business address and contact information.
  • Merchant Category Code (MCC)
  • Primary contact name and email.
  • Pricing structure (buy and sell rates)
  • Desired payment processing configuration

Step 1: Business Information

The first step collects essential business details about the merchant.
  1. Click
    Merchants
     in the left navigation menu.
  2. Click
    Add Merchant
    .
  3. Enter the following information:

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    • Business Name
       - Legal business name
    • DBA Name
       - "Doing Business As" name (if different)
    • Website URL
       - Merchant's website (for example, https://example.com)
    • Business Address
       - Street address, city, state, ZIP code.
    • Merchant Category Code (MCC)
       - Select from dropdown or search.
    • Primary Contact
       - Name, email, and phone number.
  4. Click
    Next
     to proceed to Step 2.

RESULT

The system validates the information and proceeds to the pricing step.

Understanding Merchant Category Codes

The Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a critical classification that determines the merchant's industry and affects processing rates.
The Merchant Category Code (MCC) is critical as it determines the merchant's industry classification and affects processing rates. Choose the MCC that most accurately describes the merchant's primary business activity.
MCCs are four-digit codes used by payment card processors to categorize businesses. The correct MCC assignment ensures:
  • Appropriate transaction processing rates
  • Compliance with industry regulations
  • Accurate reporting and analytics

Step 2: Products and Pricing

Define the pricing structure for the merchant, setting your buy rates and sell rates.
In this step, you'll define the pricing structure for the merchant. This is where you set your buy rates (what you pay) and sell rates (what you charge the merchant).
  1. Enter Buy Rates.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    • Monthly Fee
       - Your cost for the monthly account fee.
    • Per Transaction Fee
       - Your cost per credit card transaction.
  2. Enter Sell Rates.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    • Monthly Fee
       - What you charge the merchant monthly.
    • Per Transaction Fee
       - What you charge per transaction.
  3. Review the Residual Preview. The system shows your potential earnings.
  4. Click
    Next
     to proceed to Step 3.

Understanding Residual Income

Learn how residual income is calculated and how pricing affects your earnings.
Your residual income is calculated as the difference between your sell rate (what you charge the merchant) and your buy rate (what you pay): Sell Rate - Buy Rate = Your Profit.
For example:
Buy Rate: $25/month, Sell Rate: $35/month = $10/month residual.
Buy Rate: $0.10/transaction, Sell Rate: $0.15/transaction = $0.05/transaction residual.
Setting competitive pricing while maintaining profitable margins is essential to building a sustainable partnership business.

Step 3: Product Configuration

Configure the merchant's payment processing capabilities.
This step configures the merchant's payment processing capabilities.
  1. Choose the payment processor. For example, TSYS or First Data.
  2. Check boxes for Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and other card types.
  3. Select accepted currencies. USD is default.
  4. Set the Extended Transaction Settings if desired.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Options can vary by processor:
    Address Verification Service (AVS)
    Enable/disable and set rules.
    Card Verification Value (CVV)
    Enable/disable CVV checks.
  5. Additional Services (Optional):

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Token Management Service
    Securely store payment information
    Fraud Management Essentials
    Basic fraud detection tools
    Digital Payment Suite
    Support for Apple Pay, Google Pay,
  6. Click
    Next
     to proceed to Step 4.

RESULT

The system validates the configuration settings.

Configuration Impact on Payment Processing

Understand how configuration settings affect how merchants can process payments.
The configuration settings you choose directly affect how the merchant can process payments. These settings determine:
  • Which payment methods the merchant can accept
  • Security features and fraud prevention tools available
  • Transaction processing capabilities
  • Additional services the merchant can use
Consult with the merchant about their specific needs before finalizing these settings. Incorrect configuration can require additional setup time or prevent the merchant from accepting certain payment types.

Step 4: Review and Submit

Review all information before creating the merchant account.
The final step allows you to review all information before creating the merchant account.
  1. Review all sections:

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    • Business Information
    • Products and Pricing
    • Product Configuration
  2. Click
    Edit
     next to any section if changes are needed.
  3. Click
    Submit
    .

RESULT

The system creates the merchant account and displays a confirmation.

What Happens After Merchant Submission

Understand the merchant activation process after account creation.
After submission, the following process occurs:
  • The merchant account is created in the system.
  • You can send an activation link to the merchant's primary contact.
  • The merchant receives an email with instructions to activate their account.
  • Once activated, the merchant can begin processing payments.
The activation process typically takes a few minutes once the merchant receives the email. The merchant must complete their account setup by providing additional information and agreeing to terms and conditions.

Viewing and Managing Merchants

The Merchant Workspace provides a centralized view of all merchants you've boarded.
The Merchant Workspace provides a centralized view of all merchants that you boarded, with tools to search, filter, and manage your merchant portfolio.

