Author: Maria Sparagis

Maria Sparagis is President of DirectPayNet, where she's spent over 20 years helping businesses scale to six-, seven-, and eight-figure revenue through optimized payment processing. She works hands-on with business owners to solve merchant account challenges, reduce processing costs, and implement payment strategies that support real growth. Maria is a regular speaker at fintech conferences and writes about practical approaches that help businesses break through revenue plateaus.

One-Click Checkouts Will 10x Your Black Friday Conversions

A finger touching a keyboard button with a shopping cart logo and labeled "BUY NOW".

The holiday shopping season demands speed and convenience. One-click checkout transforms the buying experience by allowing customers to complete purchases instantly using their stored payment and shipping information. Here’s how to set one up, what to implement, and everything else you need to know and one click checkouts. GET A CHECKOUT PAGE THAT DOESN’T SUCK […]

What Is a Fraud Score and How to Improve It

Financial Fraud Investigation Report. Accounting Tax Auditor

A fraud score is a numerical value that indicates the risk level of a transaction or user action, helping businesses determine whether to approve, review, or decline a payment. The scoring typically ranges from 0 to 99, with higher scores indicating greater risk. Let’s find out more about fraud scoring and what you can do […]

Interchange Plus vs Tiered Pricing vs Flat-Rate

Graphic of a calculator, a stack of cash, a receipt, coins, and a dollar sign.

The monthly credit card processing statement hits your inbox, and there it is again – a jumble of percentages, fees, and terms that might as well be written in ancient hieroglyphics. If you’re like most business owners, you’re probably wondering if you’re getting the best deal or if you’re leaving money on the table. We’ve […]

Customer Data is Your Black Friday Goldmine

old index card with an alphabetical index. customer data from repeat customers.

Black Friday isn’t just about slashing prices, it’s your golden opportunity to gather customer data that fuels your marketing efforts throughout the entire year. Immediate sales are great, but the real treasure is building a robust customer database that drives long-term revenue. SECURE YOUR BLACK FRIDAY LEADS The Power of Referral Programs The statistics paint […]

StripeIsHoldingFunds! How to get your withheld funds back from Stripe

Stacks of 100 dollar bills. The front-most stack is wrapped in a chain and locked.

Stripe is one of the most popular PSPs (payment service provider) in the world. It’s quick and easy setup also makes it one of the most accessible. But this PSP is not without its drawbacks. Stripe holding funds is one of the biggest issues we see from businesses who want to utilize its services. Here’s […]