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About Merchant Advice Service

Payment expertise before the provider sales pitch.

Merchant Advice Service is an independent UK payments information, comparison and provider-matching service, founded by Libby James in 2016.

We help businesses understand how they need to take payments before identifying providers or specialist partners that may suit those requirements — from straightforward merchant accounts and card machines to high-risk payments, complex integrations, international acquiring and business funding.

✓ Founded in 2016 ✓ Free to businesses ✓ Independent of any single payment provider
Why Merchant Advice Service Exists

Payments are complicated enough. Finding the right provider shouldn’t be.

Merchant Advice Service was created to make the payments market easier for businesses to understand — particularly when pricing, underwriting, integrations or provider criteria make the decision less straightforward.

Our role is to help businesses understand what they need, what questions to ask and which types of provider may be relevant before they make a decision.

Clarity

Explain payments, pricing and provider requirements in language businesses can actually understand.

Transparency

Be clear about how MAS works, how provider introductions work and where commercial relationships exist.

Independence

MAS is not tied exclusively to one acquiring bank, processor, gateway or payment provider.

Informed Choice

Give businesses enough information to compare the structure, suitability and implications of their options.

Our Manifesto
Read the principles behind Merchant Advice Service and The Payments Directory®.
Read our business manifesto →
What We Help Businesses With

Payments advice for straightforward and more complex requirements

From choosing a first merchant account to solving high-risk, integration or funding requirements, our guidance is organised around the way businesses actually take payments.

Merchant Accounts

Understand providers, pricing, settlement, underwriting and the wider payment-processing setup.

Explore merchant accounts →

Payment Gateways

Compare ecommerce gateways, subscriptions, international payments and complex software integrations.

Explore payment gateways →

High-Risk Payments

Specialist guidance for businesses facing more complex underwriting, provider criteria or previous payment issues.

Explore high-risk payments →

Card Machines

Compare terminal types, costs, connectivity, payment-provider compatibility and integrated setups.

Explore card machines →

EPOS & POS Systems

Guidance on retail and hospitality EPOS, payment integration and choosing systems that fit the business.

Explore EPOS & POS →

Business Funding

Understand merchant cash advance, funding eligibility, repayment structures and wider business-finance options.

Explore business funding →
Looking for Providers?
Browse payment providers by product and area of specialism.
Find a payment provider →
Our Approach

Useful advice starts with understanding the business

The payments market changes constantly and providers do not all assess businesses in the same way. Our approach combines clear information, practical research and what we learn from real merchant enquiries.

Clear Information

We explain payments, pricing, underwriting and provider requirements in language businesses can understand.

Relevant Options

We look beyond headline rates. Sector, payment method, integrations, geography, currencies and risk can all affect provider suitability.

Honest Expectations

We cannot guarantee approval and we will not suggest that every business has unlimited options. Final decisions, pricing and terms remain with the provider.

Greater Transparency

We explain how MAS works, where referral commission may be received and that we do not necessarily compare the whole market on every enquiry.

Continued Learning

Payments change quickly. We review provider information, merchant enquiries and industry developments to keep our guidance useful and relevant.

Merchant-Focused Guidance

We start with how the business operates, what it needs and what has already been tried — not with the product a provider wants to sell.

Want to understand the matching process in more detail?
See how Merchant Advice Service works →

What Our Customers Say...

Libby was fantastic in coming to the rescue to help me sort card machine for my business without any charge, would highly recommend.
I had a brief phone call with Libby to outline our needs and within an hour I was being called by a processing bank to get things moving. Our new provider has been set up within 48 hours and we are overjoyed and stress free. Thank you Libby, what a…
Great service 👍🏻
Great service, thank you
1st class service, nothing but good things to say about this business. From first contact nothing has been to much trouble.
Using merchant services has helped my business no end. Great service, really professional and nothing was ever too much trouble when asking questions. Thank you!
Great service from the team. Would highly recommend using them!
Great thanks to Merchant Advise Service and Libby James. We encountered a problem with our existing merchant that led us unable to process customer payments which as a small business was a disaster. Libby quickly matched us with a new merchant and…
I contacted Merchant Advice Service when our company received notice from a previous provider. We’re classed as “travel” due to the nature of our UK holiday business. At the time we reached out to a few providers - however the advice we received fr…
    The Person Behind MAS

    Meet Our Founder

    Founder & Managing Director

    Libby James

    Libby James founded Merchant Advice Service in 2016 to make it easier for businesses to understand payments, compare their options and find providers suited to the way they actually trade.

    Her work spans merchant accounts, payment gateways, high-risk payments, ecommerce, integrated and embedded payments, international acquiring, recurring payments and merchant finance.

