A bank-processor alternative without the contract or rental fees.
Bank merchant services like TD's are dependable, but they commonly come with a multi-year term, a monthly account fee, a rented terminal, and a blended rate. Surge gives you one clear rate, no contract, and a terminal that's actually yours.
Why owners look for a TD Merchant Solutions alternative
Signing up for payments through your bank is convenient, and for some businesses that’s enough. But a lot of owners tell us the same story: a multi-year term they don’t remember agreeing to, a monthly terminal rental that never ends, an account fee before the first sale, and a “rate” that’s really a blend hiding what each card actually costs.
Surge is built the other way around: 2.5% + 15¢ in person, a one-time $10 setup, no monthly fee, no term contract, and a full point-of-sale included free. The terminal is yours, not rented, and if we’re not saving you money, you walk.
Bank merchant agreements are commonly multi-year with an early-termination fee. Surge has no term and no cancellation fee — leave any time.
No account fee, no terminal rental stacked on before you've sold anything. One transparent rate, and the terminal is yours.
One clear 2.5% + 15¢ in person — not a blended, negotiated number with the markup buried inside.
A full point-of-sale comes with your payments — not a separate line item or a third-party add-on.
How Surge compares to a bank processor
Every bank merchant agreement is negotiated, so treat the right-hand column as the patterns small merchants commonly report — your own terms are in your contract.
| Surge | TD Merchant Solutions (typical) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-person rate | 2.5% + 15¢, clearly stated | Often a blended / negotiated rate |
| Monthly fee | $0 | Account + terminal rental commonly apply |
| Contract | None — cancel anytime | Commonly a multi-year term |
| Early-termination fee | None | Often applies |
| POS software | Included free | Typically separate / third-party |
| Terminal | Yours, $10 one-time setup | Often rented monthly |
| Support | Local, real human | Call centre |
Figures reflect commonly reported patterns for small merchants on bank processing; your actual terms are in your agreement — check them.
See what you'd save vs your bank's rate
Drag the sliders to your real monthly card volume and average ticket. Add your account and terminal-rental fees on top of your blended rate, and the yearly gap versus Surge’s flat 2.5% + 15¢ gets clear fast.
That is about 800 transactions a month.
Estimate only. Compares a common 2.9% + $0.30 per-transaction rate against Surge pricing of 2.5% + $0.15 per transaction. Your exact savings are confirmed on the call.
Not sure what your bank is actually charging? Send us your last statement and we’ll compute your real effective rate — here’s how to read it yourself.
Switching is easier than staying
You don’t have to wait for a term to end to get a quote. We’ll read your current statement with you, show you the exact difference, set up your terminal in person across the GTA and Durham, and factor any early-termination cost into the math honestly so you know the real break-even.
See exactly what you'd save vs your bank
A free 15-minute call, a clear quote, and the real dollar difference — no pressure, no jargon.
This page is general information, not financial or legal advice, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Toronto-Dominion Bank or Global Payments. TD and TD Merchant Solutions are trademarks of their owner. Competitor terms and fees change and vary by merchant — confirm your own agreement before switching.