SNAP/Merchant Services & Providers

Farmers markets accepting SNAP help to expand market sales, provide greater access for low-income customers and improve the shopping experience for all. Farmers Markets can offer either SNAP only, SNAP and debit services and/or SNAP, debit, and credit. Each offering has different costs depending on the wireless card service provider and frequency of use. Generally, farmers markets are using point of sale (POS) wireless machines since most do not have access to a telephone line or power source. A card service company can provide wireless machines plus the technology to process your sales transactions and deposit the EBT money into your bank account. Whether or not you should use a SNAP only system or a SNAP/Debit or SNAP/Debit/Credit depends on your market.

Each market is unique. When choosing a system keep in mind:

How many vendors you have,
How many people you serve,
What kind of food options are available,
What type of assistance you may or may not need to run the program, and
What system fits best for the Market Manager and/or Board Members.

Choosing a Card Service

The following PDF's provide information about break even analyses to determine which card service program fits your market needs. These analyses are based on wireless systems (which means the wireless machine is communicating with cell phone towers to transmit information versus using a direct phone line).

SNAP and Debit service charges have a relative fixed fee structure and consequently are easier to project future program costs. Credit card usage fees are based on percentage of sales and much less predictable, and require more complex accounting. The following documents provide support for the market's pursuit to add card services.

Wireless SNAP Only (pdf)
A wireless system requires a portable handheld card reader and a network connection. The SNAP only option offers limited sales, lowest cost, and no revenue source.

*Free machines are also available from the state for SNAP transactions only. To learn more about contact the Western USDA regional office at: 503-326-5971 or 877-823-4369. For a listing of all the USDA Regional Offices click here.

Wireless Debit/SNAP (pdf)
A wireless system requires a portable handheld card reader and a network connection. The Debit/SNAP option has a higher initial start-up cost but provides higher vendor sales and can be a source of revenue with usage fees.

Wireless Credit/Debit/SNAP (pdf not available at this time)

Choosing a Card Provider

*The details below are for informational purposes only. OFMA does not endorse any specific provider. Each market should research and select a provider that is best suited to their specific needs as each provider has a different financial structures and fees for EBT and Debit/Credit usage.

When choosing a provider it is important that the Farmers Market determine what card service fits best. Below are four companies that have assisted other markets. Keep in mind that each company uses different technologies which are not necessarily transferable to other companies. This means that each card service device is specific to that company only. Keep in mind that if you are in a rural area you will need to use a provider that has cell phone service in your area. This is an important question to ask the company. The providers are listed alphabetically below and are in no order of preference.

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	E-funds - Owned by Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) Clyde Terry, email Sr. Account Manager, eFunds Corporation - Government Solutions Phone 801-444-9950, Fax 801-444-9951
	First National Merchant Solutions Contact: Lorrie Wacker, email Direct: 402-602-4053 Phone 800.516.6242 x4053 Fax 866.483.4725
	Merchant Source Kim Lyons, email Business Relations Manager 800-313-5198
	Total Merchant Concepts Cameron Smith, email Phone 888-249-9919 Fax 800-659-5859

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