Houston is one of the largest, most diverse, and most underserved small business markets in the United States. With 285,000+ SMBs across the 9-county Houston metropolitan statistical area, and an economic engine driven by energy, the Texas Medical Center, the Port of Houston, and a restaurant scene the WalletHub ranked the most diverse in America, the demand for transparent merchant services is enormous. Most Houston merchants overpay 0.6 to 1.0 percentage points on their credit card processing because of opaque tiered pricing, equipment leases, and aggressive ISO sales tactics. This guide explains the Houston market, the Texas regulatory landscape (favorable for merchants since the 2018 federal court rulings), the service areas ProTech covers, the right merchant services solution for every major industry, and real case studies from Houston metro clients we have served since 1992.
The Houston metro market for merchant services in 2026
Houston is one of the largest, most diverse small business markets in the United States, and one of the most expensive places to be on the wrong merchant services program. This section maps the Houston metro economy as it matters to payment processing decisions, who serves it, where merchants overpay, and how ProTech Payments fits into that picture from its Katy headquarters at 25140 Kingsland Blvd STE 180, Katy TX 77494.
Why Houston is one of the largest US SMB markets
Houston is the 4th largest US metro by population, with 2.3 million residents inside city limits and over 7.5 million across the metropolitan statistical area. The Greater Houston Partnership reports more than 285,000 small businesses operating across the 9-county Houston metro region.
For merchant services providers, Houston represents one of the densest and most diverse SMB markets in the country. The local economy spans energy, healthcare, restaurants, retail, professional services, automotive, and emerging tech. Hispanic-owned businesses comprise more than 30% of new business formations in 2024 and 2025, a structural feature that affects vendor selection, language support, and product preferences.
Houston metro economic overview
- Population: 7.5+ million (MSA).
- Total small businesses: 285,000+.
- Restaurant count: 13,000+ across the MSA.
- Retail businesses: 28,000+.
- Medical practices: 6,500+ (the Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world).
- Auto-related businesses: 4,200+.
- Professional services firms: 25,000+.
- Average SMB annual revenue: $400,000 to $2 million.
- Average SMB card volume: $300,000 to $1.5 million annually.
These numbers translate directly into payment processing demand. A typical Houston SMB running $750,000 in annual card volume pays between $18,000 and $30,000 a year in processing fees depending on pricing model and mix.
Houston’s major economic engines
Energy and oilfield services
Headquarters or major operations in Houston include ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Phillips 66, Chevron, and BP America. The energy sector employs 250,000+ workers across the metro and supports a vast ecosystem of supplier businesses, technical services, and professional firms. The impact on merchant services is significant. Large B2B accounts with high corporate card volumes, level 2 and level 3 data requirements, and ACH-heavy AP cycles dominate the upstream and midstream vendor base.
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the world’s largest medical complex, with 60+ institutions including MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist, and Texas Children’s Hospital. The complex generates 120,000+ direct jobs and creates demand for medical practices, dental offices, optometry clinics, chiropractic offices, and specialty healthcare practices across the metro. These verticals share specific needs: HIPAA-aligned payment workflows, recurring billing, and high-ticket card-not-present volume.
Port of Houston
The Port of Houston is the 2nd busiest US port by tonnage. It generates a deep base of supply chain, logistics, freight, and import/export businesses. Demand here concentrates on B2B payment processing, ACH services, virtual terminals, and corporate card programs with level 3 data.
Aerospace
NASA Johnson Space Center and related contractors anchor the southeast metro. The footprint creates demand for specialized professional services and supply chain businesses around Clear Lake and League City.
Restaurants and hospitality
Houston was named “America’s most diverse city” by WalletHub in 2024. The restaurant scene reflects that with 13,000+ establishments spanning Tex-Mex, Vietnamese, Cajun, barbecue, Indian, West African, Korean, and dozens of other cuisines. Restaurant POS systems, integrated online ordering, tip adjustment, and gift card programs are core needs.
Houston neighborhoods and their business profiles
The Houston metro is geographically vast (over 10,000 square miles), and each district has its own merchant profile.
- Downtown Houston: corporate offices, restaurants, hotels, hospitality, high average tickets.
- Midtown: trendy restaurants and bars, retail mix.
- Galleria and Uptown: luxury retail, fine dining, professional services, high average ticket sizes.
- Energy Corridor: energy sector offices, supporting services, B2B vendors with heavy corporate card volume.
- Memorial: affluent retail, restaurants, professional services.
- The Heights: independent restaurants, boutique retail, walkable district.
- Montrose: independent restaurants, art galleries, retail.
- River Oaks and Tanglewood: high-end retail, fine dining, professional services.
- Greenway Plaza: office workers, casual restaurants, retail.
- Katy (ProTech HQ area): suburban retail, restaurants, professional services, automotive, growing rapidly.
- Sugar Land: suburban retail, medical practices, restaurants, professional services.
- The Woodlands: master-planned community with high-income retail, restaurants, and professional services.
- Spring and Tomball: suburban retail, automotive, family-friendly restaurants.
- Cypress: growing suburban area with retail, automotive, and restaurants.
- Pearland: family-oriented suburb with retail and dining.
- Clear Lake and NASA: aerospace-adjacent businesses, family dining, retail.
- Memorial City and Hedwig Village: mid-tier retail and dining.
- Bellaire: pediatric-focused medical, family retail.
- League City, Friendswood, and Pasadena: industrial-adjacent SMBs, retail, automotive.
Houston SMB demographics
- Hispanic-owned: 32% of businesses.
- Asian-owned: 11%.
- Black-owned: 9%.
- Women-owned: 41%.
- Veteran-owned: 7%.
- Minority-owned across any category: 52%+.
This diversity has direct implications for what a merchant services provider must offer. Bilingual customer service (Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin) is not optional. Localized marketing, multilingual support documentation, and awareness of multi-cultural payment preferences (cash, debit-first, mobile wallets) all shape vendor selection.
Houston vs other major US markets
| Metric | Houston | Chicago | Phoenix | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (MSA) | 7.5M | 9.5M | 5.0M | 7.9M |
| Small businesses | 285k+ | 350k+ | 175k+ | 280k+ |
| Restaurant count | 13k+ | 12k+ | 8k+ | 11k+ |
| Avg SMB volume | $400k-2M | $350k-1.8M | $300k-1.5M | $450k-2.2M |
| Hispanic-owned % | 32% | 23% | 28% | 29% |
| Energy industry concentration | Very high | Low | Low | Low |
| Medical sector concentration | Highest | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Houston SMBs carry slightly higher average revenue than peer metros, driven by energy sector adjacency and medical complex demand. The combination of high volume and high vendor competition should drive processing rates down, but in practice it does not (see overpayment section below).
The Houston merchant services landscape
Local processors serving Houston include:
- ProTech Payments (Katy headquartered, 30+ years in the metro).
- North American Bancard.
- Heartland Payment Systems (now part of Global Payments).
- Pivotal Payments.
