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Build Unlimited Residual Income as a Cobalt ISO Agent.

You already have the relationships. You already have the trust. Every business owner you work with is paying someone to process their payments — and most of them are overpaying. The Cobalt ISO Agent Program turns those existing relationships into a residual income stream that pays you every single month, for the lifetime of every merchant you sign.

No product to build. No inventory to carry. No overhead. Just competitive splits, enterprise-grade products, and a dedicated partner who is as invested in your success as you are.

ISO Agent Desk: (860) 270-0552  |  Available Mon–Fri 8am–6pm EST

Agent Income Snapshot
$10K+

Top Agent Monthly Residual
Earned by our highest-performing ISO agents, built over 18 months of consistent signing.

$3,200+

Avg. Monthly Residual (10 Merchants)
What a typical agent earns monthly with 10 active merchants averaging $50K/mo.

24 hrs

Average Merchant Approval Time
From submitted application to live processing — no week-long waits.

100%

Residual Paid for Life of Account
Every merchant you sign pays you every month — permanently. Not a one-time fee.

Why 500+ Agents Chose Cobalt Over Every Other Processor

Competitive Splits

Industry-leading revenue share — paid monthly, on time, no deductions

Fast Approvals

Most merchants approved and processing within 24–48 hours

Dedicated Support

Your own Partner Success Manager — a real person with a direct number

Real-Time Portal

See every merchant, transaction, and residual dollar in your live dashboard

No Volume Minimums

Start earning on your first merchant. No minimums. No quotas. No pressure.

The Cobalt Agent Program

Who Is This Program Built For?

The Cobalt ISO Agent Program is designed for professionals who are already in front of business owners — and want to monetize those relationships with a recurring income stream that requires no additional overhead, no new business to run, and no product to manage.

ISOs & Independent Sales Agents

Already selling merchant services? Cobalt’s program offers you better splits, faster approvals, and a dedicated partner who helps you close and retain accounts. Bring your existing book or build a new one — we support both.

CPAs, Accountants & Bookkeepers

You review your clients’ financials. You can see what they’re paying on processing every month. A free Cobalt rate analysis takes 15 minutes and creates genuine value for your client — while earning you residual income from day one.

Business Consultants & Advisors

Your clients trust your recommendations. When you refer them to Cobalt and they switch to a better processor, you earn on every transaction they run — for the life of the relationship. One referral can pay you for years.

SaaS & Technology Providers

Your software platform serves business owners who all need payment processing. White-label and referral options let you embed or refer Cobalt’s processing to your user base — creating a revenue stream from your existing customer relationships.

Financial Advisors & Lenders

You’re already in your clients’ financial lives. Adding payment processing as a complementary service deepens the relationship and creates monthly residual income with zero additional workload once the account is live.

Marketing Agencies & Freelancers

Your clients run businesses. Those businesses take payments. When your agency refers a client to Cobalt and they sign up, you earn a monthly residual check — on top of your existing retainer — for the entire life of that merchant account.

What You Earn

Your Income — Projected. Transparent. Real.

Cobalt does not hide the math. Here is a straightforward projection of what agents earn at different portfolio sizes. Every number is based on actual Cobalt merchant averages.

Active MerchantsAvg. Monthly Volume EachEstimated Monthly ResidualEstimated Annual Income
5 merchants$30,000/mo$900 – $1,500/mo$10,800 – $18,000/yr
10 merchants$50,000/mo$3,200 – $5,400/mo$38,400 – $64,800/yr
25 merchants$50,000/mo$8,000 – $13,500/mo$96,000 – $162,000/yr
50 merchants$75,000/mo$24,000 – $40,500/mo$288,000 – $486,000/yr
100 merchants$75,000/mo$48,000 – $81,000/mo$576,000 – $972,000/yr

Projections based on typical Cobalt merchant card volume and standard agent split tiers. Actual earnings vary based on merchant volume, card mix, and negotiated split.

Additional Earning Opportunities

Signing Bonuses

Earn upfront bonuses on qualified new merchant accounts based on volume tier and product type.

Performance Bonuses

Hit monthly or quarterly production tiers and unlock additional bonus compensation on top of your standard splits.

