Because you deserve to keep more of what you earn.
Payment processing has become one of those industries where owners are expected to sign, swipe, and hope for the best. Kept exists because you shouldn’t have to hope.
Start with a free statement review. Two minutes to book, no pressure to switch. Just a plain answer about what you’re really paying.
Sometimes the smartest move is staying exactly where you are. You’ll just finally know why.
Sarah Nelson
Founder and CEO, Kept Payments
- White-glove support
- Hard-to-place businesses welcome
- Integrates with what you already use
- One point of contact
John was certain he was paying 2.7%.
Most business owners know what they sell, what they charge, and what they deposit. What happens in between is where the money slips away.
I co-founded a company at 24. Then my payment processor froze the money I’d earned.
At 24, I helped co-found an online education company. We ran a launch that worked far better than we expected. And then our payment processor held $81,000 of the funds we’d earned. There was no warning and no real person to call. Just a held balance and a support queue while we tried to keep everything running.
That’s when I learned the thing most business owners are never told: the system that touches every sale you make is built around the processor’s risk, not yours. I’ve spent the years since making sure other owners don’t get blindsided the way I did.
No scare tactics and no jargon. Just clear answers about where your money is going, from someone who’s been on the wrong side of this and put her name, face, and reputation behind fixing it.
“You shouldn’t need an interpreter to understand what your own money is doing.”
“We’d been shut down by processors more than once, and Sarah still got us approved fully above board, at the lowest fees I’ve seen.”
Kendra
Health & wellness brand
Four steps. No pressure.
- Step 01
Tell me who you process with today
And if you can, have a recent statement handy for our call. That’s where the real numbers live. Don’t have one? Book anyway. Who you process with is enough to start.
- Step 02
Get a clear breakdown
I look at whether the way your account is built still fits the business you’re running today: your volume, your risk, how you sell, and where you’re headed.
- Step 03
Talk through your options
On a 30-minute call, I walk you through what I found, including any funding, reserve, chargeback, or account stability concerns, before they become expensive problems.
- Step 04
Decide what makes sense
You leave with a clear read on your setup and next steps: stay, renegotiate, or explore a stronger setup. Sometimes the best move is staying exactly where you are.
You should have your payment setup reviewed if…
- You’ve had funds delayed, held, or questioned.
- You’ve dealt with chargebacks and felt unsupported.
- Your monthly statement is confusing or includes surprise fees.
- You’re not sure what your true effective rate is.
- You process higher-ticket transactions or are considered higher risk.
- Your business volume has grown but your processing setup has not changed.
A few things people usually want to know first.
Will this turn into a sales pitch?
No. If your setup is solid, I’ll tell you that and we’re done. Most reviews end with a clear answer, not a follow-up sequence.
What happens if I decide to switch?
I handle the transition with you: paperwork, timing, and testing, so there’s never a gap in your ability to take payments. Full answer in the FAQ below.
How much of my time does this take?
About two minutes to book, and a 30-minute call. That’s it.
Do I need a statement to book?
No. Book either way. But if you can bring a recent one to the call, we’ll walk through your real numbers together: what you’re actually being charged, any hidden fees, and what you need most from your processor. Account numbers blacked out is fine.
Find out what your payment setup is actually costing you.
Share a few details, then pick a time on my calendar that works for you. If you can, have a recent statement handy for the call. That’s where the real numbers live. If not, book anyway. Who you process with is enough to start.
A free 30-minute call, no commitment. If your setup is already working well, I’ll tell you that.
Your money, well kept.
Straight answers to the questions I hear most.
Still curious? Bring your questions to the call.
- What happens if I decide to switch? +
- Nothing happens unless you decide it should. If the review shows you’re in good shape where you are, I’ll tell you that, and that’s the end of it. If it shows real savings and you want to move, I handle the transition with you: paperwork, timing, and testing, so there’s no gap in your ability to take payments. And to answer the question behind the question: the review is free because if you do switch, I’m compensated through the processing relationship, not by you. You never pay me a fee either way.
- I’m under contract with my current processor. Is a review still worth it? +
- Yes, maybe especially then. Knowing your real numbers gives you leverage at renewal. Sometimes the savings outweigh the exit cost, and sometimes the right answer is to ride out the contract with your eyes open. The review tells you which situation you’re in, and there’s no pressure either way.
- What makes you the right person to read my setup? +
- I’ve spent years inside payment processing on the strategy side, and I’ve been the business owner who had funds held after a strong launch. I read statements for a living and explain them plainly. You get my name and my reputation on every review.
- What do I actually walk away with? +
- A clear read on what you’re really paying, where your setup may be exposed, and whether it still fits your business, in language you don’t need a translator for. You’ll leave the 30-minute call knowing exactly where you stand and what your options are, whether that’s staying put, renegotiating, or building something better.
- Will this push me to switch? +
- No. The review is about clarity, not pressure. Plenty of people finish it and decide to stay where they are, now understanding their setup and what they’re paying. If there’s a better fit, you’ll see the numbers and decide for yourself. Nothing changes unless you choose it.
- Can this integrate with the software I already use? +
- Yes. Any setup I’d recommend works with the tools you’re already using: your website, cart, invoicing, POS, and accounting software. Keeping your day-to-day workflow intact is part of the review.
- Will switching disrupt my business? +
- No. If you ever decide to make a change, it’s planned around you with no downtime. Your payments keep running the whole way through.
- What kind of businesses do you work with? +
- A wide range, from everyday retailers to businesses other processors call high risk. If you accept card payments, there’s something worth understanding in your setup.
- Why does someone switch payment processors? +
- Their funds got held. They’re tired of losing chargebacks. They can’t get real support when they need it. The review tells you whether you’re headed for any of that, or in good shape where you are.
- How much of my time does this take? I’m slammed. +
- Booking takes about two minutes. The call is thirty. Grabbing a recent statement before we talk adds a couple more, and it’s the best couple of minutes you can spend. I built this for people who are slammed.
- Is my statement safe to share? +
- Yes. Whether you bring one to the call or send one after, it’s seen only by me and never shared, and you’re welcome to black out account numbers first. Plenty of reviews start without one.
- Will I actually understand any of this? +
- Yes. I translate the confusing parts of your statement into plain English, so you can see what you’re paying and why. No jargon, no assuming you already speak the language.
- What do you need from me? +
- Ideally, a recent processing statement to bring to the call. We’ll walk through what you’re actually being charged, any hidden fees, and what you need most from your processor: better support, smoother payments, account stability, or lower fees. No statement handy? Book anyway. Your provider name is enough to start, and you can always send one after we talk.
You don’t have to switch. You just have to look once.
Free, and no commitment. Just clear numbers and the confidence of finally knowing where you stand.