Straight answers.

SwitchKeep is a payment terminal for any business that sends invoices, and it runs in Chrome. It reads the invoice open in the web-based software you invoice from, charges it by card or bank through your merchant account, and posts the payment back to that invoice. It comes with a merchant portal. It isn't a processor.

Nothing to use: the SwitchKeep extension and the merchant portal are free, and you never get a bill from us. We're paid through a share of card processing, which usually costs you less than your software's built-in payments. If you came to us through a payments partner, your rate comes from them.

Usually, if you're on your software's built-in payments. They typically charge 2.9–3.5% per card and 1% per bank payment; your own merchant account typically runs about 2.1–2.4% on cards and a few dollars per bank payment. It's not always cheaper: below about $43,000 a year in cards, account fees can eat the difference, and a mix heavy in Amex or business cards costs more anywhere. Divide last month's fees by last month's card sales for your effective rate, or send us a statement and we'll do the comparison. Published rates, with sources.

With your account, and you see every part of it. The card networks' own costs (interchange) are passed through at cost, plus one processing margin that's agreed when your merchant account is set up: by us through SwitchKeep Direct, or by your advisor or processor. There are no tiers or plans to pick. How pricing works.

One application, then we do the setup: we connect your software, test your account with one small charge that's voided, and you install the extension. Your software's own payments stay on until your saved cards and autopay customers have moved. Switching, step by step.

Very little, on purpose. SwitchKeep reads the customer, invoice number and balance from the invoice you have open, and posts the payment back to that invoice. It doesn't change your customers, prices, items or other invoices. Refunds and voids are flagged in the portal for you to adjust in your software.

If you invoice from it in a web browser, it's built for it. Type its name to check: if we haven't connected it yet, we build the connection from one test payment in your account and check it before you switch. Software installed on a desktop isn't supported yet.

No. You keep your software, your invoices and your workflow. SwitchKeep only handles the payment and records it back.

Not always. Through SwitchKeep Direct, we set up your own merchant account, which is a new processor for you. Through your advisor or processor, you keep the one you have. The two ways, side by side.

Yes. The payment is recorded on the invoice automatically while SwitchKeep Pay is open in Chrome. If one can't be recorded, the payment is still taken and saved, and it's flagged for you to check.

On your processor's deposit schedule. SwitchKeep never holds your funds. Bank payments take longer to settle than cards.

Leave your software's payments connected until they've moved. Each customer agrees to save their card again, then you switch the old option off.

Taking a payment needs SwitchKeep Pay in Chrome on a computer. The merchant portal, for payments, refunds and deposits, works in any browser.

No. SwitchKeep is independent and isn't endorsed by the software it works with.