FAQS

What Are My Options?

Understanding The Pricing Models

Unsure about the difference between merchant service pricing structures? We’re here to help.

Flat Rate

A set rate that the practice pays for all transactions.

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The same flat rate is charged for all payment methods
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Easy to understand and calculate fees every month
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You may end up paying more per transaction because savings from accepting lower cost cards are not passed on to the practice

Surcharge Program

Eliminate all of your credit card processing fees.

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Only pay processing fees for debit card transactions
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Allow patients the option to pay with credit or debit cards to avoid fees
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Free terminal included when you sign up

Interchange Plus

Transparent pricing that details the interchange rate plus the fee charged by the provider

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Easily see interchange rates and processing fees separately listed out on statements
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Allows practice to take advantage of lower cost cards and save money

Cash Discounting

Offers a discount to patients who choose to pay with cash.

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Eliminate all processing fees for credit and debit cards
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Give patients the option to avoid the fee by paying in cash
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Save money on processing fees to reinvest in your practice

Tiered Rate

A non-transparent pricing structure that has three separate tiers: qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified.

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Unclear what the fee is for each transaction
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Processor's profit margin is grouped together with the interchange rate for similar card types
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Difficult to read statements and understand exact fees due to multiple line items

Breaking Down Your Processing Fees

Where Is My Money Going?

Whenever a patient makes a payment for their treatment, the transaction is securely processed through an Apex terminal. In exchange for its services, Apex will charge a processing fee to your practice. You can find a dynamic breakdown of interchange and network costs as well as our fees below.

Payment Amount
$250

*This data is for illustrative purposes only

$4.50
Payment Processing Fees
$245.00
Goes straight to your practice

$0.50 reinvested in Apex*

$1.92 Interchange and Network Fees*

APEX Glossary

Understanding the Terms

There’s a lot of jargon that gets tossed around in merchant services, and we’re here to help you fully understand each aspect.

Interchange Fees

The majority of processing fees are made up of Interchange fees, which are determined by the card networks and paid to the bank that issued the card used for each transaction. Interchange fees typically comprise a percentage of the transaction volume and a fixed per-transaction fee.

Network Fees

When it comes to card transactions, network fees are charged by the card networks and are paid directly to them. These fees can vary depending on several factors, much like interchange fees. You may also hear them referred to as "assessments" or "association fees."

Issuing Bank

Issuing banks, also known as issuers, are financial institutions that provide payment cards and credit lines to dental practices, individuals, and other businesses. These cards are affiliated with card networks and bear their branding. JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America are examples of issuing banks.

Card Network

Card networks provide the essential infrastructure that enables banks to process payments. You might hear card networks being called "card brands" or "card associations." Visa and Mastercard are two examples of card networks. American Express and Discover, on the other hand, are both card networks and card issuers since they can issue cards independently.

PCI Compliance

For your dental practice to adhere to the Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards, it must comply with a set of regulations that are applicable to any business that accepts credit or debit cards. Apex is already a PCI-compliant Level 1 Service Provider, but your dental practice must take its own steps to ensure the operating environment is also PCI-compliant.

Merchant Bank

Also known as acquiring banks, merchant banks are financial institutions that enable dental practices and other businesses to accept card payments and manage the flow of payment funds.

Have Questions?

We’ve Got Answers

Check out some of our frequently asked questions.

Does Apex have contracts?

Apex does not have contracts unless you've received free equipment. The cancellation fee would be the price of the terminal if canceled within 2 years.

Do Apex's rates change?

No, we have a rate lock that is $99/year that ensures your rates never change.

What does Apex's customer support entail?

You have your own assigned client engagement specialist along with the support team to reach out to. Reach the support team by phone, email, or live chat on our website. The support team is very responsive and reliable to ensure they resolve issues and answer questions quickly. All support and team members are also U.S. based.

How do I know how much I'm currently paying?

Your dedicated specialist can put together a rate comparison that shows you exactly what you are currently paying. Also, we can review your current statement with you to ensure you know exactly what to look for and how to find your effective rate.

What types of terminals do you offer?

Apex offers multiple options depending on what you are looking for in your office. We have mobile terminals that allow you to collect payments from the front desk or operatory rooms, stationary terminals that directly connect to your network, and terminals that accept tap-to-pay and Apple Pay.

Will you help our staff with questions/training?

Yes, we will set up a 30-minute training call to review the platform tools and terminal set up with your team. Moving forward, we will give you the contact information for your assigned client engagement representative and the different ways to contact the support team.

Why is Apex different than other MS providers?

Apex Payment Solutions was founded by a practicing dentist who struggled with credit card processing fees at his own office before launching Apex. Along with providing outstanding customer service, we offer multiple payment tools that can help your office with collections and streamlining operations.

How does the payment flow work if we switch from an integrated merchant services provider to Apex?

The biggest difference will be that your front desk team will have to type in the dollar amount on the terminal itself to collect the payment. Then they will post the payment the same way they always do into the patient account within the PMS. The benefit is that you will have new payment tools to use and you will be saving money on your merchant fees because the integrated processors typically charge much higher fees.

So What Does Apex Offer?

We provide four great options that allow you to save money and give patients options.

Interchange Plus

Our Interchange Plus pricing can help you avoid hidden fees that are often added to your processing costs. By using this pricing option, you can save more money and invest it in the growth of your practice.

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APEX Payment example

Surcharge Pricing

Our Surcharge pricing is a win-win. Not only does it eliminate the credit card processing fees for your practice., but it also gives your patients a variety of options on how they choose to pay for care. Plus, you’ll receive a FREE terminal when you sign up for our Surcharging Program! 

Non-Cash Adjustment

By implementing non-cash adjustment into your practice, you can offer a discount to patients who choose to pay with cash. Patients who pay with credit or debit cards won't qualify for the discount and will instead see a non-cash adjustment reflected on their receipt.

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APEX payment example
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APEX team

Flat Rate

A flat-rate fee is a predetermined, fixed amount that you'll pay on a monthly basis. It's sometimes referred to as a monthly membership or maintenance fee. This is a payment solution that covers all aspects of your processing, excluding interchange fees.

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