Choosing between Advisory Merchant Services and another processor comes down to three things: your monthly volume, your hardware situation, and how much you value seeing every cost on your statement. This page does the one thing most comparison pages avoid: it tells you when to stay with Advisory Merchant Services and when ProTech Payments is the better fit. Below is a factual, side-by-side breakdown, an honest scorecard, and a clear decision framework so you can choose on the math, not the marketing.
Advisory Merchant Services at a glance, and what they genuinely do well
Advisory Merchant Services is a Houston-based processor at 974 Campbell Rd, Suite 104, and they have been in business for more than 15 years. That longevity is real, and a few other things on their offer are genuinely good:
- More than 15 years of operating history, which matters when you are trusting a partner with your daily deposits.
- A restaurant-focused stack through Clover, Payroc, and Total Touch, so full-service and quick-service operators get a system built for tickets, tabs, and tips.
- A surcharge program already in place, where the card-paying customer covers the processing fee. This is the same family of pricing as cash discount and dual pricing.
- Added services most processors do not bundle, including website design, ecommerce gateways, AMSmobile for mobile acceptance, email invoicing, merchant loans, and gift and loyalty.
- Level 1 PCI certification and 24/7 support, with a stated focus on small businesses rather than banks.
If you run a restaurant, already like the Total Touch and Clover setup, and value the website-design extra, that bundle has real merit. We will say that plainly, because it is true. Their rates are not published, so the smart move is to ask them for the full schedule in writing.
ProTech Payments at a glance
ProTech Payments is a merchant services provider headquartered at 25140 Kingsland Blvd, Katy, TX 77494, serving the Katy and greater Houston metro in person and the rest of the United States remotely. ProTech leads with pricing transparency and a documented savings guarantee:
- Four pricing models under one roof: dual pricing, cash discount, surcharge, and transparent interchange-plus, so the program fits the business rather than the other way around.
- A Best Price Guarantee: a free, no-obligation statement analysis that compares your current effective rate line by line, beats it where possible, or tells you honestly to stay.
- Multi-brand hardware, not a single locked platform: Clover Station Solo, Duo, and Flex, Dejavoo P1, Valor VL100, Ingenico Desk 3500, OrderCounter, and Oracle Simphony for full-service restaurants.
- Capital lending and equipment leasing for businesses that need working capital or want to spread hardware cost.
- In-person Katy and Houston support from real reps, backed by First Data and Fiserv processing infrastructure.
ProTech Payments vs Advisory Merchant Services: side by side
The tables below compare only verifiable facts. Where a number is not published, we say so, because "ask them for it in writing" is the honest answer and the smart buyer move. Note that both companies offer a surcharge program, so this comparison is not about who has a program. It is about pricing-model choice, transparency, the written guarantee, hardware brands, and how close your local rep is.
Company overview
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Advisory Merchant Services |
| Headquarters |
Katy, TX (Kingsland Blvd) |
Houston, TX (Campbell Rd) |
| Service model |
Local Katy and Houston metro, plus national US |
Houston metro and online, plus small-business focus |
| Operating history |
Active US merchant services provider |
15+ years in business |
| Backend processing |
First Data and Fiserv |
Processor relationships not published, ask in writing |
| POS platform |
Multi-brand (Clover, Dejavoo, Valor, Ingenico, OrderCounter, Oracle Simphony) |
Clover, Payroc, Total Touch (restaurant focus) |
| Added services |
Capital lending, equipment leasing |
Website design, ecommerce gateways, merchant loans, gift and loyalty |
Pricing and transparency
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Advisory Merchant Services |
| Pricing models |
Dual pricing, cash discount, surcharge, interchange-plus |
Surcharge program offered; flat or interchange-plus not stated |
| Published rates |
Quoted after free statement analysis |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Pricing transparency |
Every cost layer shown, statement-level |
Surcharge program disclosed; full fee schedule not published, ask in writing |
| Savings guarantee |
Best Price Guarantee, in writing |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Free statement analysis |
Yes, no obligation |
Not published, ask in writing |
Hardware and equipment
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Advisory Merchant Services |
| Hardware brands |
Multiple (Clover, Dejavoo, Valor, Ingenico, OrderCounter, Oracle Simphony) |
Clover, Payroc, Total Touch |
| Hardware ownership model |
Multiple brands, keep your hardware where possible |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Restaurant systems |
OrderCounter, Oracle Simphony |
Total Touch, Clover |
| Mobile and online |
Clover Flex, virtual terminal, ecommerce |
AMSmobile, ecommerce gateways, email invoicing |
Onboarding, funding, and support
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Advisory Merchant Services |
| Funding speed |
Standard next-day; ask about same-day eligibility |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Support model |
In-person Katy and Houston reps, plus phone |
24/7 support advertised |
| Onboarding |
Statement analysis first, then quote |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Contract terms |
Request in writing before signing |
Not published, ask in writing |
The honest scorecard
No vendor wins every row, and any scorecard that says otherwise is selling you something. Here is a fair tally based only on the facts above.
