How Merchant Atlas builds payment research.
A transparent method for sourcing, comparing and updating merchant-services research.
Evidence first. Context before conclusions.
Define the market, channel, payment mix and commercial decision before collecting evidence.
Use regulators, payment schemes, infrastructure operators and official provider documentation wherever possible.
Document product mechanics and terms first; compare options only after normalising the merchant profile.
Pricing, underwriting, availability and regulation can change. Pages identify what should be verified before action.
Source hierarchy
Merchant Atlas prioritises official regulatory and scheme material, infrastructure operators, provider documentation and product terms. Reputable secondary research can help provide context, but should not replace a primary source when a current primary source is available.
How provider information is handled
Provider features and pricing can vary by country, legal entity, business profile and negotiated contract. Merchant Atlas avoids presenting old third-party price tables as permanent facts. Where provider-specific information matters, readers are directed to verify the live provider material and contracting terms.
How comparisons are built
Comparisons should use the same merchant assumptions: payment volume, transaction count, average ticket, payment-method mix, domestic/international split, currencies, refunds, disputes and required features. Operational factors such as settlement, reconciliation, support and data portability are considered alongside price.
Updates
Research pages show their WordPress modification date and link to authoritative sources. Important pages should be refreshed when a material product, regulatory or market change is identified rather than having their date changed merely to appear fresh.
Use the method across the 100-guide library.
Every research page links back to primary sources, related topics and the tools that help test commercial assumptions.