Proven ResultsHow Merchants Win with Unison
Every case study below reflects a real merchant engagement with verified metrics.
RestaurantsDallas, TX
Full-Service Restaurant
Challenge
Paying over $3,200/month in processing fees with a flat-rate processor. No dedicated support when POS issues arose during peak hours.
Solution
Switched to Unison with a Clover Station Duo and cash discount program. Processing fees dropped to $0/month with compliant dual pricing.
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|
| Monthly Processing Fees | $3,200 | $0 |
| Annual Savings | - | $38,400 |
| Support Response Time | 24-48 hours | Under 15 minutes |
| POS System | Generic terminal | Clover Station Duo |
“Switching to Unison's cash discount program saved us over $24,000 a year in processing fees. The transition was seamless.”
— Michael R., Restaurant Owner
Peptides & Research ChemicalsUnited States
Online Peptide Supplier
Challenge
Declined by 5 mainstream processors (Stripe, Square, PayPal, and two banks) due to high-risk industry classification. Unable to accept credit cards for 3 months.
Solution
Unison matched the business with a high-risk acquiring bank experienced in peptide underwriting. Account approved in 3 business days with PayTrace gateway integration.
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|
| Approval Timeline | Declined 5 times | Approved in 3 days |
| Monthly Revenue Recovery | Lost $45K in card sales | $45K+ restored |
| Chargeback Rate | N/A | 0.4% (well under threshold) |
| Processing Stability | Account frozen twice | 12+ months stable |
“After being rejected by 5 processors, Unison got us approved in 3 days. They actually understand our industry.”
— Dr. Sarah K., Research Supply Company
Salons & SpasAtlanta, GA
Nail Salon
Challenge
Missing 40% of phone calls during busy hours. High no-show rate costing $2,000+/month in lost appointments. Staff spending too much time on phone scheduling.
Solution
Implemented Unison AI Front Desk for automated phone answering and appointment booking. Integrated with Clover Mini for payment processing with interchange-plus pricing.
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|
| Missed Calls | 40% unanswered | 0% — AI handles 24/7 |
| Appointment No-Shows | 22% rate | 11% rate |
| Monthly Revenue Impact | -$2,000 lost | +$3,500 recovered |
| Processing Rate | 2.6% + 10¢ (Square) | 1.7% avg (interchange-plus) |
“The AI front desk handles 70% of our calls now. No-shows dropped by half since customers can easily reschedule.”
— Lisa M., Nail Salon Owner
Gambling & GamingUnited States (multi-state)
Licensed Online Casino Operator
Challenge
Prior processor froze deposits during a compliance review. Chargeback ratio had climbed to 1.4% after a promotional campaign. Needed stable card processing with documented KYC and faster withdrawals.
Solution
Unison restructured MIDs by state, implemented Ethoca/Verifi chargeback alerts, optimized billing descriptors, and aligned gateway geo-fencing with gaming board requirements. ACH added for large withdrawals to reduce card disputes.
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|
| Chargeback Ratio | 1.4% | 0.55% within 90 days |
| Reserve Hold | 12% rolling | 7% rolling |
| Average Withdrawal Time | 72+ hours | Under 36 hours |
| Account Status | Processing hold | Stable 14+ months |
“Unison treated us like a regulated gaming company, not a generic high-risk merchant. Descriptors and alerts fixed what volume alone never would.”
— James T., COO, Licensed iGaming Brand
Cannabis & CBDUnited States
Hemp-Derived CBD eCommerce Brand
Challenge
Declined by two CBD-focused processors due to mixed catalog (topicals + edibles) and COA gaps. Shopify Payments had already shut down the store; third-party gateway misconfigured for subscriptions.
Solution
Unison coordinated a pre-underwriting compliance pass: refreshed COAs, policy pages, and removed therapeutic language. PayTrace gateway with WooCommerce plugin, subscription dunning, and chargeback alerts enabled before first live transaction.
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|
| Approval Timeline | 2 prior declines | 8 business days |
| Subscription Chargebacks | Spiking on renewals | Down 62% after dunning + notices |
| Effective Processing Rate | 5.4% blended | 4.1% interchange-plus |
| Account Stability | Gateway mis-set | 11+ months no holds |
“They caught wording on our site that would have gotten us shut down later. We sell CBD, not drama — Unison made that possible.”
— Alex P., Founder, CBD Wellness Brand