Equipment & Software Referrals

Earn revenue share when merchants purchase or lease terminals, POS systems, and software through Cobalt.

Cobalt Capital Referrals

Earn referral fees when your merchants are approved for merchant cash advances through the Cobalt Capital program.

The Product Portfolio

What You’ll Sell — A Complete Portfolio Your Merchants Actually Need

Cobalt agents represent a full suite of merchant solutions — not just a card swipe. Every product in your portfolio is designed to solve a real business problem, which means more merchant retention, larger monthly volumes, and higher residuals for you.

Core Payment Processing

  • Interchange-Plus pricing — the most transparent model in the industry, and your competitive edge in every sales conversation
  • Accept all major card brands: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, JCB, UnionPay
  • Tap-to-pay (NFC/contactless), chip & PIN, swipe, QR code, and manual entry
  • ACH and eCheck processing for high-ticket B2B invoices and recurring billing
  • Next-day funding standard on all major card brands — no premium upgrade required
  • PCI DSS Level 1 compliance included — no third-party security vendors needed
  • Chargeback management and dispute handling with full documentation support
  • Advanced fraud detection with AI-powered transaction scoring

Hardware & Point of Sale

  • Countertop terminals: Ingenico, Verifone, Dejavoo, PAX — all major brands supported
  • Access to Cobalt’s Proprietary Software Suite for Small-Medium Businesses.
  • Wireless and Bluetooth card readers for mobile and field service businesses
  • Tap-to-pay via iPhone and Android — no hardware required for the merchant
  • Full POS system integration: Toast, Clover, Square, Lightspeed, Aloha, and 50+ others
  • Free terminal programs available for qualified merchants — lowers your barrier to close
  • Equipment leasing options for merchants who prefer predictable monthly payments
  • Pin pads, receipt printers, cash drawers, and peripheral hardware
  • Remote terminal programming and same-day equipment shipping on approvals

eCommerce & Online Payments

  • Hosted payment pages and checkout widgets — fully branded, no coding required
  • Shopping cart plugins: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop
  • Virtual terminal for phone and mail order (MOTO) transactions
  • Recurring billing and subscription management for membership and SaaS businesses
  • Digital invoicing with text-to-pay and email-to-pay links
  • Buy-now-pay-later integration for higher average ticket conversion
  • 3D Secure 2.0 fraud prevention on all card-not-present transactions

Business Solutions & Value-Adds

  • Cobalt Capital — merchant cash advances based on processing history, not credit score
  • Gift card programs with digital and physical card options
  • Loyalty and rewards program integration
  • Real-time business analytics dashboard — volume, trends, cost-per-transaction
  • Multi-location management with consolidated reporting and billing
  • Payroll integration and tip distribution tools for restaurant and hospitality
  • HIPAA-compliant processing for healthcare practices
  • White-label options for qualified technology partner agents

The Industries You’ll Serve

Your Merchant Universe Is Larger Than You Think

Cobalt supports virtually every type of business that accepts card payments. Each vertical has specific pain points, specific messaging, and a specific reason to switch — and your Partner Success Manager will train you on all of it.

Restaurants & Food Service

Running on 4–8% margins, restaurants are highly motivated to reduce processing costs. Your pitch: “I can save you $200–$500 a month on processing — guaranteed or you owe me nothing.” Average restaurant processes $60K–$200K/month.

Key Pain Points: High tipped-transaction rates · Slow funding · Poor POS integration support

Retail — Brick & Mortar

Retail merchants often have multiple payment types at multiple rates creating billing confusion. Cobalt consolidates everything on one statement. Average retail merchant processes $25K–$150K/month with moderate chargeback risk.

Key Pain Points: Multi-rate statements · No POS inventory sync · Loyalty program gaps

Healthcare & Medical Practices

Healthcare practices deal with high card-not-present rates, patient payment plans, and HIPAA compliance concerns. Cobalt’s text-to-pay and recurring billing solutions dramatically improve their collections rate. Sticky accounts — very low churn.