| Category |
Edge |
Why |
| Operating longevity |
Advisory Merchant Services |
15+ years in business is a genuine track record |
| Pricing transparency and guarantee |
ProTech Payments |
Documented Best Price Guarantee plus a free line-by-line statement analysis |
| Pricing-model choice |
ProTech Payments |
Dual pricing, cash discount, surcharge, and interchange-plus under one roof, not surcharge alone |
| Restaurant depth |
Tie |
Total Touch and Clover on one side, OrderCounter and Oracle Simphony on the other |
| Hardware brand flexibility |
ProTech Payments |
Multiple brands and a keep-your-hardware path, not a fixed set |
| Added services breadth |
Advisory Merchant Services |
Website design, gift and loyalty, and merchant loans in one menu |
| Local proximity to Katy |
ProTech Payments |
Katy office with in-person reps west of Houston |
The takeaway: Advisory Merchant Services wins on longevity and the breadth of extras like website design, and ProTech Payments wins on transparency, the written savings guarantee, pricing-model choice, hardware brand flexibility, and Katy proximity. Both run a surcharge program, so neither is the only one with a way to lower your net cost of acceptance.
When Advisory Merchant Services is the right choice
Stay with or choose Advisory Merchant Services if:
- You run a restaurant that is already standardized on Total Touch or Clover and the system works well for your team.
- You want website design, ecommerce gateways, gift and loyalty, and processing from a single vendor.
- Their surcharge program is set up correctly for your business and your effective net cost is already low.
- You value a long-tenured local partner and the relationship with Advisory has been good.
- You have reviewed their full fee schedule in writing and the numbers are competitive for your volume.
If that describes you, there is no reason to switch, and we will tell you so after we read your statement.
When ProTech Payments is the better fit
Choose ProTech Payments if:
- You want to compare more than one pricing model and pick the one that nets the lowest cost, not just surcharge.
- You want every cost layer visible on your statement and a written effective rate, not a headline rate.
- You want a written Best Price Guarantee and a free statement analysis before you commit to anything.
- You want hardware choice across Clover, Dejavoo, Valor, Ingenico, and full-service restaurant systems, with a path to keep equipment you already own.
- You may need capital lending or equipment leasing alongside processing.
- You want a rep you can meet in person in Katy or the west Houston metro.
How the Best Price Guarantee works
The Best Price Guarantee exists so you never have to take a rate claim on faith. It runs in three steps:
- You send a recent merchant statement. We read it line by line and calculate your true effective rate, not the headline rate.
- We build a side-by-side comparison showing your current cost versus a ProTech quote across the pricing models that fit your business.
- We beat your current effective rate where the math allows. Where it does not, we tell you to stay where you are. There is no obligation and no pressure either way.
The turnaround is about 48 hours, and the only thing we ask for is the statement.
Understanding the pricing models, so you can judge any quote
You cannot compare two processors without understanding what sits underneath the price. Three models dominate US merchant services in 2026.
