Helcim – Transparent Interchange‑Plus Payment Processing for SMEs

Overview

Helcim is a payment processing platform created for small and medium-sized businesses. Based in Canada, it operates in both Canada and the United States. Helcim offers a payment gateway, merchant account, POS system, invoicing, and recurring billing tools all under one account, with no monthly or hidden fees. It is known for its interchange-plus model, clear rate structure, and strong customer service reputation. Helcim helps businesses process in-person, online, and ACH payments in an affordable and transparent way.

Key Advantages of Helcim

Transparent, Fair Interchange‑Plus Pricing

At the core of Helcim’s value proposition is its interchange‑plus pricing model, which separates the true wholesale interchange cost (set by card networks and issuers) and a clearly disclosed processor margin. Helcim automatically applies tiered volume discounts — the more you process, the lower your margin becomes, reducing overall cost as your business grows. On average, small businesses save around 25% compared to flat‑rate providers like Stripe, Square, or PayPal.

No Monthly Fees or Contracts

Helcim does not charge monthly membership, setup, PCI compliance, cancellation, or user fees — you only pay per transaction. Unlike many providers requiring multi‑year contracts or hardware leases, Helcim offers complete flexibility and no long‑term commitments.

Complete Financial Toolkit Included

Your free Helcim account provides a full suite of tools at no additional cost:

• Virtual Terminal for manual keyed transactions

• Invoicing and Recurring Payments

• Point of Sale (POS) for physical locations

• Hosted Payment Pages, Online Checkout, and Payment Pages

• APIs and developer tools, plus secure card vault and inventory/customer management features

Supported Payment Channels

In‑Person Payments & POS

Helcim supports tap, dip, and swipe in-person payments via its proprietary hardware. Options include:

• Smart Terminal (built-in printer, approximately $349 or 12×$30/month)

• Mobile Card Reader (approximately $99)

Helcim’s POS software runs on tablets or PCs and provides inventory, customer management, and sales reporting features — included free with your account.

Online Payments & Virtual Terminal

For keyed, phone, or online orders, Helcim’s Virtual Terminal enables secure transactions from any internet-connected device. Online customers can pay via:

• Integrated checkout widget (embedded on your site)

• Hosted Payment Pages

• Invoicing links and Recurring billing for subscriptions or memberships

ACH / Bank Payments

Helcim supports ACH/EFT/PAD bank transfers at fair industry rates of 0.50% + $0.25, capped at $6, with faster payment options ideal for recurring payments, service providers, and high-value transactions.

International Credit Cards

Helcim processes international card brands (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, UnionPay, AMEX OptBlue) without any added processing fees. Note: base interchange rates for foreign cards may be higher.

Features & Tools to Support Businesses

Advanced Business Tools

• Fee Saver / Surcharging: Allows merchants to pass credit card surcharges to customers (where legal), meaning you pay 0% on card-present debit/credit fees when customers cover the fee.

• Level 2/3 Commercial Card Optimization: Automatically optimize interchange-level data for corporate cards to reduce costs.

• Fraud Defender: Built-in logic filters to detect suspicious transactions, included at no extra cost.

• Chargeback Management: Dispute tools and transparent fee policy ($15 per dispute; waived if won).

Integrations & Developer Access

Helcim integrates with accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online and Xero. Developers can access HelcimPay.js and REST APIs for custom integrations, payment pages, and hosted flows.

Support & Reputation

Helcim offers in-house support via phone and email (weekday and Saturday support hours in U.S./Canada). The company holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and overall 4.4–4.5‑star review scores on independent review platforms with praise for transparency and responsiveness.

Who Should Consider Helcim?

Helcim is best suited for businesses such as:

• Growing small to medium enterprises that process $50K+ per month and can benefit from volume‑based savings.

• Businesses seeking transparency in processing costs with access to rate breakdowns and no unexpected charges.

• Companies needing both in‑person and online payment acceptance through the same platform.

• Service businesses, nonprofits, and high‑value subscription-based businesses using ACH payments.

• Businesses that value strong merchant support and prefer straightforward, flexible, no‑contract relationships.

Conclusion

Helcim is an honest, cost-effective, and feature-rich payment processing solution made for businesses that appreciate clear billing, no hidden fees, and integrated tools across payment channels. For companies that want to accept payments in-store, over the phone, or online without monthly fees or long-term contracts, Helcim offers a solid platform.