If you’re setting up EFTPOS for your business, there’s one small, but very important, piece of the puzzle you’ll hear about early on: your merchant ID. It might sound technical, but understanding what a merchant ID is (and how to get one) makes the rest of your payment setup much smoother.
At its core, a merchant ID is a unique identifier that links EFTPOS transactions to your business. It’s programmed into your terminal and ensures every payment you accept is processed securely and attributed to the right business. Without a merchant ID, an EFTPOS terminal simply can’t function.
While that sounds straightforward, the process around obtaining and managing merchant IDs can feel confusing. At EFTPOS Now, our goal is to simplify the payment world for Kiwi business owners and make the setup process easy, fast, and stress-free.
Below, we break down everything you need to know about merchant IDs, how they work, what they cost, and how we can help you get set up seamlessly.
Every EFTPOS terminal in New Zealand runs within a secure payments network. Your merchant ID (sometimes called a MID) is the primary number that identifies your business within that network. It is programmed in to your EFTPOS terminal and links the EFTPOS to your business bank account. When a customer pays you, the transaction passes through the network and settles in your bank account at the settlement time set.
Think of it like your business’s digital “address” in the payments world. No two businesses can share the same merchant ID, and you can only have one merchant number per EFTPOS terminal, and yours stays with your business the entire time you operate on the network.
If you add more EFTPOS terminals later, they will branch off from that same core merchant ID, which brings us to the next piece of the puzzle.
Your merchant ID is the umbrella number. Under that umbrella sit terminal IDs (TIDs). Each individual EFTPOS machine your business uses has its own terminal ID that corresponds back to your merchant ID.
Here’s a simple way to imagine it:
For example, a winery using four EFTPOS machines would have:
Each terminal ID must be unique as two machines can’t share the same one. Having individual terminal IDs allows your reporting, settlement, and transaction tracking to stay clear and organised.
When you order EFTPOS hardware from EFTPOS Now, having your merchant ID (and terminal IDs if you have multiple devices) already active helps us program your terminal and get it out to you faster. If you’re not sure whether your merchant ID is ready or you’re stuck trying to figure out your terminal IDs, get in touch and our team can sort that for you.
In New Zealand, merchant IDs operate on two main payments networks:
EFTPOS Now can guide you through the application process from start to finish with no stress, no back-and-forth, and no trying to navigate complex payment jargon. We can handle the whole process on your behalf so you can get trading faster.
If your business structure is a bit more specialised, like clubs, societies, trusts, schools, or taxis, the onboarding can be more complex. In these cases you may still need some additional steps, but even then, our EFTPOS specialists can talk you through your situation and help point you in the right direction.
Once your merchant ID is active, running it comes with a small monthly fee based on the number of terminal IDs you have. On the Worldline network, each active terminal ID costs $18.90 + GST per month. The Verifone network is $15.00 + GST per month.
Using the winery example:
This cost applies regardless of whether your merchant ID is set up through EFTPOS Now or directly through Worldline as the fee is network-based, not provider-based.
It’s also worth understanding what types of transactions may incur additional merchant fees:
Because fees vary by financial provider, it’s always smart to monitor what payment types your customers use the most. If you want help understanding whether you should enable contactless payments, credit acceptance, or stick to EFTPOS-only, our team can talk you through the most cost-effective setup.
A merchant ID isn’t just a number, it’s the foundation that makes your payment system function reliably and securely. Here’s why it matters:
Your merchant ID is what ensures every transaction links safely to your business and is settled correctly.
It keeps your transaction history tidy, especially when you’re using multiple terminals.
Whether you’re serving customers at a counter, on-site, at events, or in mobile environments, your merchant ID keeps all payments flowing smoothly.
Adding new terminals? Expanding to multiple locations? Your merchant ID scales with your business.
Without a merchant ID, you simply wouldn’t be able to process card payments in-store, online, or on the go.
Setting up payments shouldn’t feel like learning a new language. That’s where EFTPOS Now comes in.
We handle the complex, technical parts of the process so you don’t have to. When you work with us:
If you’re setting up payments for the first time, upgrading old hardware, or switching from another provider, we can help make the entire process quick and stress-free.
Start your application now and we’ll get you set up in no time.
And if you’re still feeling unsure about merchant IDs, networks, or what your business needs, we’re always happy to explain things. Once you understand your merchant ID, the rest of your payment setup becomes a walk in the park.
