Payment Processing Setup | Enrollment

Setting up a merchant account on active Rentec Direct accounts is easy with our integrated partner, CSGForte Merchant Processing Services. Most applications are approved and set up in Rentec within 1 to 2 business days. (Accounts within the two-week free trial must be upgraded to active status; there will be prompts in the application process.)


This article includes the following information: click on the link to jump to that section:

Online Payment Processing Setup | Rentec Direct Training Series from Rentec Direct on Vimeo.


Complete the two-part Application Process

The two-step enrollment process includes:

  1. Completing an agreement with Rentec Direct
  2. Completing a quick application with csgForte

🌟You will want to have the following required information ready before you begin your application:

  • Your business checking account details (personal bank accounts will not be approved)
  • The physical address of your business (PO boxes will not be accepted)
  • The account holder's Social Security number
  • A Business Website: If you don't have a website, you can use rentecdirect.com or click this link for steps to Activate Your Website

Applying for Your Merchant Account

In your Rentec Direct Account:

  1. Click on Settings
  2. Under Financial, click on Online Payments 

Step 1: Complete the Online Payment Agreement with Rentec Direct

    1. Click on Sign Electronically (quickest option with step-by-step guidance) or
    2. Click on Download to print, sign, and return the agreement

Step 2: Complete the CSG Forte Merchant Account Application

    1. ACH + CC/Debit Card (credit and debit card) -- If you plan to accept online application fees and/or allow your tenants to pay by credit/debit cards, use the ACH + CC/DC option.  Once approved, you can select the settings to allow card transactions for application fees, but not rent payments.
    2. ACH only -- If you initially choose ACH only but later decide to add credit/debit card processing, please email a request to success@rentecdirect.com. Our team will then send you an application to add these additional options.

Once approved, you will receive an email confirming your merchant account is active, and you can customize your Payment Processing Settings | Preference


Merchant Account Setup Tips

We want to help you make sure transactions are processed on the correct account. Before applying for a merchant account:

  1. Add the Bank Account with the Account and Routing Numbers to your Rentec Direct account before applying for a merchant account. Click this link to learn more about how to Add Banking Ledgers
  2. Verify your phone number in Settings > Contact Info. For security purposes, once a merchant account is approved, csgForte may call the admin phone number in your Rentec Direct account to verify the merchant account for continued access.

Activate Your Enhanced Website

If you do not have your own website, follow the steps below to activate the website included with your Rentec Direct account. You will not need to build the entire website; instead, you will establish a web address for the merchant account application.

In your Rentec Direct account: 

  1. Click on Settings
  2. Under Program, click on Website & Branding 
  3. At the bottom of the page, create and enter a unique name in the Web Address field 
  4. Click on Save Draft

Note: These are the only two steps required to activate your web address for online payment processing.  Click here to learn more about Building Your Own Enhanced Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) Do I need to have a business checking account to have a merchant account?

A) Yes, a business checking account is required as the transactions are reported to the IRS. If you are an individual Landlord, you can still obtain a business checking account through your bank.
Learn some of the benefits of having a Business Checking Account

Q) Can I use more than one bank account for depositing rent?
A) Yes, after you have submitted an application using the steps above, additional merchant accounts can be applied for through the edit page of the Bank Account. Click here to learn more Multiple Deposit Accounts for ACH and Credit/Debit Card Payments (Accounts with 200+ properties include up to 5 merchant accounts at no extra cost & less than 200 include 1 merchant account, with additional accounts for $5/mo ea.)

Q) What should I list under the Estimated Monthly transaction detail on page two?
A) The Average & Maximum Sale relate to an individual rent transaction. Whereas the Monthly figure should project the total possible rent collection. 

Q) Why do I have to offer a Personal Guarantee for the Merchant Account?
A) The Personal Guarantee is needed to secure the account for liability reasons. As you can imagine, allowing individuals to transfer funds from bank to bank carries certain risks, and the merchant account provider requires that the account provide a secure endorsement. Should your company wish to offer the Guarantee (rather than an individual), you will be asked to provide additional company documents, which traditionally include 2 years of financial documents.

Q) What are the general criteria for approval?
A) As merchant accounts need to be personally guaranteed, you will need to be able to tie the principal to the business (typically done through the State Filing search) and have a business-type checking account. 

Note: If you're looking for information on converting tenants' money orders, personal checks, or cash without in-house processing, we also offer a solution. Information on electronic Cash payment tools can be found here: Electronic Rent Collection For Cash Paying Tenants



Have questions? 

Connect with your US-based Award-Winning Success Team weekdays from 6 am to 5 pm (PST). Just click on the Live Expert Help link to chat or email live support, email success@rentecdirect.com, or call 800-881-5139 ext 2. rentecdirect

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