Elite Merchant Solutions
About
Elite Merchant Solutions is a credit card processing and merchant services company that provides payment solutions to businesses, including point of sale equipment, software, and compliance support. The company is a registered ISO/MSP of Woodforest National Bank and is fully licensed by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. They offer dedicated 24/7 customer support and partner with banks, software companies, and web designers to deliver merchant programs.
Details
VenSearch Intelligence
Ideal Customer
- Elite Merchant Solutions primarily targets small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) across the United States, as explicitly stated in multiple sources.
- Their sweet spot appears to be independent merchants, mom-and-pop operations, small retail storefronts, restaurants, and service businesses that need affordable, full-featured payment processing without the complexity of enterprise systems.
Key Differentiators
- Elite Merchant Solutions differentiates itself primarily on the basis of live, dedicated 24/7 multilingual customer service — a contrast to the automated support common among larger processors — which its founder has cited as the core competitive edge.
- The company also emphasizes an industry-low merchant attrition rate, competitive wholesale rates, and individualized, side-by-side rate comparisons for prospective clients.
Industries Served
- Elite Merchant Solutions serves a broad range of industries including retail, restaurants and bars, healthcare, medical, telemedicine, ecommerce, gas stations, convenience stores, electronics, clothing and apparel, property management, marketing agencies, moving companies, personal services, thrift stores, SaaS, and B2B businesses.
- A notable industry-specific specialization is its 2A Pay subsidiary, which is purpose-built for the firearms and shooting-sports industry, providing dedicated payment processing for FFLs and related businesses that are frequently declined by mainstream processors.
Service Coverage
- Elite Merchant Solutions operates as a nationwide merchant services provider, serving clients across all 50 states.
- In addition to its Los Angeles corporate headquarters in Woodland Hills, CA, the company maintains full-service offices in Plano, Texas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Cartersville, Georgia, along with several satellite offices around the nation.
Partnerships
- Elite Merchant Solutions is a registered ISO/MSP of Woodforest National Bank (Houston, TX), which serves as its primary sponsor bank for card-brand licensing.
- It is partnered with First Data and Chase Paymentech as its two primary back-end processing companies.
Company Size & Ownership
- Elite Merchant Solutions was founded in 2002 by Justin Milmeister, who started the company in 150 square feet of rented office space in North Hollywood.
- Employee count estimates vary across sources but generally range from approximately 38 to 66 employees, with LinkedIn listing 11–50 and some data aggregators citing up to 66.
Compliance & Certifications
- Elite Merchant Solutions is fully licensed by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card.
- The company operates as a registered ISO/MSP of Woodforest National Bank in Houston, Texas, which governs its card-brand compliance obligations.
Compiled from public sources by VenSearch · Last researched October 14, 2026
Offerings
17 offerings2A Pay
2A Pay is listed as a distinct product offering by Elite Merchant Solutions. No additional details are provided on the pages reviewed.
American Express OptBlue
Elite Merchant Solutions offers American Express OptBlue as a product for merchants, enabling them to accept American Express cards. This is listed as a distinct product offering within their merchant services portfolio.
AmeriDoc
AmeriDoc is listed as a distinct product offering by Elite Merchant Solutions. No additional details are provided on the pages reviewed.
ATM Machines
Elite Merchant Solutions offers ATM machines as a product to merchants. This is listed as a distinct product offering within their portfolio.
Credit Card Processing
Elite Merchant Solutions enables businesses to start accepting credit cards with customized payment processing solutions. They analyze each business individually to provide tailored solutions with competitive rates and award-winning customer service.
Customer Service
Each client is assigned a dedicated 24/7 support team available in multiple languages to assist with managing and running payment operations. The service is designed to provide confidence and efficiency to merchants handling their own operations.
DataMiner
DataMiner is listed as a distinct product offering by Elite Merchant Solutions. No additional details are provided on the pages reviewed.
EZ Check
EZ Check is listed as a distinct product offering by Elite Merchant Solutions. No additional details are provided on the pages reviewed.
Gift Cards
Elite Merchant Solutions offers gift card solutions as a product for merchants. This is listed as a distinct product offering within their portfolio.
PCI Compliance
Elite Merchant Solutions helps businesses achieve and maintain PCI DSS compliance by assisting with the completion of SAQs on an annual basis to achieve passing scores and avoid fines. They have negotiated preferred rates with vendors to ensure clients have the appropriate level of compliance service.
Point of Sale Systems
Elite Merchant Solutions provides point of sale equipment and software described as among the finest available. POS systems are listed as a distinct product category within their merchant services portfolio.
Referral Partnership Program
Elite Merchant Solutions partners with banks, software companies, web designers, and others to handle the sales and setup process for merchant services from start to finish. Partners can provide a full-service merchant program to their customers without needing to oversee it directly.
Software
Elite Merchant Solutions offers software as a distinct product category for merchants. No additional details beyond its listing as a separate product are provided on the pages reviewed.
Terminals
Elite Merchant Solutions offers payment terminals as a product for merchants. Terminals are listed as a distinct product category within their merchant services portfolio.
Wholesale Rates
Elite Merchant Solutions offers wholesale rates as a distinct product or pricing offering within their merchant services portfolio. No additional details are provided on the pages reviewed.
Working Capital/Cash Advance
Elite Merchant Solutions offers a working capital and cash advance product for merchants. This is listed as a distinct product offering within their portfolio.
Yiftee
Yiftee is listed as a distinct product offering by Elite Merchant Solutions. No additional details are provided on the pages reviewed.
Considering Elite Merchant Solutions?
Our team will work with you to determine if Elite Merchant Solutions is the right fit for your organization. From research and assessment through procurement negotiation and ongoing vendor management — we handle the entire process at no cost to you.