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Questions about Steele Solutions
Direct answers about the broker model, the free statement audit, our service lines, and how we work. If your question isn't covered here, call Jim at 417-294-1882 or email steelesolutions4u@gmail.com.
- What does Steele Solutions do?
- Steele Solutions is a Branson Missouri family-run merchant services brokerage. Jim and Kim Steele place POS systems with no contracts, set up credit card processing on interchange-plus pricing, broker small business lending, place ATMs (merchant-owned or free), and refer CSSI engineering-based cost segregation studies for commercial property owners.
- Are you a processor or a broker?
- Broker. We shop multiple processors, banks, ISOs, and lenders on each client's behalf, then stay on as the same point of contact for the life of the account. We are not employees of any single processor.
- Where is Steele Solutions located?
- Branson, Missouri, near Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo. We serve the Ozarks tri-lakes region in person and the United States online.
- How does the free statement audit work?
- Send us your most recent merchant processor statement at steelesolutions4u@gmail.com. Within two business days you receive a written, line-by-line audit identifying every fee and markup. Free, no obligation, even if you do not switch.
- Do I have to sign a contract?
- No multi-year contract is required. We offer month-to-month and annual options. The processor relationship is what they call "no early-termination fee" in the industry.
- Is interchange-plus pricing actually better than tiered?
- For almost every merchant doing more than a few thousand dollars a month, yes. Tiered pricing buries the card-network fees inside markup categories. Interchange-plus shows the network fee and the processor markup separately on every line so you can verify what you are paying for.
- Do you sell ATMs or place them for free?
- Both. Merchant-owned ATMs give you full surcharge revenue but you fund the cash and own the operational lift. Free placements put an ATM in your venue at no cost to you — a third party owns and services it, and you get the foot traffic uplift without the operational burden. Kim runs both programs.
- What is CSSI cost segregation?
- Engineering-based reclassification of commercial property components into shorter depreciation schedules (5, 7, and 15 years rather than 27.5 or 39). It accelerates the depreciation deduction and improves near-term cash flow. CSSI is a national leader in the discipline and Jim is a CSSI National Account Executive. Consult your CPA before relying on any specific tax outcome.
- Do you guarantee lending approval?
- No. Lending approval is decided by the lender's underwriting on each application. We package, present, and shop your file — we do not underwrite. We do not charge an application fee.
- How fast can you switch my credit card processing?
- Most switches complete in 5-10 business days from the moment you sign the new agreement. We coordinate the cutover so your terminal stops accepting on the old processor the same business day the new one goes live. Zero customer-visible downtime is the norm.
- What kinds of businesses do you serve?
- Restaurants, retail, lodging (resorts, lodges, cabin rentals), marinas, show venues, mobile businesses (food trucks, service vans), professional services, e-commerce, and commercial property owners (for CSSI). If you take cards or own commercial real estate in the Ozarks region, you fit our model.
- What if I'm happy with my current processor?
- Then keep them. The free audit will tell you if you are actually being priced fairly, and if you are, the recommendation is to stay where you are. We do not push the switch unless it benefits you.
- Are you affiliated with a bank?
- We are independent. Jim came from First National Bank of Omaha (where he was in the President's Club for merchant processing) but no longer works there. Steele Solutions is its own business.
- What hours are you available?
- Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Central is the official window. After-hours and weekend support by text is the family-business norm. Existing clients get our direct cell numbers.
- Do you charge for the audit?
- No. The audit is free with no obligation. We do not require a sales call to deliver the report. You can read it, sit on it, share it with your CPA, ignore it. Up to you.
Less common questions we hear
The main FAQ above covers the questions everyone asks. Here are the ones that come up later, after the relationship is going.
- How do you handle a chargeback dispute?
- Existing clients send the chargeback notice to Jim. We review the documentation, advise on response strategy, and coordinate with the processor's chargeback team. Steele Solutions does not represent you legally — chargeback dispute responses are factual narratives, not legal proceedings — but we help frame the response.
- What happens if my business is sold?
- Merchant agreements typically need to be re-signed in the buyer's name. We coordinate the transition. The buyer may want to keep your processor relationship or move to their preferred one; either way works.
- Can I see the actual processor agreements before I sign?
- Yes. We send the full agreement with every quote. Read every page. Ask any question.
- What if I want to leave Steele Solutions?
- You can leave any time. The processor relationship is with the processor, not with us — Steele Solutions can be removed as the broker of record on your account by your written request. We will not retaliate.
- Do you work with non-profits?
- Yes. Non-profit pricing on card processing exists at most processors but is not automatic — you have to know to ask for it. We do.
- Do you work with seasonal businesses that close for the winter?
- Yes. Many of our Branson and lake-area clients are seasonal. We set up processor agreements that don't penalize the winter closure (no monthly minimums, no inactivity fees).
- How does Steele Solutions get paid?
- Processors and lenders pay us a residual or referral commission on accounts we place. We do not charge fees to the merchant directly. The audit is free. There are no application fees.
- Will you sign an NDA before I send my statement?
- Yes, gladly. Send us your NDA template and we'll sign and return.
- Can I get a copy of past audits or reports?
- Yes. Existing clients can request copies of any past work at any time.
- What about ACH and bank-side relationships?
- We do not write ACH or bank deposit accounts directly. We refer to banks we trust for those products when a client needs them alongside merchant services.
Free statement audit. No obligation.
Email your most recent merchant processor statement to steelesolutions4u@gmail.com. We mail back a written, line-by-line audit within two business days. Free, even if you do not switch.