Free Website Offer
What does a free website from The Merchant Card Group include?
For a qualifying merchant that establishes payment processing through The Merchant Card Group, TMCG charges $0 to design and build the website. Hosting with TMCG is optional at $25 per month. The merchant pays domain registration and renewal charges. Ordinary processing, gateway, software, network, transaction, or other third-party charges may still apply.
Understand the Offer
What does “free website” mean?
“Free” refers to TMCG's website design and build charge for a qualifying merchant. It does not mean every part of operating a website or accepting payments has no cost.
Website design and build
$0 charged by TMCG for the qualifying website build.
Optional TMCG hosting
$25 per month if you choose to have TMCG host the website.
Domain registration and renewals
Paid by the merchant.
Minor changes
Up to two minor revisions or changes per month are included on a TMCG-hosted website.
Major revisions
Substantial redesign, new functionality, new pages, or other development may be quoted separately based on the requested work.
Payment and third-party services
Applicable processing, gateway, software, network, transaction, and other third-party charges may still apply.
Included in the Build
What is included?
The qualifying build includes website design, foundational on-page SEO, and e-commerce, POS, and payment-gateway integration appropriate to the approved merchant setup. Integration depends on the selected systems and provider compatibility.
Foundational SEO
Crawlable and indexable structure, page titles and meta descriptions, logical headings, mobile-friendly presentation, descriptive URLs where applicable, internal links, sitemap and canonical setup where applicable, and basic on-page optimization.
E-commerce integration
Included in the qualifying build, subject to the approved setup and compatible third-party systems.
POS integration
Included where the selected POS and website stack are compatible.
Payment-gateway integration
Included where the approved gateway and website stack are compatible.
Hosting & Revisions
How do hosting and website changes work?
You do not have to host with TMCG. If you choose TMCG hosting, the fee is $25 per month and up to two minor changes per month are included.
Examples of a minor change can include editing text, replacing an existing photo, changing business hours or contact information, or making a small content update to an existing page. These examples are illustrative rather than an exhaustive contractual definition.
A substantial redesign, new functionality, a new page, or other development may be treated as a major revision and quoted separately based on the work requested. The merchant pays domain registration and renewal charges whether hosting is with TMCG or elsewhere.
Website Ownership & Processor Changes
Who owns the website, and what happens if processing moves away from TMCG?
TMCG owns the website source code during the initial processing relationship. If the merchant stops processing through TMCG before completing two years, the merchant does not automatically retain the website or source code and may purchase the website for $1,000.
After completing two years of processing through TMCG, the merchant may retain the website without paying the $1,000 website-purchase charge.
Common Merchant Questions
Questions to understand before you choose the offer
Is the website really free to build?
Yes. TMCG's design and build charge is $0 for a qualifying merchant that establishes processing through TMCG.
Do I have to use TMCG hosting?
No. TMCG hosting is optional. If selected, it is $25 per month.
Who pays for the domain?
The merchant pays domain registration and renewal charges.
Are updates included?
A TMCG-hosted website includes up to two minor revisions or changes per month. Major work is quoted separately.
Is SEO included?
Foundational website SEO is included. Rankings, traffic, leads, and search positions are not guaranteed.
Are e-commerce, POS, and gateway integrations included?
Yes, for the qualifying build, subject to the approved merchant setup, provider compatibility, and separately applicable third-party charges.
What happens if I change processors before two years?
You do not automatically retain the website or source code. You may purchase the website for $1,000.
What happens after two years?
After completing two years of processing through TMCG, you may retain the website without the $1,000 website-purchase charge.
Website & Processing Review