Overview of Current SkyTab Annual Fees: (Updated 5/29/25)
Note: While we aim to support, reps are responsible to verify these details and stay up to date on all Shift4 terms & conditions, which can be found on the Shift4 website HERE.
These annual fees do not include monthly fees (Lighthouse monthly fee, other add-ons, etc.)
Key talking points to cover with Merchants:
- Fees cover comprehensive security and premium support, eliminating hidden liabilities often pushed onto merchants by other providers.
- Merchants can trust that their systems are secure and backed by lifetime equipment replacement and proactive technical support.
- Comparable POS providers charge similar or higher fees while offering less transparency and fewer benefits.
1. Annual "Security Assurance Fee"
Cost: $189.99 per Terminal ID (TID) annually, up to 2 TIDs. If a merchant has 2 or more TIDs, they are capped at the maximum $379.98/year.
Shift4 has confirmed that they do NOT consider "Lighthouse" having a billable TID, even though Lighthouse can act as a virtual terminal / payment gateway without physical equipment.
Billing Period: Annually around December.
KEY POINT: Because SkyTab has such amazing security, it puts merchants out of the scope of having to worry about maintaining PCI compliance themselves, because the SkyTab system already is, and that compliance (AND liability if any cc data is breached) is maintained by Shift4.
What The Fee Covers:
- Enhanced Security: SkyTab operates with 240-bit encryption, meaning no full credit card numbers are ever seen, stored, or transmitted on location. This makes terminals completely useless to hackers, even if stolen.
- Liability-Free Compliance: Merchants avoid the hassle of filling out PCI compliance forms (merchant "Self Assessment Questionnaire" or a "SAQ") and the risks of non-compliance fees or liability for breaches.
- Note: a SAQ is a series of y/n questions designed to assess a merchant's adherence to PCI Data Security Standards (DSS) requirements by evaluating how a merchant stores, processes, and transmits cardholder data within their systems.
- Key Point: SkyTab pays PCI-related fees to Visa, Mastercard, and AmEx, so merchants don’t have to!
Competitive Advantage:
- No PCI Liability: Unlike other POS providers (e.g., Heartland), which require merchants to complete annual PCI documentation, SkyTab takes the liability, offering a stress-free experience.
- No annoying PCI paperwork and invasive SAQ questions: So merchants can focus on running their business!
- No PCI Compliance Penalties: Competitors may charge hefty fees if merchants fail to return compliance forms on time. SkyTab ensures merchants are always covered without extra paperwork.
- Lifetime Peace of Mind: SkyTab’s proactive security measures mean no need for PCI insurance with limited coverage for merchants.
Positive Framing for Merchants:
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Analogy:
“Imagine your health insurance asked you every year to submit a form on how much you've exercised, how many Twinkies you’ve eaten, etc. and then did this not to protect you, but to avoid covering you! Competitors do this with PCI compliance. With SkyTab, we handle everything for you so you can focus on running your business.” -
Pitch Point:
“This fee ensures your system is cutting-edge and liability-free. It’s a small investment to know your customer data—and your business—is secure.”
2. Annual "Program Fee"
Cost: Accounts who were signed between January 1, 2025 to April 1, 2025 are billed $189.99 annually, up to maximum of 2 Terminal ID (TIDs).
All POS accounts who were boarded before January 2025 are billed $250 annually, up to maximum of 2 TIDs.
All legacy accounts will be billed $250 per Terminal ID (TIDs) annually, up to maximum of 4 TIDs. If a merchant has 4 or more TIDs, they are capped at the maximum $1000/year.
Billing Period: Annually in August (may vary slightly, i.e. could come out in July).
What It Covers:
- Premium On-Site Support: Merchants receive unlimited access to on-site technical support when needed without being charged per visit. This ensures smooth operations and reduces unexpected costs.
Competitive Advantage:
- Transparent and Affordable: Many competitors charge separately for on-site visits or equipment replacements, which can easily exceed $200 for a single visit.
- Important to include that SkyTab offers Lifetime Equipment Replacement: SkyTab provides free replacement of any faulty equipment, a significant cost-saving measure compared to other providers.
Important Notes:
- The Virtual DOTN Terminal ID are not considered to be one of the TIDs that require annual fee.
- There's a possibility that Boulder merchants prior to a date early in 2025 would be billed, because another partner said that he had some merchants that had their virtual Lighthouse terminal billed as a TID with annual fee.
Positive Framing for Merchants:
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Analogy:
“Think of this like an all-inclusive service package. A single electrician visit can cost $200 just to fix a light switch, but this fee covers unlimited, in-person support and equipment replacements for the entire year.” -
Pitch Point:
“This small annual fee ensures your business has reliable equipment and support whenever you need it. It’s all about keeping you up and running smoothly.”
3. Combined Annual Fees
Total max cost for 2+ TIDs: $569.97 "Just under $600/year"
- $379.98 for Annual Security Assurance Fee
- $189.99 for Annual Program Fee
Total max cost for 1 TID: $284.99 "Just under $300/year"
How to Pitch the Combined Fees:
- Transparent and Predictable: “For less than $1 / $2 (depending on 1 or 2+ TIDs) a day, your business is covered with enterprise-level security, premium support, and lifetime equipment replacements.”
- Unmatched Value: “These fees not only protect your business but also eliminate the stress and hidden costs that come with other POS systems.”
Future Updates
There are Shift4 discussions about wrapping these annual fees into monthly charges for better predictability and streamlined billing. Stay tuned for updates!