Key Pain Points: High card-not-present fees · Slow patient collections · HIPAA exposure

Home & Field Services

HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, and general contractors often collect cash or paper checks because their mobile card readers don’t work. Cobalt’s tap-to-pay and digital invoicing tools are a game-changer for field service businesses.

Key Pain Points: Unreliable mobile readers · Cash/check collection · Delayed invoicing

Professional Services

Law firms, consulting firms, and agencies typically process high-ticket invoices at card rates that are 2–3x what ACH would cost. Cobalt’s ACH + card combination cuts their processing bill significantly on large B2B invoices.

Key Pain Points: High card fees on large invoices · No ACH option · Slow collections

eCommerce & Online Retail

Online merchants face high card-not-present rates, chargeback exposure, and fraud risk. Cobalt’s hosted checkout, 3D Secure fraud tools, and proactive chargeback management make the pitch nearly automatic for any online seller.

Key Pain Points: CNP rate surcharges · Fraud losses · Chargeback disputes with no support

How It Works

From Application to First Residual Check in Less Than 30 Days

We have removed every friction point from the agent onboarding process. You can apply, get approved, receive your training, sign your first merchant, and receive your first residual check — all within your first 30 days.

1

Apply Online (10 Minutes)

Complete the Cobalt Agent Application at cobalt.info/iso-agent-program/apply. We ask for basic contact information, your background in sales or professional services, and a description of your current client base or business network. No financial commitments. No upfront costs. The application is completely free.

10 minutes

2

Partner Onboarding Call (45–60 Minutes)

Once approved (typically within 1 business day), you’ll schedule an onboarding call with your assigned Partner Success Manager. On this call, you’ll receive your partner portal access and login credentials, a full walkthrough of Cobalt’s products and pricing models, your personalized compensation schedule and split structure, co-branded marketing materials and proposal templates, and a custom income projection based on your specific book of business or target market.

45–60 minutes, once

3

Complete Agent Certification Training (Self-Paced, 3–5 Hours)

Access the Cobalt Agent Training Academy through your partner portal. Certification covers Cobalt’s full product suite and how to position each product, the free rate analysis process, industry-specific sales conversations for each vertical you plan to target, objection handling for the 8 most common merchant pushbacks, compliance and regulatory basics for payment processing, and live practice scenarios with your Partner Success Manager.

3–5 hours, self-paced

4

Sign Your First Merchant

Using the digital merchant application in your partner portal, submit your first merchant for approval. Provide the merchant’s last 3 processing statements for the free rate analysis. Your Partner Success Manager reviews the account and provides the custom rate quote. Once the merchant agrees, submit the digital application — approval typically takes 24–48 hours. Equipment ships free for qualifying merchants, pre-programmed and ready to go.

24–48 hr approval

5

Collect Monthly Residuals (Forever)

Your residual is calculated on the 1st of each month and paid by the 15th. Log into your partner portal at any time to see each merchant’s processing volume, your residual earned per merchant, your total monthly payout, a running 12-month residual history, and your pipeline of pending merchant applications. Every merchant you add to your portfolio increases your next monthly check — permanently. No residual caps, no clawback provisions, no expiration on accounts you sign.

Paid by the 15th every month

Technology & Tools

Your Partner Portal — Everything You Need in One Place

The Cobalt Partner Portal is your command center. Log in from any device to access everything you need to manage your portfolio, track your income, and grow your business — in real time.

  • Real-Time Residual Dashboard — See every merchant, their monthly processing volume, and your exact residual earned, updated daily
  • Merchant Application Portal — Submit new merchant applications digitally in under 10 minutes. Track approval status in real time
  • Rate Analysis Tool — Upload a merchant’s current processing statement and generate a professional side-by-side comparison showing their savings with Cobalt
  • Co-Branded Proposal Builder — Generate professional, co-branded proposals for each prospect with your name, logo, and contact information
  • Marketing Asset Library — Access print-ready flyers, digital ad templates, email copy, and sales scripts organized by industry vertical
  • Income Projection Calculator — Enter a merchant’s volume and see your projected monthly residual and annual income from that single account
  • 12-Month Residual History — Review your earnings month-by-month with downloadable statements for your own records
  • Training Academy Access — Complete certifications, review product updates, and access new sales training modules as they are released