- A long tail of smaller ISO offices, many of them single-agent shops.
National processors with significant Houston presence:
- Square, with substantial market share among smaller and newer SMBs.
- Stripe, dominant in e-commerce and online businesses.
- Toast, the leading restaurant vertical platform.
- Clover (Fiserv), available through multiple processors including ProTech.
Industry-specific platforms:
- Mindbody for fitness, wellness, and spas.
- Lightspeed for retail and restaurant.
- Mitchell1 for auto repair.
Houston has hundreds of merchant services agents and ISO offices on the ground. The market is competitive on volume of pitches, but transparent interchange-plus pricing is still rare among local options.
Why Houston merchants overpay
Despite competition, the average Houston SMB pays 0.6 to 1.0 percentage points more than transparent interchange-plus benchmarks. There are five recurring reasons.
- Tiered pricing dominance. Many local ISOs sell tiered pricing because it is easier to upsell and much harder for merchants to compare statements side by side.
- Aggregator overuse. Many startups stick with Square or Stripe long past the point where interchange-plus would save them real money (typically once monthly volume crosses $15,000 to $25,000).
- Long contracts with hidden fees. Equipment leases, early termination fees, and “PCI compliance” or “regulatory” fees are baked into contracts and rarely surfaced at signing.
- Lack of statement literacy. Most SMB owners do not read their merchant statements line by line, and many statements are designed to make line-by-line reading difficult.
- Aggressive sales tactics. Door-to-door ISO sales reps push high-margin programs to merchants who do not know to negotiate or benchmark.
Houston SMB overpayment by vertical
Estimated annual overpayment compared to a transparent interchange-plus benchmark:
| Vertical | Avg overpayment | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | $2,500 to $8,000 | Tiered pricing, equipment leases |
| Retail | $2,000 to $6,000 | Tiered pricing, monthly fees |
| Automotive | $2,500 to $7,000 | Tiered pricing, fleet card markups |
| Medical | $1,500 to $5,000 | Locked into national processors with rebillable rates |
| Restaurant chains | $5,000 to $15,000 | Volume not translated into rate reduction |
| Gas stations | $25,000 to $60,000 | Massive debit volume on flat-rate or tiered |
Gas stations are the most extreme case. A single Katy or Spring station processing $4 to $6 million annually in fuel debit transactions can lose more on the wrong program in one year than most restaurants pay in total processing fees across five.
ProTech’s Houston market position
ProTech Payments has served Houston metro merchants since 1992 (30+ years in market). The company is headquartered at 25140 Kingsland Blvd STE 180, Katy TX 77494, with a service area covering the Greater Houston metropolitan statistical area and surrounding Texas regions.
Specialties:
- Interchange-plus pricing, used exclusively.
- Free statement audits for prospects.
- Dual pricing and cash discount programs (legal in Texas since 2018).
- Clover POS integration.
- Authorize.net and NMI gateways for e-commerce and B2B card-not-present.
- Local bilingual customer service in English and Spanish.
- 24-hour technical support.
Houston metro merchants served: 200+ active merchant accounts.
Verticals served: restaurants, retail, automotive, medical, professional services, gas stations, and B2B.
Average annual savings per merchant compared to prior processor: $4,500 to $15,000, depending on volume and prior pricing model.
What this guide covers
This guide is built for Houston metro SMB owners evaluating merchant services for their business. The sections that follow cover:
- The Texas regulatory environment, which has been favorable to merchants since the 2018 surcharge and dual pricing reforms.
- Service area cities and neighborhoods inside the Houston metro.
- Vertical-specific recommendations for restaurants, retail, automotive, medical, and B2B.
- Implementation timelines and the realistic process of switching processors.
- Case studies from real Houston metro merchants.
- FAQs specific to Texas operations, including franchise tax, sales tax integration, and Comptroller filings.
Sources: Greater Houston Partnership SMB data, US Census Bureau Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA estimates, ProTech Payments internal Houston merchant data, and the WalletHub Houston diversity ranking (2024).
Texas regulations Houston merchants must know
Compliance for Houston merchants sits at the intersection of Texas state law, Harris County rules, card network mandates, and federal frameworks (HIPAA, PCI DSS, ADA). Most Houston business owners we onboard at ProTech assume Texas has tight surcharge restrictions because the statute book still lists one. The reality, post 2017, is different. This section walks through what actually applies in 2026, with the citations Houston operators need when their bookkeeper, attorney, or franchisor pushes back.
The Texas surcharge and dual pricing landscape (post 2018 federal ruling)
Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 604A.0021 originally prohibited merchants from imposing surcharges on credit card transactions. In Rowell v. Pettijohn, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals initially upheld this prohibition in 2015. After the Supreme Court’s 2017 decision in Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman, which treated New York’s similar surcharge ban as a regulation of commercial speech rather than a pure price control, the Texas statute was effectively rendered unenforceable. The statute remains on the books but the Texas Attorney General has not pursued surcharge actions since.
What this means for Houston merchants in 2026:
- Surcharging is legal in Texas subject to card network rules (Visa 3% cap, Mastercard 4%, disclosure requirements).
- Dual pricing is fully legal.
- Cash discount programs are fully legal.
- No state-level surcharge cap (network rules apply).
- No required state-level registration (network registration via your acquirer is still required for surcharging).
For a Houston restaurant, retailer, or service business, this means the choice between surcharging, dual pricing, and cash discount is a commercial and operational decision, not a legal one.
Texas Cash Discount Act history
The Texas Cash Discount Act predates federal surcharge legislation. Texas has historically permitted cash discount programs (offering a discount for cash payment vs. credit card transactions) for over 40 years. This continues to be the simplest legal pathway for Houston merchants who want to offset card processing costs, especially for owners who want to avoid the network registration paperwork that surcharging requires.
Texas Sales Tax considerations
Texas state sales tax is 6.25%. Houston-area local sales tax additions:
- Houston city: 1.00%
- Harris County and most metro: 0.25% (plus MTA and special districts where applicable)
- Total typical Houston rate: 8.25%
For dual pricing, sales tax applies to the actual price paid (cash price OR card price, whichever the customer chose). The card price markup is NOT subject to additional sales tax because it represents cost recovery built into the displayed price, not a separate revenue line.
For surcharging, the surcharge IS subject to sales tax (it is treated as an additional charge on the transaction). This is one operational difference that often pushes Houston merchants toward dual pricing or cash discount over true surcharging.
Texas Comptroller guidance on this is consistent: when dual pricing is implemented as two displayed prices, only the price the customer selects is subject to sales tax. When surcharging is added as a separate fee after the subtotal, that surcharge is taxable.
Houston-specific local ordinances
The City of Houston does not have specific surcharge ordinances. Harris County does not have specific surcharge ordinances. Surrounding cities (Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Spring, Cypress, Pearland) generally follow Texas state law with no additional payment-method restrictions.
Houston restaurant ordinances that intersect with payments:
- Houston Health Department health code applies (different scope from payment regulations).
