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Avendo

Documentation

Documentation for merchants

Avendo connects your existing checkout to multiple payment processors and routes each transaction to the one offering the best available rate in real time.

This documentation explains, in plain language, how the Avendo platform behaves: how routing works, what it needs from your checkout, what the reports show, how security is handled, and how Avendo is paid. It is written for small business owners first, and it applies equally to larger merchants.

Last updated: November 2026

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How does Avendo routing work?

For every transaction, Avendo automatically chooses the processor offering the best available rate at that moment and sends the payment there.

A traditional setup connects a store to one processor, so every sale pays that processor's price. Avendo connects your checkout to multiple processors instead. The routing decision happens per transaction and in real time, which means it is not a one-time choice made at signup. As rates differ between processors, each sale can go to whichever is best at that point.

Does Avendo work with my existing checkout?

Yes. Avendo works with existing checkout pages, so you connect what you already have rather than building something new.

Your customers keep paying on the same page. The connection between that checkout and Avendo's processors is set up during onboarding, where the team confirms the details for your platform. Avendo focuses on e-commerce, so the checkout in question is an online one.

What do Avendo reports show?

Avendo reports give merchants clearer pricing and processing information than a typical single processor statement.

The purpose is visibility: what you paid to process transactions and how routing handled them, in one place. Existing merchants access reports through the Avendo merchant dashboard sign-in. Clear totals also help at tax time, since card processing fees are commonly treated as a business expense; confirm your own situation with a tax professional.

Is Avendo secure?

Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways.

PCI DSS is the data security standard for organizations that store, process, or transmit cardholder data, maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council (opens in a new tab). Your own compliance responsibilities depend on how your checkout handles card data, so confirm them with your processor. When contacting support, never include full card numbers.

How is Avendo paid?

Avendo does not bill or charge merchants directly; its compensation is handled between Avendo and the payment processors.

You will not receive a separate Avendo invoice. Processing fees are still paid on each transaction to the processor that handles it, at the best available rate Avendo found for that transaction. For how processing fees work in general, see the guide to credit card processing cost.

Glossary of payment terms

Terms used across this hub

Payment processor
The company that sends a card transaction through the card network for approval and settles the funds to the merchant.
Payment gateway
The service that securely captures card details at checkout and passes them to a processor.
Interchange
The portion of a card fee paid to the customer’s card issuer. It varies by card type and by whether the card is present.
Interchange-plus
A pricing model that passes interchange through at cost and adds a set processor markup.
Flat rate
A pricing model that charges the same percentage, often plus a fixed fee, on every transaction.
Card-not-present
A transaction where the card is not physically shown, such as an online purchase. These generally cost more to process.
Routing
Choosing which processor handles a given transaction. Avendo routes each transaction to the processor offering the best available rate in real time.
PCI DSS
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council, for organizations that handle cardholder data.
Surcharge
An extra fee a merchant adds when a customer pays by credit card. Rules depend on state law and card network policy.

Common questions

Short answers from the full credit card processing FAQ.

How does Avendo choose a processor for each transaction?
Avendo’s platform connects your checkout to multiple payment processors and, for each transaction, automatically routes it to the processor offering the best available rate in real time. The decision happens per transaction rather than once at signup, so your sales are not locked into a single processor’s pricing. More in the FAQ
What reports does Avendo provide?
Avendo provides merchants with clearer pricing and processing reports. The aim is that you can see what you paid to process transactions and where each one was routed, instead of piecing it together from several statements. Existing merchants review these details in the Avendo merchant dashboard after signing in. More in the FAQ
How does Avendo make money if it does not bill merchants?
Avendo says it does not bill or charge merchants directly. Its compensation is handled between Avendo and the payment processors it routes transactions to. For merchants, that means no separate Avendo invoice; processing fees are paid on transactions to the processor that handles each one, as they would be with any processor. More in the FAQ
Does Avendo work with PCI-compliant processors?
Yes. Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways. PCI DSS is the card industry’s data security standard, maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council, for organizations that store, process, or transmit cardholder data. Your own PCI responsibilities depend on your checkout setup, so confirm them with your processor. More in the FAQ
What is the difference between a payment processor and a payment gateway?
A gateway securely captures card details at checkout and passes them on, while the processor moves the transaction through the card networks and settles the funds. Many providers bundle both. Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways, and it connects a merchant’s checkout to more than one processor. More in the FAQ
What should I do if transactions are being declined?
Declines usually come from the card issuer, for reasons such as insufficient funds, suspected fraud, or mismatched details. First check the decline reason shown in your reports or processor dashboard. If a pattern appears across many customers, contact Avendo support with example transaction times and amounts so the team can investigate. More in the FAQ
Why is my processing statement so hard to read?
Statements often mix interchange, network fees, and processor markups under different names, which makes total cost hard to see. Avendo provides clearer pricing and processing reports for this reason. If you are evaluating a change, bring a recent statement when you contact Avendo so the team can explain how routing would apply. More in the FAQ

Question not covered here?

Send it to Avendo with your business name and a short description, and the team will point you to the answer.

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