Turn your network into recurring income.
Refer Upstate South Carolina and Western NC businesses to Upstate Merchant Advocates and earn residual income for the lifetime of every account — or join as a commission-only sales agent building your own book. No cost to join. Transparent splits. A local team with 20+ years in the industry.
Monthly Income Estimator
How It Works
Simple process. Real income.
You refer, we close and support, you earn. No complex onboarding, no confusing tiers.
01 Apply to the Program
Fill out the partner intake form below in 5 minutes. We follow up same business day to get you set up and answer any questions.
02 Make the Introduction
Connect us with the business owner. We handle the discovery call, statement review, proposal, and close. No heavy lifting on your end.
03 We Handle Everything
Full merchant onboarding — equipment, setup, training, compliance. The merchant gets a white-glove experience. You stay the hero.
04 You Earn Every Month
Residual income hits monthly — for the lifetime of the account. Add more accounts, grow your portfolio, grow your income.
Earnings Potential
Real numbers. Real residuals.
Every account you refer pays you every month — for as long as that merchant processes with us. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Per $40K account / month
A merchant doing $40K/mo generates roughly $500 in residual. At your 10% starting split of our cut, that's ~$35/mo — every month, for life.
5 active accounts
Five accounts averaging $40K/mo = ~$175/mo in passive residuals. Plus $100 for each new account that goes live.
20 accounts — growing split
At 20 accounts your split has increased. Portfolio compounds every month you keep referring. The math gets interesting fast.
"I switched my credit card processing to Derek several months ago and have noticed a direct improvement to my bottom line. He helped me set up new terminals, a new inventory platform, and I finally feel like I have an advocate in the industry instead of a 1-800 number."⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ David H. · Upstate Business Owner · Google Review
Program Options
Pick the path that fits how you work
Whether you send occasional referrals or want to build a full book — we have a structure for you.
Referral Partner
Casual · Relationship-based · Easy start
- $100 upfront bonus for every account that goes live
- Monthly residual income — starts at 10% of our cut, grows as you do
- Perfect for CPAs, bookkeepers, coaches, BNI members, and connectors
- No monthly minimums or production quotas
- Transparent reporting — see exactly what you're earning
Sales Agent Program
Commission-only · Build your own book · More income
- $100 upfront per account + residuals that grow with your portfolio
- Split increases at every milestone — details discussed when you apply
- Full back-office and portfolio reporting access
- Deal support — Derek handles the tough accounts personally
- Access to — including but not limited to — Figure POS for restaurants and Material POS for retail, plus a full suite of hardware and software solutions to ensure your merchants have everything they need to succeed
Why Upstate Merchant Advocates
Why partners choose us over the big ISOs
We're not a faceless national processor. We're a local team with real accountability — which means your referrals are actually taken care of.
Local team, local knowledge
With 20+ years in the merchant services industry, we bring hard-won expertise to every account. Your referrals go to someone who's seen it all — and knows how to take care of them.
Transparent splits, always
No black box. You know exactly what you're earning on every account. Portfolio reporting is clear and accessible — no surprises, ever.
No contracts for your merchants
Month-to-month terms mean your referrals stay because they're happy — not because they're locked in. That's a healthier long-term relationship for everyone.
Full deal support
Stuck on a complex account? Reach out directly. Our team handles tough deals personally so you don't lose business over one hard question.
Fast approvals, fast setup
Most merchants are approved same day. Fast approval → fast setup → fast residual. No two-week waits that kill the momentum you built.
Programs that eliminate fees
Cash Discount and Surcharge programs let merchants pass processing costs to card users — dramatically improving margins for your referral and making the conversation easy.
Common Questions
Answers before you apply
Is this a job or a referral program?
Both options exist. If you want to make occasional introductions, the Referral Partner track is right for you — no quotas, no commitment, you earn when accounts go live. If you want to actively sell payments and build your own book, the Sales Agent track is a 1099 commission-only structure with higher splits that grow with your portfolio.
How much can I actually earn?
It depends on the volume of the merchants you refer or close. A merchant doing $40K/month generates roughly $500 in residual. At the starting 10% split, that's about $35/month — every month, for the lifetime of that account. Plus $100 upfront when each new account goes live. Refer 10 merchants averaging $40K/month and you're looking at $350+/month in passive residuals. Your split percentage also increases as your portfolio grows.
Do I need sales experience or a payments background?
For the Referral Partner track, no — you just need to know business owners. You make the intro and we handle the rate review, proposal, close, and onboarding. For the Sales Agent track, any B2B sales background helps, but it's not required — we train you, and Derek handles complex accounts personally.
What does it cost to join?
Nothing. Zero. There are no fees, no monthly minimums, and no quotas on the referral program. For sales agents, the structure is 1099 commission-only — no base, no cap. You earn when you close.
How do I know what I'm earning? Is reporting transparent?
Yes — full portfolio reporting is included. You'll always know exactly what each account is generating and what your split is. No black box, no surprises on your residual.
What industries and business types can I refer?
Almost any business that accepts card payments — restaurants, retail, medical, legal, trades, home services, auto repair, professional services, and more. If a business takes cards, we have a solution for them.
What if I refer a large account and need help closing it?
That's exactly what Derek is for. Call him directly. He personally handles complex accounts and large merchants — so you never lose a deal because of one tough question or a complicated pricing situation.
What programs do you offer merchants?
We offer Cash Discount, Surcharge, and Interchange Plus programs, as well as POS solutions including (but not limited to) Figure POS for restaurants and Material POS for retail. We tailor the program to the merchant's situation — and we'll walk you through how to talk about it with your referrals.
Apply
Apply to the Partner Program
Takes about five minutes. Referral Partner or Sales Agent — pick the path that fits, tell us a bit about yourself, and we'll follow up the same business day.
Let's build something worth your time.
Apply to the partner program or reach out to Derek directly. Whether you want to refer one account or build a full book — we'll find the right structure for how you work.