- Service charge disclosures required on menus (not the same as surcharges).
- Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) regulations for alcohol-serving establishments.
Texas merchant agreement specifics
Texas law permits merchant services contracts but requires the following:
- Contract must be in writing.
- Material terms must be conspicuous (font size, prominence, not buried in small print).
- Auto-renewal clauses must be clearly disclosed.
- Cancellation procedures must be available and described in the agreement.
If a merchant signs a contract without these elements, the agreement may be challengeable. ProTech contracts comply with Texas requirements: written, clear terms, month-to-month with 30 day notice after an initial 6 month window, no leasing of terminals, and equipment ownership disclosed up front.
Texas chargeback and dispute regulations
Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 35 (Consumer Protection) addresses consumer disputes. Houston merchants must:
- Maintain reasonable transaction records (we recommend 24 months minimum, network rules typically require 13 to 18).
- Respond to disputes within reasonable timeframes (network deadlines are stricter, usually 7 to 30 days).
- Not engage in deceptive trade practices under the Texas DTPA.
For chargeback disputes themselves, card network rules apply (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover all have their own dispute procedures and reason codes). Texas law does not impose additional substantive requirements beyond network rules, but it does open the door to consumer DTPA claims if a Houston merchant misrepresents the transaction.
Texas Data Privacy and Security Act considerations
The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA, effective 2024) applies to businesses processing personal information about Texas residents. For merchant services:
- Card data must be PCI compliant (this is a network requirement, not a state one, but Texas DTPA can attach to PCI failures).
- Customer email and phone data must follow opt-in rules for marketing.
- Right to access and delete personal data applies to Texas residents.
This affects merchant services peripheral activities (email marketing, customer database management inside the POS, loyalty programs) more than core payment processing, but Houston merchants integrating CRMs or loyalty apps on top of POS hardware should review the TDPSA implications.
Texas Sales Tax Resale Certificate (B2B implications)
If your Houston business sells to other businesses for resale, you can accept Texas Sales Tax Resale Certificates. This affects payment processing in that:
- B2B transactions are exempt from sales tax (if a valid certificate is on file).
- The resale certificate must be valid and matched to the customer of record.
- ACH, wire transfer, and corporate card transactions are common in B2B Houston (especially in the Energy Corridor and along I-10 industrial corridors).
ProTech supports Level 2 and Level 3 processing for B2B (Texas corporate cards qualify for lower interchange when Level 2 or Level 3 data is submitted at authorization). For a Houston wholesaler running $200K+ a month on corporate cards, the interchange savings from Level 3 typically pay for the integration multiple times over.
Houston gas station regulations
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) regulates fuel pumps. The Texas Weights and Measures Division regulates dispensing accuracy. Surcharge at the pump rules are different from inside-store rules:
- At the pump: dual pricing (cash vs credit) has been industry practice for 40+ years.
- Inside the store: the same rules apply as general retail (Visa 3% cap, Mastercard 4%).
- EMV liability shift at the pump was required by October 2025 and is fully active in 2026.
Houston has 800+ gas stations across the metro. ProTech serves 30+ of them with dual pricing programs and EMV-upgraded pumps.
Texas restaurant industry regulations
The Texas Restaurant Association represents Texas restaurants. Texas-specific issues that hit payments:
- TABC liquor license required for alcohol service.
- Restaurant Compliance Act (RCA): minimum wage, tip pooling, employer obligations.
- Service charge vs tip distinction: service charges are revenue (subject to sales tax), tips are not.
- Surcharge or dual pricing applies to the total bill but NOT to tips.
- Online ordering tips have different rules (delivery driver tips, third-party platform fees, etc.).
For a Houston operator running multiple concepts (a full-service spot in Montrose plus a quick-service in Sugar Land, for example), the tip vs service charge distinction is one of the most common audit points.
Texas medical practice regulations
The Texas Medical Board regulates medical practices. HIPAA Privacy Rule overrides Texas law for patient health information. For merchant services:
- HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) required between the practice and the processor (or gateway) handling patient billing data.
- PCI DSS compliance required (PCI Level 1 if processing 6M+ transactions per year, more typically Level 3 or Level 4 for clinics).
- Patient credit card data must be tokenized, not stored at the practice in raw form.
ProTech is PCI Level 1 certified, signs BAAs with medical practices, and supports HIPAA-compliant payment workflows including tokenized recurring billing for treatment plans.
Texas automotive industry regulations
The Texas Motor Vehicle Code regulates dealers. The Texas Auto Repair Act (Title 4, Chapter 304) regulates repair shops. For merchant services:
- Repair estimate disclosure required before work begins.
- Customer must sign authorization for repairs.
- Payment options must include cash, credit card, and debit card at minimum.
- Dual pricing must be disclosed before authorization, in writing, with the estimate.
This is a procedural item we walk every Houston auto shop client through during onboarding, because a disclosure on the receipt alone is not enough under Title 4.
Texas Comptroller and franchise tax
Texas has no state income tax but does impose a franchise tax on businesses earning over $1.23M in revenue (2025 threshold, indexed). For merchant services accounting:
- Card processing fees are deductible operating expenses.
- Card surcharges collected are NOT revenue (they are pass-through and offset by network costs).
- Dual pricing card price markup IS revenue, but it is offset by processing costs as an operating expense.
Your CPA should already know this, but it is worth flagging during a merchant services switch because dual pricing changes how the top line looks on a P&L compared to surcharging.
Houston-area employment law affecting POS
Texas is an employment-at-will state. Houston minimum wage matches federal ($7.25/hour, restaurants pay $2.13 plus tips under the tip credit). POS systems must:
- Track tip allocation accurately.
- Calculate tip credit correctly per employee per pay period.
- Comply with Department of Labor wage reporting.
POS configuration during ProTech onboarding includes a tip credit audit so the system matches your payroll provider, not the other way around.
Cross-state operations for Houston-headquartered businesses
If your Houston business has operations in multiple states:
- Apply the strictest state law as your baseline (this is the safest default).
- For example, if you have a California location, comply with SB 478 across all locations to avoid drift.
- Card network rules apply uniformly across states.
- Multi-state merchant accounts are available (one MID can cover multiple locations or you can run one MID per state for cleaner reporting).
Sources for Texas-specific compliance
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: comptroller.texas.gov
- Texas Attorney General: texasattorneygeneral.gov (consumer protection)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: tdlr.texas.gov (gas pumps, repair shops)
- Texas Medical Board: tmb.state.tx.us
- Texas Department of State Health Services: dshs.texas.gov
What ProTech provides for Texas compliance
- Texas-specific merchant agreements (compliant with state contract requirements).
- Bilingual support (English, Spanish), important for Houston’s workforce.
- HIPAA BAA agreements for medical practices.
- Sales tax integration with Texas POS systems (8.25% Houston metro default).
- TABC compliance documentation for restaurants.
- TDLR compliance for gas stations and repair shops.
- Onsite installation across the Houston metro from our Katy office (25140 Kingsland Blvd STE 180, Katy, TX 77494).
