Free for all business owners

The education your processor doesn't want you to have.

52 free courses and still growing — covering processing fees, POS systems, contracts, compliance, and your rights as a business owner. Plus a community where merchants share what they know, ask questions, and help each other make better decisions.

Always free 20+ industries covered Active community
What's inside
52
In-depth courses and still growing — new content added regularly
500+
Individual lessons with real numbers and actionable steps
$0
Free to join. Free forever. No hidden costs, ever
Join Free — Takes 30 Seconds

Community · Courses · Video Lessons · Discussions

The Curriculum

Real knowledge. Real savings.

Every course is built around problems merchants actually face — not theory. Find your industry and start learning what your processor never explained.

💳
Processing Fundamentals

How interchange works, pricing models, how to read your statement, and how to calculate your effective rate in 60 seconds.

Core
🚫
Fee Elimination

Cash discount, dual pricing, and surcharging explained — what they are, how they work, the rules, and what real businesses experience when they implement them.

Core
⚠️
Software & POS Traps

Toast, SkyTab, Square, QuickBooks — which platforms lock you into above-market rates and what the alternatives are.

Core
🍽️
Restaurants

POS comparisons, Toast & SkyTab deep dives, dual pricing math, kiosk ROI data, and the hardware setup for every restaurant type.

Industry
🔧
Contractors & Field Service

How QuickBooks payment processing works, what it actually costs, field management software options, and alternative payment setups for service businesses.

Industry
🍺
Bars, Nightclubs & Breweries

Tab management, high-volume terminal setups, taproom POS systems, and why dual pricing works perfectly in bar culture.

Industry
🎯
Firearm Dealers & Ranges

Processing discrimination, firearms-friendly processors, ATF-compliant POS systems, and range revenue optimization.

Industry
🏥
Healthcare & Dental

FSA/HSA acceptance, HIPAA-compliant payments, patient payment plans, and practice management integrations.

Industry
🛡️
Chargebacks & Fraud

How to fight disputes, prevent friendly fraud, and stay below the thresholds that trigger account reviews.

Protection
🌿
Cannabis Dispensaries

Compliant payment methods, ACH and PIN debit solutions, dispensary POS systems, and cash management strategies.

New
Convenience Stores & Gas Stations

Fuel and inside sales dual pricing, fleet cards, EBT optimization, and c-store POS systems that work with any processor.

New
High-Risk Verticals

Collection agencies, credit repair, vape shops, travel, nutraceuticals, and more — processing solutions for industries others won't touch.

New

Plus 40 more courses covering retail, e-commerce, auto dealers, salons, gyms, hotels, food trucks, nonprofits, law firms, wholesale, and more.

How It Works

Up and learning in minutes.

01
Join for Free

Create your free account in under 30 seconds. The entire course library and community opens up immediately. No waiting, no approvals.

02
Find Your Industry

Go straight to the courses that matter to your business. Restaurant owner? Start there. Contractor? Gym owner? Gun shop? Every industry has its own playbook.

03
Learn, Ask, Apply

Every course ends with clear takeaways you can use immediately. Got questions? The community is there. Other business owners who've been through it are happy to share what worked for them.

More Than Courses

A community of business owners who get it.

The courses give you the knowledge. The community gives you the conversations, the comparisons, and the confidence to make the right call for your business.

💬
Compare notes with other owners
Share what you're paying, see what others in your industry pay, and learn from business owners who've already figured out the best setup for their type of operation.
🎥
Video lessons for every course
Every course has an accompanying video walkthrough so you can learn by reading or by watching — whatever works for you.
🏷️
Industry-specific discussions
Find other restaurant owners, contractors, gym owners, or gun shop operators who are dealing with the same payment challenges you are. Real conversations, not marketing.
📊
Best practices that actually work
Members share what POS systems they use, how they implemented dual pricing, and what their customers actually said. Firsthand experience beats a sales pitch every time.

"I've spent my career in the payments industry and the one thing that's always bothered me is how little education is available to business owners. The Merchant Playbook is my way of fixing that."

JH
Josh Hoffman
Founder, Elite Card Processing
20+ Industries

Built for your industry.

Every industry has unique payment challenges. We wrote a course for each one — covering the terminology, the technology, the common mistakes, and the best practices that actually matter for your type of business.

Restaurants Bars & Nightclubs Breweries & Taprooms Food Trucks Contractors & Field Service Auto Dealers Retail & E-Commerce Salons & Spas Barber Shops Gyms & Fitness Healthcare & Medical Dental & Veterinary Firearm Dealers & Ranges Hotels & Rentals Nonprofits & Churches Law Firms Wholesale & Distribution ATM Operators Ticketing & Events Cannabis Dispensaries Convenience Stores & Gas Stations Collection Agencies Credit Repair eCig & Vape Shops Online Pharmacies Travel Agencies Nutraceuticals Direct Marketing & MLM Document Preparation Online Firearms Merchant Lending Adult Entertainment
Ready?

Learn how your industry really works.

The Merchant Playbook is the resource that should have existed years ago. Real education on payment processing, written for business owners, not salespeople. Free courses, real community, no agenda.

52 Courses & Growing 500+ Lessons Video Walkthroughs Active Community Always Free
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