The Cobalt Difference vs. Other ISO Programs

FeatureOther ISOsCobalt
Approval Time5–10 days24–48 hours
Residual PortalMonthly PDF emailReal-time live dashboard
Rate Analysis ToolManual spreadsheetAutomated in-portal tool
Proposal BuilderGeneric PDFsCo-branded, instant generation
Partner SupportShared support lineNamed rep, direct number
Volume MinimumsOften requiredNone — ever
Residual CapsCommonNone — uncapped
White-Label OptionRarely availableAvailable for qualified agents
TrainingSelf-service onlyLive + on-demand + certification
Contract LengthAnnual commits commonMonth-to-month

Training & Support

We Don’t Just Onboard You — We Invest in Your Success

Most ISO programs hand you a login and a rate sheet and wish you luck. Cobalt’s approach is fundamentally different. We treat your success as our success — because your residual growth directly reflects the quality of the partnership we provide.

Cobalt Agent Training Academy

All Cobalt agents receive full access to our self-paced training academy — available online 24/7 through the partner portal. Training is organized into certification tracks:

  • Core Certification (Required) — Product knowledge, pricing models, compliance basics, merchant application process. Approximately 3 hours. Completion required before submitting first merchant application.
  • Vertical Specialization Tracks (Elective) — Deep-dive training for Restaurants, Retail, Healthcare, Professional Services, Home Services, and eCommerce. Each track teaches vertical-specific pain points, objections, and closing language.
  • Advanced Sales Certification — Rate analysis mastery, competitive positioning against Stripe, Square, Clover, and Toast, advanced objection handling, and closing techniques for high-volume accounts.
  • Technology & Integration Certification — For agents targeting tech-forward merchants: POS integration, eCommerce connectivity, API overview, and white-label partnership track.
  • Monthly Product Updates — As Cobalt adds new products, integrations, or pricing structures, agents receive notification and updated training modules automatically.

Your Dedicated Partner Success Manager

Every Cobalt agent is assigned a dedicated Partner Success Manager on day one. This is not a shared support line. This is a named individual who manages your portfolio alongside you and is accountable for your growth.

  • Direct Phone Line — You have your PSM’s direct number. They pick up. If they’re unavailable, they return calls within 2 hours during business hours.
  • Monthly Portfolio Review Call — A scheduled 30-minute call to review your active merchants, discuss pipeline, address any merchant issues, and plan the next month’s growth strategy.
  • Ride-Along Sales Support — For large or complex prospects, your PSM can join your sales call or meeting — in person (in select markets) or via video conference — to help you close the account.
  • Merchant Escalation Handling — When a merchant has a problem, your PSM is the escalation point. They resolve issues directly, protecting the merchant relationship and your residual.
  • Competitive Positioning Support — When a merchant is comparing Cobalt to a competitor, your PSM will prepare a custom comparison analysis with actual numbers to help you win the business.
  • Annual Compensation Review — Once per year, your PSM reviews your portfolio growth and adjusts your compensation tier upward based on your production — automatically, without you having to ask.

Agent Testimonials

Real Agents. Real Results. Real Residuals.

“I was a financial advisor for 11 years before joining the Cobalt program. In my first 8 months, I signed 14 merchants — mostly existing clients who were already overpaying their processor. I now earn $6,200 a month in residuals on top of my advisory income. I didn’t change my business. I just added a revenue stream to it.”

— David M., Financial Advisor
Tampa, FL  ·  14 active merchants  ·  $6,200/mo residual

“I came from a large ISO and I was frustrated constantly — delayed approvals, no real support, a portal that was three months behind. Cobalt is completely different. My merchants are approved in a day or two. My PSM picks up the phone. And the residual portal shows me my earnings in real time. I’ve been with Cobalt 2 years and I have never seriously considered switching.”

— Rachel T., Independent ISO Agent
Atlanta, GA  ·  31 active merchants  ·  $14,800/mo residual

“My accounting firm handles bookkeeping for about 60 small businesses. I started referring Cobalt in February. By June, I had 9 merchants processing. The rate analysis tool in the portal makes it incredibly easy — I upload the statement, the comparison is generated automatically, and I email it to the client. Most of them switch within a week. It’s the easiest conversation I’ve ever had with a client.”