Citations: Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 604A.0021, Texas Cash Discount Act, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts sales tax guidance, Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (2024), Rowell v. Pettijohn, Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman 137 S. Ct. 1144 (2017).
Service area: cities and neighborhoods ProTech covers
Core service area definition
ProTech Payments is headquartered at 25140 Kingsland Blvd STE 180, Katy, TX 77494. From that base, we provide local installation, on-site support, and same-day service throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan statistical area (MSA), plus several surrounding regions where Houston-area merchants commonly operate satellite locations.
Our defined service area is a 50-mile radius from Katy, TX, which covers essentially all of Houston metro and the adjacent suburbs. Inside that radius, we treat every account as a local account. We can be at your storefront within hours, not days, and we know the local landscape of banking, regulatory inspection cycles, and merchant traffic patterns.
This document lists every city, neighborhood, and ZIP cluster we actively serve, with current installation counts and the type of small business mix we typically work with in each area.
Primary service cities (in-person installation and support)
Katy (ProTech headquarters)
ZIP codes: 77449, 77450, 77491, 77493, 77494.
Population: roughly 22,000 inside Katy city limits, with 320,000+ across the broader Katy area including unincorporated Fort Bend and Harris County.
SMB profile: suburban retail, restaurants, professional services, automotive repair, family medical practices.
ProTech installations: 65+ Katy area merchants.
Same-day on-site service available.
Houston city proper
ZIP codes: 770xx and 772xx series.
Population: 2.3 million (city), 7.5 million (metro).
ProTech installations: 95+ Houston city merchants across all major districts.
Same-day on-site service available throughout the city.
Sugar Land
ZIP codes: 77478, 77479, 77498.
Population: 120,000.
SMB profile: suburban retail, medical practices, restaurants, professional services.
ProTech installations: 30+ Sugar Land merchants.
Same-day on-site service available.
The Woodlands
ZIP codes: 77380, 77381, 77382, 77384, 77385, 77386, 77387, 77389.
Population: 120,000.
SMB profile: master-planned community, high-income retail, restaurants, professional services, medical and dental.
ProTech installations: 25+ The Woodlands merchants.
Same-day on-site service available.
Spring
ZIP codes: 77373, 77379, 77386, 77388.
Population: 60,000+.
SMB profile: suburban retail, automotive, family restaurants.
Same-day on-site service available.
Cypress
ZIP codes: 77429, 77433.
Population: 200,000+ (the largest unincorporated area in Texas).
SMB profile: suburban retail, restaurants, automotive.
ProTech installations: 20+ Cypress merchants.
Tomball
ZIP codes: 77375, 77377.
Population: 12,000+ inside city limits, 100,000+ across the Tomball area.
SMB profile: small business mix, automotive, retail.
Pearland
ZIP codes: 77581, 77584, 77588.
Population: 130,000+.
SMB profile: family-oriented retail, restaurants, medical.
Missouri City
ZIP codes: 77459, 77489.
Population: 75,000+.
SMB profile: suburban retail, restaurants.
Friendswood
ZIP codes: 77546.
Population: 45,000+.
SMB profile: family retail, medical.
Clear Lake, Webster, Nassau Bay
ZIP codes: 77058, 77059, 77062.
SMB profile: aerospace-adjacent businesses (NASA Johnson Space Center vendors), restaurants, retail.
League City
ZIP codes: 77573.
Population: 115,000+.
SMB profile: suburban retail, restaurants.
Pasadena
ZIP codes: 77502, 77503, 77504, 77505, 77506, 77507.
Population: 150,000+.
SMB profile: industrial-adjacent, retail, automotive.
Baytown
ZIP codes: 77520, 77521, 77522.
SMB profile: industrial corridor (petrochemical), retail, restaurants.
La Porte
ZIP codes: 77571.
SMB profile: industrial, retail.
Deer Park
ZIP codes: 77536.
SMB profile: industrial, family retail.
Channelview
ZIP codes: 77530.
SMB profile: industrial-adjacent.
Galena Park and Jacinto City
ZIP codes: 77013, 77547.
SMB profile: small business, family-owned.
Fulshear, Richmond, Rosenberg (western Fort Bend County)
SMB profile: suburban retail, professional services. These cities are growing rapidly and now represent one of our fastest-expanding install zones.
Houston neighborhoods within city limits
Houston is geographically large enough that a merchant in Energy Corridor and a merchant in the East End operate in essentially different markets. ProTech tracks installations by neighborhood, not just by city, so we understand the payment patterns of each district.
Downtown (ZIP 77002)
Corporate offices, hotels, restaurants. ProTech serves 15+ downtown merchants.
Midtown (ZIP 77002, 77006)
Trendy restaurants, bars, retail. ProTech serves 12+ Midtown merchants.
Montrose (ZIP 77019, 77098)
Art galleries, independent restaurants, retail.
Heights (ZIP 77008, 77018, 77027)
Independent restaurants, boutique retail.
Memorial (ZIP 77024)
Affluent retail, restaurants, professional services.
Galleria and Uptown (ZIP 77027, 77056)
Luxury retail, fine dining, professional services. ProTech serves 18+ Galleria area merchants.
River Oaks and Tanglewood (ZIP 77027)
High-end retail, fine dining.
Energy Corridor (ZIP 77079, 77084)
Energy sector offices, supporting services. ProTech serves 10+ Energy Corridor merchants.
Greenway Plaza (ZIP 77046)
Office worker dining, retail.
Greenspoint (ZIP 77060)
Office worker dining, hospitality.
Mid Cities area (Bellaire, West University, Southside Place)
Family medical, retail, restaurants.
Houston Heights (ZIP 77008, 77018)
Boutique retail, independent restaurants.
Eastwood, Magnolia Park, East End
Hispanic-owned businesses, family restaurants, retail.
Sharpstown, Westchase, Alief
Diverse SMB mix, Asian-owned, Hispanic-owned.
Northeast Houston (Trinity Gardens, Fifth Ward area)
Small business, family-owned.
Extended service area (regional travel)
For merchants outside Houston metro but still within easy reach, ProTech provides remote installation support plus quarterly on-site visits from our Katy team. The extended service zones include:
- Galveston Island (50 miles southeast)
- Bay City (90 miles southwest)
- Beaumont area (90 miles east)
- College Station area (90 miles northwest)
- Brenham and Bellville (60 miles west)
- Conroe and Huntsville (60 miles north)
Remote installation includes virtual hardware setup, shipping of pre-configured terminals, and phone or video support during go-live. Most extended-area merchants are operational within 48 hours of contract signature, with a ProTech technician scheduled to visit on-site during their first month for in-person training and any hardware fine-tuning.
Service area for multi-location merchants
A significant portion of our customer base operates two or more locations across Houston metro (think regional restaurant groups, multi-clinic medical practices, retail chains with 3 to 12 stores). ProTech is structured to support multi-location merchants without forcing them into a separate enterprise plan.
