B2B Payment Processing
Enhanced commercial card data, ACH, invoicing, and ERP integrations built for businesses that bill other businesses.
How B2B Payment Processing Is Different
B2B payments are not just larger versions of consumer transactions. They involve different card types, different risk profiles, and different data requirements.
When a business customer pays you with a corporate purchasing card or commercial credit card, the transaction runs through the same card networks as a consumer card purchase. But commercial cards come with different data expectations. Beyond the basics, a B2B transaction can carry enhanced data: sales tax, purchase order number, and line-item detail from the invoice. Visa now handles that enhanced data through its Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP), which replaced its Level 2 and Level 3 data programs. Mastercard continues to support Level 2 and Level 3 enhanced data.
Submitting enhanced data takes a processor and gateway that capture it from your invoices and send it with the transaction. Under CEDP, accuracy matters: the line-item data should reflect what was actually sold. GoPayhawk supports enhanced data submission.
Large Ticket Sizes, High Stakes
B2B transactions are often large: a contractor invoicing for a job, a distributor billing for a product order, a professional services firm charging for a month of work. Card processing fees scale with the invoice amount, so on large tickets the card type and the data sent with the transaction matter more. Flat-rate processors do not differentiate transaction size or card type.
Corporate Card Mix
Business customers typically pay with corporate purchasing cards, company credit cards, or fleet cards rather than consumer debit cards. These card types carry higher base interchange rates than consumer cards, and they are the card types enhanced data is built for. If your customer base is predominantly business buyers, your card mix almost certainly contains commercial cards where the data you submit matters.
Invoice-Based Payment Workflows
Most B2B businesses do not have a counter. They send invoices and wait for payment, sometimes weeks after the work is done. That creates a different workflow than retail: you need to accept cards by phone, through a payment link, or via a virtual terminal. Card-not-present B2B transactions carry higher base interchange rates than in-person transactions. Combined with enhanced data submission and the option to offer ACH payment on large invoices, GoPayhawk gives B2B merchants the tools to keep total collection costs as low as possible across all payment methods.
What Enhanced Transaction Data Actually Means
These are the data fields a B2B card transaction can carry beyond the basics. For Visa, enhanced data now runs through CEDP.
The key requirement is that your payment processor and gateway capture enhanced data from your invoices and submit it alongside the transaction, and that the data is accurate. A statement analysis will show you which of your transactions are on commercial card types.
Which Pricing Model Is Right for B2B?
The pricing model matters more for B2B than almost any other industry, because it decides whether the interchange on your commercial card transactions shows up on your statement at all.
| Pricing Model | How It Works for B2B | Interchange Visibility | Best When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interchange Plus Recommended for B2B |
You pay the actual card network interchange cost plus a fixed markup. The interchange category each commercial card transaction lands in appears on your statement. | Full: interchange appears directly on your statement. | All B2B businesses with meaningful corporate card volume |
| ACH Payments | Bank-to-bank transfers at a flat per-transaction fee rather than a percentage. Ideal for large invoices where a percentage fee becomes a significant dollar amount on a single payment. | Not applicable (no interchange on ACH). | Large invoices where a flat ACH fee is lower than card processing cost |
| Flat Rate | Fixed percentage on every transaction. You pay the same regardless of card type or data submitted. | None: you pay the same rate whatever interchange applies. | Not recommended for B2B businesses with meaningful corporate card volume |
| Surcharging | Credit card users pay a surcharge. Applicable to corporate cards in most states. Requires card network registration and compliant terminal setup. | Partial: surcharging eliminates your cost but does not reduce interchange directly. | B2B businesses with consistent credit card usage whose customer relationships accept surcharging |
| Cash Discounting | Posted price is the card price; customers paying by check or ACH pay a lower amount. Works well in B2B invoice workflows where two prices can be clearly displayed. Legal in all 50 states. | Not directly applicable to interchange, but eliminates card processing cost on transactions that shift to ACH. | B2B businesses with invoice workflows that can clearly display dual pricing |
Required Features for B2B Payment Processing
B2B payment processing needs are different from retail. These are the features that matter most when your customers are businesses.