— James O., CPA & Bookkeeper
Dallas, TX  ·  9 active merchants  ·  $3,600/mo residual
Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know Before You Apply

Do I need experience in payment processing to become a Cobalt agent?

No prior payment processing experience is required. Cobalt’s Agent Training Academy gives you everything you need to confidently sell to merchants, conduct rate analyses, and manage merchant relationships. Many of our highest-earning agents came from completely unrelated industries — accounting, financial planning, real estate, technology, and insurance. What matters is your existing relationships with business owners and your willingness to learn the product.

The application is completely free. There are no setup fees, no monthly fees, no training fees, and no minimum purchase requirements to become a Cobalt agent. We do not charge agents to access the partner portal, the rate analysis tool, or the co-branded marketing materials. Our business model is simple: we earn when your merchants process, and so do you. We have every incentive to make you successful at no cost to you.

Most agents submit their first merchant application within 2 weeks of completing onboarding and certification. Merchant approval typically takes 24–48 hours. Once the merchant processes their first transaction, they become a residual-generating account. Your first residual payment is calculated at the end of your first full processing month and paid on the 15th of the following month. Many agents receive their first residual check within 30–45 days of joining the program.

Your split is based on your tier, which is determined by your experience level, portfolio size, and volume. Cobalt offers some of the most competitive splits in the independent agent market. Specific split percentages are discussed confidentially during your onboarding call with your Partner Success Manager, as they are customized to your profile and target market. You will receive a written compensation schedule before submitting your first merchant application — there are no surprises. Annual compensation tier reviews are automatic and always move upward as your portfolio grows.

There are no volume minimums, production quotas, or merchant count requirements to remain active in the Cobalt Agent Program. You can sign one merchant or one hundred — you’ll be treated the same and paid the same split either way. We grow when you grow. There is never pressure to meet a number, and there are no consequences for slower months.

If a merchant closes their business or switches processors, the residual on that account ends. This is standard across all ISO programs. However, Cobalt’s merchant retention rates are significantly above industry average because our pricing is transparent, our service is responsive, and our merchants genuinely like working with us. Our average merchant tenure is 4.2 years — meaning accounts you sign today are likely to generate residuals for years, not months. Your Partner Success Manager also works proactively with your merchants to address any dissatisfaction before it becomes a cancellation.

Yes. If you currently represent merchants with another processor and you believe they would benefit from Cobalt’s pricing and service, you can initiate a rate analysis and conversion. Your Partner Success Manager will guide you through the transition process. We handle the merchant setup and any equipment programming or integrations. Bringing existing merchants is one of the fastest ways to build a Cobalt residual portfolio — you already have the relationship, and we provide a better product.

Qualified technology providers and larger ISOs may be eligible to offer Cobalt’s payment processing under their own brand name — meaning the merchant sees your company’s name on statements, the portal, and all communications, while Cobalt provides the underlying infrastructure. To qualify for white-label, agents typically need a minimum of 25 active merchants, a demonstrated technology or SaaS platform with a merchant user base, and a clean compliance history. Speak with your Partner Success Manager to discuss your eligibility.

Cobalt agents can operate anywhere in the United States. There are no exclusive territory assignments and no geographic restrictions on which merchants you can sign. You are free to work locally, regionally, or nationally — the digital merchant application and the rate analysis tool make it easy to sign merchants in any market without being physically present.

Ready to Build a Residual Income Stream That Grows Every Month?

The application takes 10 minutes. The onboarding call takes one hour. The first residual check can arrive within 30 days. There are no upfront costs, no volume minimums, and no long-term commitments.

Every month you wait is a month your merchants are paying the wrong processor and you’re not getting paid for the relationship you already have. That stops today.

✓Free to join — no upfront cost ever
✓No volume minimums or quotas
✓Available in all 50 states
✓Month-to-month, cancel anytime

Apply in 10 Minutes

Free to join. No commitments. Start earning your first residual within 30 days.

ISO Desk: (860) 270-0552
partners@cobalt.info