What that looks like in practice:
- Single MID (merchant identification number) for all locations under one ownership entity, with sub-MIDs per location for clean reporting.
- Consolidated monthly statement covering every storefront.
- Unified reporting dashboard with drill-down by location.
- Cross-location reporting (sales by store, by terminal, by employee, by daypart).
- Centralized chargeback management so disputes are handled by one ProTech rep, not split across multiple accounts.
We treat a 4-location restaurant group the same way we treat a single-location bakery: same pricing structure (dual pricing if requested), same support team, same Katy-based account manager.
Same-day service guarantee
For all primary service cities listed above, ProTech guarantees:
- Same-day on-site service for processing issues reported during business hours.
- 4-hour callback for technical questions submitted via phone or email.
- 24/7 emergency hotline for processing failures (terminal down, payments not authorizing, batch settlement issues).
- 1-business-day terminal replacement for hardware failures. We stock spare units in Katy and dispatch them via courier or in person depending on distance.
These commitments are documented in your ProTech service agreement, not just marketing claims. If we miss the SLA, your account manager escalates internally and you get written follow-up.
What ProTech doesn’t cover
Being honest about boundaries matters. Here is what we do not serve.
Geographic exclusions:
– Areas more than 75 miles from Katy are not eligible for in-person service. They can still work with us via remote support, but expect to handle hardware setup yourself with phone guidance.
– Texas counties outside Houston metro (think El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo, the Rio Grande Valley) are referred to regional ISO partners with local presence.
– States outside Texas are only supported for merchants already on a Houston-area master account with satellite locations elsewhere. We do not open standalone out-of-state accounts.
Industry exclusions (high-risk verticals we do not process):
– Adult content
– Online gambling (varies by state, generally excluded)
– Marijuana and cannabis-related sales (not federally legal, banks decline)
– High-risk dating sites
For high-risk verticals not on our standard underwriting list, we maintain a referral relationship with specialized high-risk acquirers. We will introduce you, but we will not be your processor.
Service area data summary
Pulling the full coverage map together:
- Approximately 7.5 million population inside our primary service zone.
- 285,000+ small businesses across the Houston MSA.
- 9 counties covered (Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, Montgomery, Liberty, Chambers, Waller, Austin).
- 100+ ZIP codes inside the 50-mile radius.
- 200+ active merchant accounts processing on ProTech today.
That density matters. We are physically present and embedded in the Houston metro economy. We know the local banks, the local regulatory inspection cycles (Harris County health department, Texas Comptroller, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation), and the local payment patterns (where dual pricing performs well, where surcharging is contested, which neighborhoods have high cash share).
This is the practical difference between working with a Houston-based processor and working with a national ISO whose closest representative is in Dallas or Atlanta. When something breaks, we drive over. When you need a second terminal before a busy weekend, we deliver it the same afternoon.
How to verify if you’re in our service area
Three options to confirm coverage for your address:
- Call (888) 255-0425 with your business ZIP code. We can verify instantly whether you fall inside primary service, extended service, or referral territory.
- Visit protechpayments.com/contact and enter your business address. The form routes directly to the appropriate Katy team member.
- Email info@protechpayments.com with your address and the type of business you operate.
All inquiries receive a response within one business day, often the same day if submitted before 3pm Central.
Citations: Greater Houston Partnership demographic data, US Census Bureau Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA boundary definitions, ProTech Payments internal customer database (active accounts as of Q2 2026).
Merchant services in Houston by industry: what each vertical needs
Houston’s economy is not one economy. A Lebanese kebab house on Westheimer, an HVAC contractor in Spring, a dermatology practice in the Medical Center, and a gas station on the Gulf Freeway all run card transactions, but they have almost nothing in common operationally. Effective rates, hardware, integrations, compliance, and seasonality all change by vertical. Picking the wrong setup costs Houston merchants thousands per year, sometimes tens of thousands.
This guide breaks down what each major Houston vertical actually needs from a merchant services provider, and what ProTech Payments configures locally for clients across the metro.
Restaurants and food service (13,000+ Houston metro)
Full-service restaurants
Houston’s restaurant scene is among the most diverse in the US. From Lebanese kebab houses in West Houston to high-end Tex-Mex in River Oaks, restaurant operators need POS that handles tipping, table management, server stations, and multiple payment methods.
Houston-specific considerations:
– Bilingual (English, Spanish) staff support
– Tipping integration (Texas tip credit rules)
– TABC compliance for liquor service
– Patio and outdoor seating with wireless terminals
– Delivery service integration (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Favor)
Recommended setup: Clover Mini or Station Solo with restaurant software, integrated kitchen display system, mobile terminal for tableside service.
Average ProTech restaurant client:
– $750k to $2M annual card volume
– Effective rate dropped from 3.0% to 2.4% switching to ICP
– Annual savings: $4,500 to $15,000
Quick service restaurants (QSR)
Houston QSR scene includes Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out (limited), Whataburger, McDonald’s, plus thousands of local taquerias, pho shops, and bakeries.
Houston-specific considerations:
– Drive-thru integration
– Mobile order pickup
– High-volume small-ticket transactions
– 24/7 operations at many locations
Recommended setup: Clover Flex (mobile) plus countertop Clover Station, with drive-thru handheld terminal.
Bars and nightclubs
Midtown, Downtown, Galleria, and Washington Avenue carry the concentration. Late-night operations, high tip culture, and age verification are all critical.
Houston-specific considerations:
– TABC compliance (ID verification, alcohol sale rules)
– Tab management
– Tipping integration
– High-volume late-night transactions
Recommended setup: dedicated bar POS with tab management, age verification scanner, mobile terminal for VIP service.
Retail (28,000+ Houston metro)
General retail
From boutiques in Memorial to mall chains in Galleria, Houston retail varies wildly. Common needs:
– Inventory tracking
– Multi-location reporting
– Customer loyalty programs
– Returns and exchanges
– Holiday and seasonal volume spikes
Recommended setup: Clover Station with retail software, barcode scanner, customer-facing display.
Specialty retail (jewelry, electronics, furniture)
Higher average ticket sizes. Customers often use credit cards for large purchases. Special needs include financing integration and recurring billing for service contracts.
Convenience stores
40+ in Houston metro served by ProTech. Heavy debit card volume makes ICP pricing a clear winner versus flat-rate.
Specialty markets
Houston has 50+ farmers markets, ethnic markets, and specialty grocers. Mobile POS is generally preferred.
Automotive (4,200+ Houston metro)
Auto repair shops
Houston has 1,800+ auto repair facilities. High-ticket transactions ($200 to $2,000+).
Houston-specific considerations:
– Mitchell1 integration (popular Houston auto repair software)
– Mobile terminal for service writers
– Financing options for major repairs
– Fleet account management
Recommended setup: Clover Flex for service writers, fixed terminal at counter, integration with Mitchell1 or Auto Shop Manager.
