Independent payment processing guidance for businesses that want clear options and flexible technology

Most business owners don’t want to become experts in payment processing.

They don’t want to learn how interchange works, decode percentages and decimals, or spend time reconciling statements. They want payments to work, technology that fits their business, and confidence that someone is actually paying attention as things change.

That’s the role Ethical Pay Pro was built to fill.

I’m Jason Dollinger, an independent payment processing agent active in this industry since 2017. I started gradually while working professionally in poker and transitioned into payment processing full-time during the pandemic. Since then, this has been my sole focus.

One reality of this industry is that payment accounts are rarely revisited once they’re set up. Even when a business has an active representative, hardware and pricing are rarely revisited unless someone intentionally takes a fresh, unbiased look at the account. Most setups remain unchanged simply because no one wants to disrupt something that appears to be working. Many payment processing representatives are focused primarily on selling new accounts rather than servicing or updating existing ones.

When that representative leaves the industry, changes roles, or moves on, the account often becomes a “house account” inside a processing company. At that point, reviews tend to stop entirely. Pricing models aren’t revisited. New tools aren’t discussed. As the business evolves, the payment setup quietly stays the same.

Over time, that lack of oversight matters.

Businesses grow, add locations, change staff structures, accept new payment types, or start paying vendors and contractors differently — but their processing setup often doesn’t evolve with them. Statements change gradually, fees drift upward, and merchants are left without clear context as to why. Ethical Pay Pro operates differently.

I work as an independent agent with multiple top-tier, non-bank payment processors and technology partners. Unlike large bank processors that rely on built-in client bases, non-bank processors compete by offering flexible pricing, modern infrastructure, and specialized solutions. That flexibility allows merchants to choose technology and pricing models that fit how they actually operate — rather than being forced into a single platform or product.

Technology flexibility is a priority. There is no single terminal, gateway, POS system, or payout method that works best for every business. Solutions are selected based on industry, risk profile, transaction volume, and operational needs — not convenience or commission structure.
The goal isn’t to turn business owners into payment professionals. It’s to present a small set of clear options, explain the tradeoffs in plain language, and build a setup that still makes sense a year or two down the road.

One recent example involved a dental practice in upstate New York that had not reviewed their processing in years after losing contact with their original representative. They were paying close to a 7% effective processing cost — in an industry where typical rates often fall closer to the low-to-mid-2% range. Nothing about the business had changed. The oversight had.

This site is designed as an informational resource. You’ll find explanations of pricing models, technology options, and payout solutions — including tools for businesses paying 1099 contractors, issuing vendor payouts, or replacing paper checks with revenue-generating digital payments.
If you know your representative, review your setup regularly, and your pricing still makes sense, there may be nothing to change. If you don’t know who manages your account anymore — or haven’t reviewed your processing as your business has evolved — there’s a good chance your situation has changed.

That’s where Ethical Pay Pro adds value: context, continuity, and informed options — without pressure.