- Interchange-plus: you pay the card network interchange cost, plus assessments, plus a defined processor markup. It is transparent because each layer is visible. ProTech offers this model directly.
- Flat-rate: one fixed percentage for every card, used by aggregators like Square and Stripe. Simple, but the processor keeps the gap between your flat rate and real interchange.
- Dual pricing, cash discount, and surcharge: the customer who pays by card covers the processing cost, so your net cost of acceptance drops toward zero. Advisory runs a surcharge program in this family, and ProTech offers all three variants plus interchange-plus, so you can choose the exact fit. Texas allows compliant surcharging within card-network rules and the state cap.
A quick worked example on a $100 Visa consumer credit sale: interchange runs about $1.61, assessments about $0.14, and a transparent processor markup might add $0.40, for roughly $2.15 in total fees. Under a compliant dual-pricing or surcharge program, that cost shifts to the card-paying customer instead. The right model depends on your ticket size, card mix, and customers, which is exactly what the free analysis settles. For a deeper breakdown, see what is dual pricing, interchange-plus vs flat-rate pricing, and how to read your merchant statement.
How switching to ProTech actually works
Switching is less disruptive than most owners expect.
- Free statement analysis. Send one recent statement, get a line-by-line read in about 48 hours.
- Honest recommendation. If you are already on a good rate, we say so. If not, you get a side-by-side quote.
- Hardware check. We confirm what you can keep. Many terminals and Clover devices carry over, which avoids re-buying equipment.
- Onboarding. Application, underwriting, and program setup, with a Katy or Houston rep walking you through it.
- Go live. We test transactions, confirm funding timing, and stay on call for the first batches.
Other alternatives worth considering
ProTech is not the only option, and pretending otherwise would undercut the point of an honest comparison. Depending on your needs:
- Helcim is worth a look if you want transparent interchange-plus for online and want published rates.
- Stax suits very high-volume merchants who prefer subscription-style pricing.
- Square fits the smallest, seasonal, or pop-up sellers who value simplicity over the lowest effective rate.
For a local lens, see our Houston merchant services guide and Katy merchant services guide, and the full list of comparisons on our alternatives hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is ProTech Payments cheaper than Advisory Merchant Services?
It depends on your card mix, ticket size, and current effective rate, which is why we do not quote a number blind. Advisory does not publish its rates, so the only fair way to compare is to read both statements. The free statement analysis settles it with your real data, and if Advisory is already giving you a competitive effective rate, we will tell you to stay.
Both companies run a surcharge program. Why switch?
Because a program is only as good as its net cost and how it is set up. ProTech offers dual pricing, cash discount, and surcharge, plus transparent interchange-plus, so you can test which model actually nets the lowest cost rather than defaulting to one. You also get a written Best Price Guarantee and a line-by-line statement read, which is the part that proves the savings.
Do I have to replace my hardware to switch?
Often no. Many terminals and Clover devices carry over to ProTech, and we confirm exactly what you can keep during the hardware check before you commit. If you are on Total Touch or another restaurant system today, send us the details and we will tell you honestly what transfers.
What is the Best Price Guarantee?
It is a written commitment to read your statement, compare your effective rate side by side, and beat it where the math allows, or tell you honestly to stay. It is free and carries no obligation.
Is dual pricing legal in Texas?
Yes, compliant dual pricing, cash discount, and surcharge programs are allowed in Texas within Visa and Mastercard rules and the applicable cap. We set the program up to stay compliant, including the required signage and receipt disclosures.
Are both companies local to Houston?
Advisory Merchant Services is in Houston on Campbell Rd, and ProTech Payments is in Katy, just west of Houston, with reps who cover the metro in person. If face-to-face support west of Houston matters to you, the Katy office is the closer option.
Get your free, no-obligation rate review
If you want certainty instead of a sales pitch, send one recent statement and let the math decide. ProTech Payments will read it line by line, show you a side-by-side comparison against your current Advisory Merchant Services costs, and beat your effective rate where possible or tell you to stay. Call (888) 255-0425 or start your free rate review.