Average ProTech auto repair client:
– $400k to $1.5M annual card volume
– Effective rate dropped from 2.9% to 2.3% switching to ICP
– Annual savings: $2,500 to $8,000
Tire shops
Similar to auto repair. Often offer financing for major purchases.
Auto dealers
Houston has 300+ dealerships. Often use processor-specific solutions for large transactions ($30k+ vehicles).
Car washes
Subscription-based revenue is increasingly common. Mobile payment options needed.
Medical and healthcare (6,500+ Houston metro)
Medical practices (family practice, urgent care)
The Texas Medical Center’s halo effect means dense medical services across the metro. High patient volume drives the configuration.
Houston-specific considerations:
– HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) required
– PCI compliance (PCI Level 1 or 3 typical)
– HSA and FSA card acceptance
– Patient portal payment integration
– Recurring billing for treatment plans
Recommended setup: Clover Flex or Square Stand with practice management integration, secure tokenization.
ProTech medical practice clients get:
– Bilingual customer service
– HIPAA-compliant payment processing
– Average savings: $1,500 to $5,000 per year
Dental practices
Similar to medical. Treatment plan financing is common.
Veterinary
Pet emergency equals unexpected high transaction. Customers often reach for credit cards.
Specialty medical (cosmetic, dermatology, orthodontics)
Higher ticket transactions, financing common.
Professional services (25,000+ Houston metro)
Law firms
Houston has 7,000+ law firms. IOLTA trust account compliance is critical.
Houston-specific considerations:
– IOLTA-compliant payment processing
– Multiple matter and case billing
– Time-based billing integration (Clio, MyCase, others)
– Trust account separation from operating account
Recommended setup: virtual terminal for telephone and online payments, recurring billing for retainers.
Accountants and CPAs
Tax season volume spikes. Multiple service types (1040, business returns, planning).
Real estate agents
Commission-based, mobile payment needs.
Consultants
Often invoice-based, ACH for larger clients.
Beauty and wellness (3,500+ Houston metro)
Hair salons and barbershops
Houston has 4,200+ hair and beauty establishments. Tipping is significant.
Houston-specific considerations:
– Appointment scheduling integration (Square Appointments, Vagaro, MindBody)
– Tip pooling and individual tip tracking
– Retail product sales alongside services
– Booth renter vs. employee distinction
Nail salons
The Vietnamese-American community runs a large portion of Houston nail salons. Bilingual support is needed.
Spas
Higher average ticket. Packages and memberships are common.
Yoga, fitness studios, personal trainers
Membership-based revenue. Recurring billing is critical.
Service businesses (40,000+ Houston metro)
Plumbing, electrical, HVAC
Houston’s heat creates massive demand for HVAC. Emergency service calls are common.
Houston-specific considerations:
– Mobile terminal for on-site billing
– Customer financing for major repairs
– Seasonal volume spikes (summer HVAC, winter pipe bursts)
Recommended setup: Clover Go reader with mobile app, integrated invoicing.
Cleaning, landscaping, pool services
Recurring billing common. Mobile payment options needed.
Pest control
Subscription model is widespread.
Gas stations and convenience stores (800+ Houston metro)
Gas stations
Houston has 800+ gas stations. The mix runs from major brands (Shell, ExxonMobil) to thousands of independents.
Houston-specific considerations:
– EMV at the pump (required by Oct 2025, active in 2026)
– Dual pricing at the pump (industry standard for 40+ years)
– Inside store retail
– Lottery sales (Texas Lottery Commission rules)
– Age verification for tobacco
Recommended setup: EMV-compliant fuel dispensers, integrated POS for inside store, dual pricing on pump.
ProTech gas station clients:
– $1.5M to $8M annual card volume
– Effective rate: 1.8% to 2.0% (very low due to high debit mix)
– Annual savings vs flat-rate: $30,000 to $70,000
Convenience stores
The same operators often run multiple locations. ProTech supports multi-location processing.
E-commerce and online businesses (estimated 8,000+ Houston metro)
DTC brands
Houston has fewer DTC startups than coastal markets, but the scene is growing (alternative CPG brands, local food brands, sustainability-focused product lines).
Recommended setup: Shopify or WooCommerce with Authorize.net or NMI gateway, integrated fraud prevention.
Subscription and SaaS
Recurring billing critical.
B2B and wholesale (12,000+ Houston metro)
Industrial supplies
Houston’s energy sector creates demand. High-value transactions.
Recommended setup: Level 2 and Level 3 processing for corporate cards (lower interchange), ACH for large invoices.
Office supplies and equipment
High-volume B2B.
Industry-specific recommendation table
| Vertical | Recommended POS | Recommended pricing | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurant | Clover Station | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Tipping, table mgmt |
| QSR | Clover Mini | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Speed, drive-thru |
| Bar/nightclub | Dedicated bar POS | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Tab mgmt, age verify |
| General retail | Clover Station | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Inventory, barcode |
| Convenience store | Clover Mini | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Speed, age verify |
| Specialty retail | Clover Station | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Customer mgmt, financing |
| Auto repair | Clover Flex | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Mobile, financing |
| Tire shop | Clover Flex | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Mobile, integration |
| Auto dealer | Specialized terminal | ICP 0.25%+$0.10 | Large ticket support |
| Medical practice | Clover Flex | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 + BAA | HIPAA, HSA/FSA |
| Dental practice | Clover Mini | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 + BAA | Treatment plans |
| Hair salon | Square Appointments | ICP 0.35%+$0.10 | Booking, tipping |
| Nail salon | Square Appointments | ICP 0.35%+$0.10 | Booking, retail |
| Plumber/HVAC | Clover Go | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Mobile, financing |
| Cleaning service | Clover Go | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Mobile, recurring |
| Gas station | Specialized fuel POS | ICP 0.20%+$0.05 | EMV pump, dual price |
| Convenience store | Clover Station | ICP 0.25%+$0.10 | Speed, age verify |
| E-commerce | Authorize.net/NMI | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Fraud, recurring |
| Law firm | Virtual terminal | ICP 0.35%+$0.10 | IOLTA, retainer |
| Accountant | Virtual terminal | ICP 0.30%+$0.10 | Invoice payment |
| B2B wholesale | Integrated AR | ICP 0.25%+$0.10 | Level 2/3, ACH |
Across all verticals: what ProTech delivers
- 30+ years Houston metro experience
- Bilingual customer service (English, Spanish)
- Same-day on-site support
- Local installation
- Vertical-specific configuration
- Transparent ICP pricing
- Houston metro local knowledge
Whether you operate one restaurant in Katy, three gas stations across the Beltway, or a multi-location salon group between Memorial and The Woodlands, the right merchant services configuration follows the vertical first and the volume second. A Clover Station at a sushi counter is not the same Clover Station at a jewelry boutique, even when the hardware label is identical. The software stack, the pricing model, the support model, and the integrations all change.
That is the work ProTech Payments does locally in Katy and across the Houston metro. The 30-year track record is built on getting these vertical-specific details right the first time, then standing behind them with same-day on-site support in English and Spanish.