Overview Metrics

View key metrics about your merchant portfolio at the top of the Merchants page.
At the top of the Merchants page, you'll see two key metrics:
Total transacting orgs
The total number of merchant organizations in your portfolio
New transacting orgs
The number of new merchants added recently

Merchant List View

The main Merchants page displays a table with merchant information and status.
The main Merchants page displays a table with the following columns:
Merchant
The business name with the merchant ID displayed below it
Transacting org ID
The organization identifier used for transaction processing
Created on
The date when the merchant was boarded which you sort by clicking the column header
Status
The current merchant status displayed as a colored badge:
  • Live (green/teal) - Merchant is active and processing transactions.
  • Test (yellow/amber) - Merchant is in test mode.
  • Inactive (gray) - Merchant account is deactivated.
Actions
Three-dot menu for quick access to merchant actions
The list shows "Showing 1-10 of X merchants" at the bottom, where X is your total merchant count.

Searching and Filtering

Use the search and filter tools to find specific merchants.
The merchant list provides several tools to help you locate and organize merchant information efficiently. These tools include search capabilities, filtering options, and sorting functions.

Search Bar

The
Search Bar
 is located at the top of the merchant list. You can search for merchants by entering either their merchant name or organization ID. The search bar displays placeholder text: "Search merchants by org ID or name".

Status Filter

The
Status Filter
 appears as a dropdown menu in the top right corner of the merchant list, showing "Status: All" by default. This filter allows you to view merchants based on their current status, including Live, Test, and Inactive states.

Sort Options

The merchant list supports sorting by clicking on column headers. Available sort columns include "Created on" and "Status". Clicking a column header toggles between ascending and descending order, allowing you to organize the merchant list according to your preferences.

Merchant Actions Menu

Access quick actions for each merchant through the three-dot menu.
Click the three-dot menu next to any merchant to access quick actions:
  • Send activation link
     - Resend the activation email to the merchant's primary contact. Use this if the merchant did not receive the original email or needs a new activation link.
  • Edit merchant
     - Open the merchant details panel to modify merchant information. This opens a side panel or detail view where you can edit:
    • Business information (name, address, contact details)
    • Pricing (buy and sell rates)
    • Configuration (payment processing settings)
  • Deactivate merchant
     - Temporarily disable the merchant's ability to process transactions. This changes the merchant status to "Inactive". Use this for merchants who need to pause processing temporarily. The merchant can be reactivated later if needed.

Editing Merchant Details

View and edit merchant information through the merchant details panel.
After creating a merchant account, view and edit merchant information through the merchant details panel. This panel provides access to business information, pricing details, and processing configurations.

Accessing Merchant Details

Learn how to open the merchant details panel.
To open the merchant details panel:
  1. From the Merchants list, click the three-dot menu next to the merchant.
  2. Click on
    Edit Merchant

RESULT

The merchant details panel opens, showing:
  • Merchant name and status badge (Live, Test, or Inactive)
  • Merchant org ID and Transacting org ID.
  • Three tabs: Business details, Pricing, and Configurations.
  • Send activation link button in the header.
  • Back button to return to the merchant list.

Business Details Tab

View and edit merchant business information.
The Business details tab displays merchant information in a read-only view with an Edit button to make changes.
  1. Review the displayed information:

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    • Business name
       - The legal business name.
    • Website URL
       - The merchant's website
    • Business address
       - Complete address including street, city, state, and ZIP code.
    • Merchant category code (MCC)
       - The MCC with full description.
    • Primary contact
       - Name, email address, and phone number.
  2. To edit business information, click
    Edit
     in the top right of the Business details section.
  3. Update the information as needed.
  4. Click
    Save Changes
    .

RESULT

The business information is updated.
The Merchant Category Code (MCC) cannot be changed after the merchant account is created. If the MCC needs to be changed, you must contact support.

Pricing Tab

View the pricing structure set during merchant boarding.
The Pricing tab displays the pricing structure set during merchant boarding. This tab shows two main sections:

Reseller Pricing

This section shows the pricing for different product categories. The pricing is set during merchant boarding and cannot be changed afterward.
Card Processing
Pricing for accepting credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and eCheck payments
Invoicing
Pricing for invoice templates and payment reminders with automated billing
Decision Manager
Pricing for AI-powered fraud detection and risk management
Reseller pricing is set during merchant boarding and cannot be changed through the Partner Platform at this time. If pricing adjustments are needed, contact Partner Support for assistance.

Included Products

This section displays products that are automatically included with the merchant account at no additional fees:
  • Virtual Terminal
  • Invoicing
  • Hosted Checkout
  • Pay by Link
  • Recurring Billing
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • Transaction Search
  • Token Management Service
  • Fraud Management Essentials
  • Digital Payment Suite

Configurations Tab

Modify the merchant's payment processing settings.
The Configurations tab allows you to modify the merchant's payment processing settings. This tab has multiple sections, each with its own edit capability.
  1. In the Card Processing Configuration section, click
    Edit
    .

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    • Processor
       - Processors such as Chase Paymentech Salem and Chase Paymentech Tampa
    • Accepted card types
       - Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, and others
    • Accepted currencies
       - USD and other supported currencies
  2. In the Extended Transaction Settings section, click
    Edit
    .

