Fortiq Pay is proposing that AIBD endorse it as a preferred merchant services provider in exchange for preferred pricing for members and a 30% revenue share on net processing revenue.
Fortiq Pay is presented as a full‑service Merchant Services Provider (MSP) with direct relationships to top merchant acquirers (registered MSP/ISO of Elavon, Inc.).
They position themselves as consultative rather than one‑size‑fits‑all: evaluating each member’s sales channels, transaction types, software stack, and growth goals, then recommending tailored solutions at no additional consulting cost to the member.
Core services offered to AIBD members include credit/debit card processing (including surcharge and cash‑discount options), ACH/check services, smart terminals and POS hardware, mobile devices, omnichannel acceptance, and integrations with 750+ business management systems and gateways.
Fortiq Pay states it has deep experience in building/design–adjacent industries and claims typical member savings of 10–50% on current processing costs, plus a “Zero % Percent Interchange Program” that eliminates credit‑card processing fees (by passing costs to cardholders or via structured programs) while keeping debit costs low.
Every AIBD member would be eligible for a complimentary cost and operations review.
For AIBD, the “Market Partner” program includes:
A 30% net revenue share on all payment‑acceptance processing tied to referred accounts (non‑dues revenue).
The brochure emphasizes “ONE Trusted Partner,” enterprise‑level security (encryption, tokenization, PCI tools, breach insurance up to $100,000), fraud/risk monitoring, 24/7/365 customer service, and rapid funding (24–48 hours).
Findings on Fortiq Pay, LLC and platform reputation
Fortiq Pay, LLC itself appears to be a relatively new or small‑footprint MSP/ISO entity headquartered in Tampa, Florida, using Elavon as the acquiring bank platform; the brochure clearly discloses the Elavon registration.
Public web presence for “Fortiq Pay” is limited; the most substantial external references cluster around job postings and generic company descriptions rather than independent merchant reviews, which suggests the brand is still emerging.
However, the processing backbone and style of program described in the brochure (embedded payments, association referral programs, Elavon‑backed processing, revenue‑share to referrers) closely resemble the model used by Fortis Payment Systems / Fortis, a well‑known payments company that has acquired or absorbed several smaller processors and ISOs.
Reviews and complaints about Fortis (the platform Fortiq’s model appears to align with) show a mixed to negative pattern from merchants:
Multiple merchants report unexpected or non‑transparent “miscellaneous” or access fees, billing without usable services, and difficulty getting statements or clear fee breakdowns.
Several describe being billed monthly for months after canceling or never activating accounts, then being pursued for early‑termination fees (e.g., $250–$350) even when no processing occurred.
Other reviews highlight poor or slow customer service, lack of availability during outages, and inconsistent or unfulfilled promises about capabilities (e.g., features that “can’t do” after signing).
There are also some positive or neutral comments on other platforms about Fortis’ feature set, integrations, and the general benefits of embedded solutions, but the pattern of small‑business complaints is significant and consistent over several years.
Because Fortiq Pay is positioned as a branded MSP/ISO sitting atop a large acquirer’s rails (Elavon and possibly Fortis‑style infrastructure), AIBD’s members would be exposed to:
The contractual terms and fee schedules of the underlying platform.
The risk of “standard” small‑business credit‑card processing pain points (early‑termination fees, non‑transparent pricing, auto‑renewals, pass‑through fees), which are explicitly called out as problems in external reviews of similar platforms.
About founder Michael (Mike) Zalansky
Mike Zalansky is a Tampa‑based payments executive with roughly 25+ years’ experience in sales, business development, and payments/financial‑services partnerships.
His background includes:
Senior roles at MerchantE (Executive Vice President, Head of Sales & Marketing; previously VP, Head of Business Development & Emerging Market Sales) between 2021 and 2025.
Managing Partner of Partner Payments (a prior payments/merchant‑services venture) from 2016–2021.
Nearly 8 years at FIS as Vice President, National/Strategic/Financial‑Institution Partner Sales, responsible for ISO resellers, financial institutions, association partners, VARs/ISVs, and partner programs—directly relevant to what he is offering AIBD.
Earlier leadership roles in call‑center operations and sales at several firms (Miller Heiman Group, Thompson Group, Progressive, etc.).
His profile emphasizes strategic partnerships, sales operations, and association‑type referral programs, which align with the structure of the Fortiq Pay Market Partner proposal.
There is no public record of major regulatory actions or public scandals tied personally to Zalansky, but his experience sits squarely in the aggressive growth side of the payments industry, where revenue‑share programs and dense fee schedules are common.
Risk–benefit assessment for AIBD and members
Potential benefits
Possible member savings: If Fortiq’s audits are conducted ethically and transparently, many members currently with high‑cost processors could see lower effective rates or simpler pricing, particularly those on legacy tiered pricing or with expensive equipment leases.
Expanded tools for members: Access to a broad menu of POS hardware, omnichannel acceptance, and integrations with 750+ business systems could be useful for members with more complex operations (design‑build firms, multi‑office practices, firms using specific management software).
Non‑dues revenue: A 30% share of net processing revenue from referred merchants could create a modest but steady revenue stream for AIBD if adoption is significant.
Marketing/content support: Newsletter copy, joint webinars, tradeshow presence, etc., could enrich AIBD’s content calendar while promoting the program.
Key concerns and risks
Brand and reputational risk: Public complaints about the closely related Fortis platform focus on undisclosed fees, billing after cancellation, aggressive collection of early‑termination fees, and poor customer service; if AIBD “endorses” Fortiq as a member benefit, members may interpret this as a quality guarantee and blame AIBD for negative experiences.
Transparency and pricing complexity: Interchange‑plus and “Zero % Interchange” or “cash‑discount” programs can be beneficial but are easily mis‑implemented; they may shift costs to cardholders or hide margin in non‑interchange fees, contradicting the brochure’s focus on lower costs and transparency.
Contractual terms: The brochure is marketing‑oriented and does not include sample merchant agreements, term length, ETF language, minimum monthly fees, equipment lease arrangements, or details on “Zero %” programs; these are exactly the areas where other merchants report issues with Fortis‑style platforms.
Limited independent track record for Fortiq Pay itself: Without an established public reputation, AIBD would be relying heavily on Zalansky’s CV and the underlying processor’s capabilities rather than direct evidence of Fortiq’s service quality or treatment of association members.
Member diversity: AIBD members range from sole practitioners to larger firms; some may be better served by more transparent, low‑friction processors (e.g., flat‑rate providers) than by complex, consultative merchant‑services arrangements with multi‑year contracts and cancellation penalties.