Cita: US Census Houston metro business data, Texas Comptroller small business statistics, Greater Houston Partnership SMB data, ProTech Payments internal vertical breakdown.
Houston merchant case studies and FAQ
Numbers tell the truth that sales pitches hide. The five case studies below come from real Houston metro merchants who switched to ProTech Payments, with names and identifying details anonymized for privacy. Each case shows the previous setup, the issue we identified in the statements, the solution we implemented, and the documented twelve-month results. After the case studies, the FAQ section answers the questions Houston business owners ask most often before signing with us.
Case studies
Case 1: Family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant in Galena Park
Background: Third-generation Mexican restaurant, 35 years in business, family-owned by the Rodriguez family. 4,500 square feet, 70 seats, plus busy takeout and delivery operations.
Previous setup: Square Stand for in-store, Square Online for takeout. 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on the entire card mix.
Annual card volume: $980,000
Effective rate: 3.1% (Square premium plus delivery fees on Square Online)
Annual fees: $30,380
Issue identified: Square’s flat-rate was costing significantly more than transparent interchange-plus pricing would. The restaurant’s mixed card portfolio (heavy debit volume plus Mexican-issued credit cards, both with lower interchange than US consumer rewards cards) was not reflected in Square’s one-size-fits-all flat-rate model. The owner was effectively subsidizing other Square merchants with premium card mixes.
ProTech solution:
– Migrated to interchange-plus pricing (0.30% markup + $0.10 per transaction)
– Installed Clover Mini for in-store with restaurant software
– Migrated online ordering to integrated Clover Online
– Bilingual customer service (Spanish and English) for staff training
– Dual pricing program offered (declined by owner, who sticks with cash discount instead)
Results 12 months later:
– Effective rate dropped to 2.45%
– Annual fees: $24,010
– Net annual savings: $6,370
– Free Clover hardware included (no equipment lease)
– Same-day on-site service when needed
– Quote from owner: “We were paying for simplicity. We don’t need simple. We need transparent. ProTech showed us what we were really paying.”
Case 2: Plumbing company in Cypress
Background: Family-owned plumbing service, 25 years in business, 3 service trucks and 4 plumbers. The owner’s son took over financial management in 2024 and started reviewing every fixed expense.
Previous setup: National Bank Merchant Services with tiered pricing. Wireless terminals on each truck. 2-year contract with 18 months remaining.
Annual card volume: $750,000
Effective rate: 3.0% (tiered pricing with most transactions downgrading to mid-qualified or non-qualified buckets)
Annual fees: $22,500
Plus equipment lease: $180 per month ($2,160 per year)
Total annual cost: $24,660
Issue identified: Tiered pricing was inflating the effective rate by pushing rewards cards and corporate cards into expensive downgrade buckets that the merchant did not control. The equipment lease was charging $2,160 per year for wireless terminals worth approximately $400 each.
ProTech solution:
– Migrated to interchange-plus pricing (0.30% markup)
– Replaced leased terminals with purchased Clover Go ($299 each, owned outright)
– ProTech bought out the previous processor’s ETF ($500 reimbursed)
– Set up integrated invoicing with QuickBooks
Results 12 months later:
– Effective rate dropped to 2.35%
– Annual processing fees: $17,625
– Equipment lease eliminated ($2,160 per year saved)
– Net annual savings: $7,035
– Quote from owner: “I always knew we were getting screwed by the lease. The new effective rate was a bonus.”
Case 3: Independent jewelry store in River Oaks
Background: Independent jeweler specializing in custom designs and estate pieces. 25 years in business. Average transaction value of $850.
Previous setup: Heartland Payment Systems with interchange-plus pricing. Markup of 0.45% + $0.15 per transaction.
Annual card volume: $2.1M
Effective rate: 2.85%
Annual fees: $59,850
Plus monthly fees: $1,800 per year
Issue identified: The markup was higher than necessary for a merchant of this volume and risk profile. The Heartland account manager had become unresponsive after the initial onboarding, with calls routed to a generic support queue.
ProTech solution:
– Negotiated ICP with 0.20% markup + $0.10 per transaction
– Kept the same Clover terminals (no hardware change needed)
– Kept the same Authorize.net gateway (no integration change)
– Assigned a dedicated account manager (Houston-based, direct line)
Results 12 months later:
– Effective rate dropped to 2.55%
– Annual processing fees: $53,550
– Monthly fees eliminated ($1,800 per year saved)
– Net annual savings: $8,100
– Quote from owner: “I didn’t even know I could negotiate. ProTech walked me through what I was paying and what I should pay. Simple.”
Case 4: Gas station in Pearland
Background: Independent gas station with attached convenience store, 12 years owned by the current family. Two locations within five miles of each other.
Previous setup: Major national processor with tiered pricing. Equipment lease for pump readers and inside terminals.
Annual card volume: $4.2M (combined across both locations)
Effective rate: 2.65% (tiered, though heavy debit mix kept the effective rate from being even worse)
Annual fees: $111,300
Equipment lease: $480 per month combined ($5,760 per year)
Total annual cost: $117,060
Issue identified: Tiered pricing on a heavy debit volume was producing enormous waste, because debit interchange is structurally low and the merchant was paying premium tiered rates on transactions that should have qualified for sub-1% pricing. The equipment lease was an additional layer of cost that should have been eliminated years earlier.
ProTech solution:
– Migrated to interchange-plus pricing (0.20% markup)
– Both locations on a consolidated MID for unified reporting
– Replaced leased pump readers with purchased EMV-compliant units ($1,200 each, owned)
– Replaced inside terminals with Clover Mini
Results 12 months later:
– Effective rate dropped to 1.75% (very low due to the debit-heavy customer mix)
– Annual processing fees: $73,500
– Equipment lease eliminated ($5,760 per year saved)
– Net annual savings (first year, paying off equipment buyout): $43,560
– Ongoing annual savings: $48,800 per year
– Quote from owner: “The other processor had us locked in tiered pricing for 3 years. ProTech bought out the contract and put us on ICP. We saved more in 6 months than the buyout cost.”
Case 5: Veterinary practice in Sugar Land
Background: Mid-size veterinary practice, 7 vets and 35 staff. 17 years in business, well-known in the Sugar Land community.
Previous setup: Square Stand for in-store, Square Online for online appointments and prescription refills.
Annual card volume: $1.4M
Effective rate: 2.95% (Square flat-rate applied to a premium card mix)
Annual fees: $41,300
Issue identified: Square’s flat-rate left substantial money on the table. Most clients pay with rewards credit cards, which Square charges the same flat 2.9% + $0.30 fee regardless of whether the underlying interchange is 1.65% (basic Visa) or 2.40% (premium rewards). The merchant was paying 2.9% on transactions where transparent ICP would have charged 2.0% or less.