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    • Address Verification Service (AVS) requirements.
    • Card Verification Value (CVV) requirements.
    • Other transaction validation settings
  3. Optional Configurations - Select a different template to modify these service configurations, or click
    View details
     to learn more about each service.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Token Management Service
    Securely store payment information for future transactions.
    Fraud Management Essentials
    Basic fraud detection and prevention tools.
    Digital Payment Suite
    Support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets.

RESULT

The merchant's payment processing configuration is updated.
Configuration Best Practices
  • Review card type settings to ensure the merchant can accept their customers' preferred payment methods.
  • Enable AVS and CVV checks for enhanced fraud protection.
  • Configure optional services based on the merchant's specific business needs.
  • Test configuration changes in a test environment when possible.

Residual Reports

Residual reports are essential for tracking your earnings from merchant transactions.
Residual reports are essential for tracking your earnings from merchant transactions. These reports show the revenue you generate based on the difference between your buy rates and sell rates.

Understanding Residuals

Learn how residuals are calculated based on buy and sell rates.
Residuals are calculated based on the pricing structure you set for each merchant.
Buy Rate
The amount you pay to Visa Acceptance Solution for SMB for products and services
Sell Rate
The amount you charge your merchants for products and services
Residual
Your profit: Sell Rate - Buy Rate

Residual Calculation Examples

Positive Residual (You Earn Money)
Buy Rate: $25/month, Sell Rate: $35/month; Residual: +$10/month
You earn $10 per month from this merchant.
Negative Residual (You Pay)
Buy Rate: $30/month, Sell Rate: $25/month; Residual: -$5/month
As promotional pricing, you pay $5 per month for this merchant.

Accessing Residual Reports

Learn how to view your residual reports.
To view your residual reports:
  1. Click
    Reports
     in the left navigation menu.
  2. Review the Reports page. The most recent month's report is listed first.

RESULT

Each report shows:
  • Report Period
     - Month and year
  • Total Residuals
     - Your total earnings for the period
  • Number of Merchants
     - Active merchants during the period
  • Status
     - Available, Processing, or Pending

Downloading Reports

Download residual reports as CSV files.
To download a residual report:
  1. Select
    Reports
    .
  2. Find the report you want to download.
  3. Click
    Download
     or select Download from the three-dot menu.

    Step Result

    The report downloads as a CSV file.
  4. Open the CSV file in Excel or your preferred spreadsheet application.

RESULT

The CSV file includes:
  • Merchant ID and name
  • Monthly fee (buy rate, sell rate, residual)
  • Transaction count
  • Per-transaction fees (buy rate, sell rate, residual)
  • Total residual per merchant
  • Grand total for the period.

Searching and Filtering Reports

Use search and filter tools to find specific reports.

Search and Filter Options

Search by Date
Enter month/year in the search box to locate reports from a specific time period.
Date Range Filter
Select a predefined time period (3, 6, 12, or 18 months) to narrow your results.
Sort Options
Sort reports by date, displaying either newest or oldest first.

Common Workflows

Step-by-step workflows for common tasks you'll perform as a Partner.
This section provides step-by-step workflows for common tasks to perform as a Partner.

Workflow 1: Boarding Your First Merchant

Complete workflow for boarding your first merchant.
  1. Gather merchant information - Collect all required business details, contact information, and preferences.
  2. Determine pricing strategy - Calculate appropriate buy and sell rates based on merchant volume and your profit goals.
  3. Log in to the Partner Platform and click
    Merchants
    .
  4. Click
    Add Merchant
    .
  5. Enter all business details and MCC.
  6. Set buy and sell rates.
  7. Configure processing settings and services.
  8. Verify all information and submit.
  9. Use the "Send Activation Link" option to email the merchant.
  10. Ensure that the merchant completes activation.

Workflow 2: Monthly Residual Review

Complete workflow for reviewing monthly residuals.
  1. Wait for report availability.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Reports are typically available by the 20th of each month.
  2. Access the Reports section.
  3. Click on the most recent month's report.
  4. Review total residuals to check your earnings.
  5. Analyze by merchant to identify top performers and underperformers.
  6. Download CSV data for detailed analysis.
  7. Look for merchants with negative residuals or low volume.
  8. Decide on pricing adjustments or merchant outreach.

Glossary

Definitions of key terms used in the Partner Platform.
Buy Rate
The amount you (the Partner) pay for products and services
DBA (Doing Business As)
The trade name or fictitious business name under which a company operates
ISV (Independent Software Vendor)
A company that develops and sells software products, often integrated with payment processing
MCC (Merchant Category Code)
A four-digit number that classifies the type of goods or services a business provides
Merchant
A business that accepts credit card payments for goods or services
Partner
An entity (you) that resells services to merchants and earns residuals
Residual
The profit you earn from each merchant, calculated as the difference between your sell rate and buy rate
Sell Rate
The amount you charge your merchants for products and services