Enhanced Data Submission
GoPayhawk supports enhanced data submission for qualifying B2B commercial card transactions. For Visa, enhanced data now runs through CEDP. Your account manager will configure data submission for your specific transaction and invoice types.
ACH Payments
Accept bank-to-bank ACH payments from business customers at a fraction of credit card processing costs. ACH is particularly valuable for large recurring invoices where even a modest percentage fee adds up to a significant dollar amount. Offering ACH alongside card acceptance gives your customers the option to choose the lower-cost payment method.
Invoice Payment Links
Send a secure payment link alongside your invoice so customers can pay online by card or ACH without requiring a terminal on your end. Invoice payment links are the standard B2B collection tool for contractors, professional services firms, and any business without a customer-facing location.
Recurring Billing
For retainer clients, ongoing contracts, and subscription services, automated recurring billing reduces the monthly collection friction. Automated payment scheduling, failed payment retry logic, and customer notification flows. Your account manager configures the billing schedule that matches your contract structure.
Virtual Terminal
A web-based interface for manually processing card payments over the phone or via email authorization. Essential for B2B businesses that do not have a physical counter and need to process customer-provided card numbers. Virtual terminal transactions can carry enhanced data where the card type qualifies.
Detailed Reporting
Transaction-level reporting showing card type, interchange category, and fee breakdown per transaction. For B2B merchants, this visibility is how you verify which interchange category each commercial card transaction landed in. GoPayhawk's portal gives you that data month over month.
Accounting, ERP, and Business System Integrations
GoPayhawk connects to the accounting and ERP platforms that B2B businesses rely on, so payments and invoices stay in sync without manual data entry.
Accounting and ERP
Sync payment processing directly with your accounting or ERP system. Transactions post automatically, reconciliation is fast, and your books stay accurate without manual entry.
GoPayhawk's QuickBooks integration syncs transactions to QuickBooks Online or Desktop automatically. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a featured integration connecting both Business Central and Customer Engagement, keeping invoices, payments, and customer records synchronized. Oracle NetSuite is supported for enterprise ERP environments.
Gateways, Billing, and Workflow Tools
For B2B businesses processing online, by phone, or through invoice payment workflows:
More ERP, Accounting & B2B Platforms
View all 200+ integrations or contact us to confirm your specific accounting system or ERP is compatible before applying.
Getting Enhanced Data Right Under CEDP
What a CEDP-ready setup does for a B2B business, step by step.
From Invoice to Transaction
Capture the detail. Line-item data comes from your invoice or ERP: what was sold, how many, at what unit price, and the tax.
Send it with the payment. For Visa, GoPayhawk processes that data in CEDP-compliant form through Elavon alongside the commercial card transaction, and when you use the NMI gateway we board it with a processor that supports CEDP. For Mastercard, the same detail goes as Level 2 and Level 3 enhanced data.
Keep it accurate. Under CEDP, the line-item data should reflect the actual transaction.
Check the result. Transaction-level reporting shows the card type and interchange category for each payment.
If a portion of your invoices are paid by ACH instead of card, the per-transaction cost is typically a flat fee rather than a percentage.
Submit your statement to see which of your transactions are on commercial card types.
In practice, how much of your volume this applies to depends on what card types your customers use. Your account manager will review your current statement to see what portion of your transactions are on commercial card types and explain what enhanced data submission involves for your business specifically.
If you are currently on a flat-rate processor, you pay the same rate regardless of card type or data submitted, so whatever interchange applies to your commercial card transactions never shows up on your statement.
B2B Business Types We Work With
If your customers are businesses and they pay with corporate or commercial cards, enhanced data and the right pricing model both matter for you.
Contractors and Trades
HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and general contractors accepting card payments for large-ticket jobs. High average invoices, commercial card payments where enhanced data applies, and frequent need for field invoice payment links.
Professional Services
Law firms, accounting firms, consultants, marketing agencies, and staffing companies billing clients monthly or by project. Recurring billing and invoice payment links are standard tools for this category.