ProTech solution:
– Migrated to interchange-plus pricing (0.30% markup + $0.10 per transaction)
– Installed Clover Stand with veterinary practice integration
– HIPAA BAA signed (the practice treats medical and health data similarly to human medical providers)
– Recurring billing setup for treatment plans
Results 12 months later:
– Effective rate dropped to 2.40%
– Annual processing fees: $33,600
– Net annual savings: $7,700
– Plus eliminated $850 per year in Square Online fees on appointment booking
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can ProTech install in Houston?
24 to 48 hours from agreement signing. We are physically located at 25140 Kingsland Blvd STE 180, Katy, TX. Our technicians can be at your location within 4 hours of scheduling for any merchant inside the I-610 loop or the Beltway 8 ring.
Do you serve restaurants in Midtown?
Yes. ProTech has 12 or more Midtown restaurant accounts. We know the area’s customers, traffic patterns, peak hours, and operational rhythm. We support full-service, fast-casual, bars, and ghost kitchens with restaurant POS configurations specific to each format.
Can you support Vietnamese-owned nail salons in Bellaire?
Yes. We have bilingual customer service in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. We are familiar with the cultural and operational specifics of nail salon operations, including tipping flows, service ticket structures, and the cash management habits common in the industry.
What is the typical Houston merchant’s effective rate with ProTech?
Restaurant: 2.3 to 2.6%. Retail: 2.2 to 2.5%. Auto repair: 2.2 to 2.5%. Gas station: 1.7 to 2.0%. Medical: 2.2 to 2.6%. Salon and spa: 2.3 to 2.7%. These ranges reflect interchange variation by card mix and ticket size, not changes to our markup, which stays locked.
Does ProTech serve Sugar Land medical practices?
Yes. 8 or more medical practices in Sugar Land are ProTech clients. We sign HIPAA BAAs, integrate with practice management software, and configure HSA and FSA card acceptance. See merchant services for medical.
What if I am in Houston but my current contract is not expired?
We can buy out your contract (up to $500 ETF reimbursement). Many Houston merchants have switched mid-contract because the savings from a better rate exceed the early termination penalty within the first few months.
Do you accept Square Reader hardware?
No. Square hardware is locked to the Square ecosystem and cannot be reprovisioned to another processor. If you have a Square Stand, we will replace it with a Clover Mini (free with a new account) at the time of switch.
What about Toast restaurants?
Toast is a restaurant-specific bundle that combines hardware, software, and payment processing into one locked ecosystem. ProTech does not migrate Toast restaurants because of that bundling. We can offer comparable functionality with Clover, but the migration is more complex than a Square migration and we discuss it case by case.
Do you serve Cypress or Tomball businesses?
Yes. Both are within our standard service area. We have 20 or more Cypress merchants and several in Tomball, with same-day on-site service available.
Can I get a free statement audit?
Yes. Send us your last 3 merchant statements via email or upload at protechpayments.com. We deliver a written report within 24 hours showing your effective rate, hidden fees, and projected savings. Start at get started.
How long has ProTech served Houston?
Since 1992. 30 or more years in the Houston metro market. Family-owned business, locally headquartered, with no private equity ownership and no acquisition-driven account churn.
Do you serve large businesses or just SMBs?
Both. We serve businesses from $50,000 per year in card volume up to $50M per year. Smaller merchants get our standard ICP markups. Larger merchants get negotiated lower markups (0.10 to 0.20%) reflecting their volume and risk profile.
What about online-only businesses in Houston?
Yes. We support Houston-based e-commerce, SaaS, and subscription businesses. Authorize.net, NMI, or direct API integration available, with interchange-plus pricing configured for card-not-present transactions.
Do you support multi-location chains?
Yes. We support up to 50 locations on a consolidated MID with separate reporting per location. ProTech serves 15 or more multi-location chains in the Houston metro area.
What payment methods does ProTech support?
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, China UnionPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH, eCheck, gift cards, and loyalty cards. Cryptocurrency is available by partnership on a limited basis.
Can I lock in my rate?
We offer 30-day rate guarantees. Beyond 30 days, the interchange portion can shift based on changes set by the card networks (Visa and Mastercard publish updates twice a year), but the markup (our profit) is locked for the duration of the agreement.
What is the worst-case scenario if ProTech does not work out?
Month-to-month after 6 months. 30-day notice. No ETF. We do not lock you in. If our service or pricing stops working for your business, you can leave without penalty.
Do you charge for PCI compliance?
No. PCI compliance is included in our service. We help with annual Self-Assessment Questionnaires and do not charge per-quarter compliance fees that many processors hide in the small print.
How does ProTech compare to Heartland?
Both use interchange-plus pricing. ProTech is locally headquartered in Houston (Heartland is national), with a dedicated account manager (Heartland is more remote), shorter contracts (Heartland is often 3-year), and lower typical markup (we negotiate at 0.30% versus Heartland’s 0.40 to 0.50% standard).
Do you cover Galveston?
Yes. Galveston is within our extended service area. Remote installation plus quarterly on-site visits, with same-day phone and software support always available.
Do you offer dual pricing?
Yes. Merchants who want to pass card-processing costs to card-paying customers (while offering a discount for cash) can run a compliant dual pricing program. Available across all verticals we serve in Houston.
What auto repair shops do you support?
Independent shops, body shops, transmission specialists, and multi-bay operations. See merchant services for auto repair. Most Houston shops we serve land between 2.2 and 2.5% effective rate.
Do you handle high-volume gas stations?
Yes. See merchant services for gas stations and the Pearland case study above for a documented example of how we eliminated $48,800 per year in unnecessary fees on a $4.2M volume.
Can I bring my existing retail terminals?
Yes if they are unlocked. Most Clover and Pax devices can be reprovisioned to ProTech. Verifone and Ingenico devices vary. We tell you for free, before you commit, whether your hardware can move. See merchant services for retail.
Ready to start with ProTech?
Two ways to begin.
-
Free statement audit (recommended): Send your last 3 merchant statements. Get a written report within 24 hours showing your effective rate, hidden fees, and projected savings.
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Direct quote: Call (888) 255-0425 to discuss your business. We give you ICP pricing immediately, no obligation, no scripted sales call.
ProTech Payments
25140 Kingsland Blvd STE 180
Katy, TX 77494
(888) 255-0425
info@protechpayments.com
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 Central, Saturday 9 to 3:30 Central, Sunday closed.
Service area: Greater Houston metropolitan statistical area plus surrounding regions. Same-day on-site service throughout Katy, Houston, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Spring, Cypress, Pearland, Tomball, Galleria, Energy Corridor, Memorial, Midtown, Downtown, Heights, Montrose, and all surrounding areas. Extended service area covers Galveston, Conroe, Baytown, La Porte, Pasadena, Friendswood, League City, and Texas City, with remote installation plus quarterly on-site visits.
Start the conversation at contact or at get started. Most Houston merchants who request a statement audit find $4,000 to $40,000 per year in documented annual savings, with the smaller end common for businesses under $500,000 in volume and the larger end common for multi-location operations.
Cita: ProTech Payments internal Houston merchant case data, anonymized for privacy protection.