    Libby oversees Merchant Advice Service's editorial direction, provider relationships and merchant-matching approach. Her work is informed by direct conversations with businesses, payment providers, gateways, brokers and payment technology companies.

    She is also the founder of The Payments Directory®, which forms part of MAS's wider approach to helping businesses research and understand payment providers.

    Merchant Accounts Payment Gateways High-Risk Payments Integrated Payments International Acquiring Merchant Finance
    Merchant Advice Service · Founder since 2016 The Payments Directory® · Founder
    Read Libby James' full profile →
    Libby James, the founder, sitting at a desk, working.
    Not Sure Where to Start?

    Tell us about your payment setup before you start comparing providers

    You do not need to know whether you need a merchant account, gateway, card machine or specialist payment setup before getting in touch.

    Tell us how your business trades, how customers pay and what you are trying to achieve. We can help clarify the requirement and identify providers or specialist partners that may be relevant.

    Tell Us About Your Payment Setup
    Free to businesses · No obligation
    ✓ Independent guidance ✓ Standard & complex requirements ✓ High-risk payment specialists ✓ Provider & integration matching
    Do you already take payments?
    How do you take payments?


    Please select a payment type
    Please let us know how you take payments
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    Turnover(*)
    Turnover




    Please let us know your turnover
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    Ever Had a Terminated or Declined Account?(*)
    Ever Had a Terminated or Declined Account?
    Please let us know if you've ever had a terminated or declined account
    Please let us know who declined or terminated a previous account
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    Please let us know where your company is based.
    Please let us know the companies location
    Please let us know about your goods or services
    Please let us know your name
    Please let us know your email address
    Please let us know a contact number
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    We'll need your permission to share your data with prospective banks!
    Home of The Payments Directory®

    Helping businesses narrow down payment providers more intelligently

    Merchant Advice Service is home to The Payments Directory®, created to help businesses research payment providers based on what they actually need rather than simply comparing headline pricing.

    Provider suitability can depend on sector, payment methods, integrations, geography, currencies and underwriting appetite, so the directory is designed to make those differences easier to understand.

    ✓ Business type and sector
    ✓ Payment methods and channels
    ✓ Software and integrations
    ✓ Risk and underwriting fit
    ✓ International requirements
    ✓ Provider specialisms
    Research Before You Enquire

    Understand the market before speaking to providers

    The Payments Directory® forms part of the wider MAS approach: understand the requirement first, then identify providers that may be relevant.

    Explore The Payments Directory® →

    About Merchant Advice Service: Merchant Advice Service (MAS) is an independent UK payments advisory and provider-matching service founded in 2016. Our official website is merchantadviceservice.co.uk. Merchant Advice Service is a separate business and is not affiliated with Merchant Advice (merchantadvice.co.uk).

    Why We Built The Payments Directory®

    Making payment-provider research easier for businesses

    In this video, Merchant Advice Service founder Libby James explains why The Payments Directory® was created and the problem it is designed to solve for businesses comparing payment providers.

    The aim is simple: help businesses understand the market around their actual requirements rather than choosing a provider based on brand recognition or headline pricing alone.

    ✓ Start with what the business actually needs
    ✓ Make provider differences easier to understand
    ✓ Consider integrations, risk and payment methods
    ✓ Help businesses narrow their options before making contact
    Learn more about The Payments Directory® →
    Research & Transparency

    How we research, review and explain the payments market

    Payments change quickly. Provider pricing, integrations, underwriting appetite and products can all move over time, so our priority content is reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.

    Research Before Recommendation

    We use provider information, product documentation, regulatory and company records, merchant feedback and relevant industry sources to understand how payment products and providers differ.

    Read our research methodology →

    Reviewed & Updated

    Priority guides are reviewed as provider criteria, payment technology, regulation and market conditions change. Where relevant, pages show when information was last reviewed.

    Explore MAS research & data →

    Commercial Transparency

    MAS may receive commission or referral fees from some partners, but editorial content can reference providers regardless of whether a commercial relationship exists.

    See how MAS works →
    Independent information • Clear commercial disclosure • Source-led research • Ongoing content review
    More About Merchant Advice Service

    Learn more about how MAS works, how we research information and the principles behind the service.

    How MAS Works → Research & Methodology → Our Manifesto → Founder Profile →
    Start With Your Requirements

    Not sure which payment provider or setup is right for your business?

    Tell us how your business takes payments, what you are trying to achieve and any problems you are trying to solve. We can help you understand the requirement and identify providers or specialist partners that may be relevant.

    Tell Us About Your Payment Setup
    ✓ Independent guidance ✓ Free to businesses ✓ Standard & complex requirements ✓ No obligation
    Provider acceptance, pricing and terms remain subject to the provider's own assessment and underwriting.