The short answer
Ask: which providers can you quote, will you show me every offer including the ones you did not recommend, how are you paid, will you tell me if my current pricing is already good, do you place equipment leases, what is your contract term, who supports me afterwards, and will you re-price the account without me asking.
The two answers that matter most
Whether they will show you losing bids, and whether they have ever told a merchant to stay where they are. An agent who cannot answer yes to both is a single-processor rep with a broader business card.
Compensation transparency
A good agent will explain that the provider pays them from the processing margin, and will tell you what that looks like on your account. Evasiveness here predicts everything else.
Key takeaways
- Ask to see the offers that lost
- Ask how they are paid, and expect a direct answer
- Leases and long terms are the clearest warning signs
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