Wholesale and Distribution
Businesses invoicing other businesses for product orders. Itemized invoices with product codes, quantities, and tax data are exactly the line-item detail enhanced data carries.
Technology and SaaS
Software companies billing business clients on recurring subscriptions or enterprise license agreements. Recurring billing and ACH are standard tools for ongoing subscription revenue.
Healthcare and Medical Billing
Medical practices and healthcare businesses billing patients and institutional clients. Also see our healthcare payment processing page for HIPAA-compliant setup guidance.
Automotive and Fleet Services
Auto dealerships, auto repair, and fleet service businesses that frequently process fleet cards and corporate purchasing cards. CDK Global integration available for automotive dealerships.
What GoPayhawk Merchants Say
"My electrical company became a client of PayHawk back in September and I have nothing but great things to say. I have had the pleasure of working with Charlie Hopgood and Katie Pellish since day one. Katie has gone above and beyond to ensure all my questions have been answered promptly. Highly recommend!"
Read more reviews on our about page.
B2B Payment Processing FAQ
Level 2 and Level 3 are the industry names for enhanced data sent with a commercial or corporate card transaction. Level 2 adds sales tax amount, purchase order number, and merchant postal code. Level 3 adds full line-item detail including product descriptions, quantities, and unit prices. Visa now handles enhanced commercial card data through its Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP), which replaced its Level 2 and Level 3 data programs. Mastercard continues to support Level 2 and Level 3 enhanced data. Under CEDP, accurate line-item data matters. GoPayhawk can process CEDP-compliant data through Elavon, and when you use the NMI gateway we board it with a processor that supports CEDP.
Any B2B business whose customers pay with corporate purchasing cards, fleet cards, or commercial credit cards. This includes contractors, HVAC companies, wholesale distributors, professional services firms, staffing companies, and any business that regularly invoices other businesses. Businesses with itemized invoices already have the line-item detail that enhanced data carries.
Yes. GoPayhawk supports ACH payments, which allow business customers to pay directly from their bank account at a flat per-transaction fee rather than a percentage. For large B2B invoices, offering ACH as a payment option can substantially reduce your effective processing cost. Your account manager can configure ACH acceptance alongside card processing so customers can choose their preferred method.
GoPayhawk supports invoice payment links, which let you send a secure payment link alongside your invoice so customers can pay online by card or ACH. Payment links pair with accounting integrations like QuickBooks or Microsoft Dynamics 365 to keep your records in sync automatically. This is the standard collection model for B2B businesses without a customer-facing counter.
Interchange-plus is the best pricing model for most B2B businesses because you pay the actual card network interchange on each transaction plus a fixed markup, so the interchange category each commercial card transaction lands in shows up on your statement. Under flat-rate pricing, you pay the same rate regardless of card type or the data you submit.
Yes. GoPayhawk has a featured integration with Intuit QuickBooks that syncs transactions automatically to QuickBooks Online or Desktop. GoPayhawk also integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle NetSuite, and Odoo. Your account manager confirms the specific setup for your accounting system during onboarding so payments and invoices stay in sync without manual data entry.
GoPayhawk supports large B2B transactions through its acquiring relationship with Elavon. For very large invoices, your account manager can advise on transaction limits, split tender options, and whether ACH would be more cost-effective for specific invoice sizes. The dedicated account model means you have a real person to call when a large transaction needs attention rather than navigating a ticket queue.
Enhanced data applies based on the card type being used, not your industry. If your customer pays with a corporate purchasing card, fleet card, or commercial card, the data you submit with the transaction matters whether you are a contractor, distributor, professional services firm, or any other B2B category. For Visa, enhanced data now runs through CEDP. Mastercard continues to support Level 2 and Level 3 enhanced data. The key requirement is a processor and gateway that capture and submit accurate enhanced data.
B2B Payment Processing Built Around Your Invoices
Enhanced data, ACH, and interchange-plus pricing set up for how B2B businesses actually get paid. Find out what fits your card mix with a free statement analysis.
