When friends give financial advice, and they don’t run a real business… beware.

One of our clients, a sharp seasoned law firm owner, made a move that seemed “easy” on the surface—but it’s now costing her thousands in cash flow and client trust.

Instead of speaking with a professional about merchant services, she followed the advice of a friend who runs a hobby business on the side. “Just use Square,” her friend said. “It’s free, simple, and quick to set up.”

🚨 What that friend didn’t know—and what our client painfully learned—is that some popular credit card processors like Square, PayPal, and Stripe can hold your funds for up to 120 days.

And they don’t need your permission to do it.

📉 Here’s What Happened:

Our client processed a $35,000 retainer through Square for her law firm’s client.

Within minutes, the funds were frozen.

She received a message requesting additional documentation and a vague explanation that Square was “reviewing” the transaction.

It’s now been weeks. The funds are still in limbo. Her client is frustrated. She’s stressed. And her business—meant to start off strong—is scrambling for working capital.

💡 Why This Happens

Processors like PayPal, Stripe, and Square are built for ease, not depth. They don’t do proper underwriting upfront. So when a large transaction from a “high-risk” industry like legal, finance, or coaching goes through, it triggers internal risk alerts.

These companies bury details in their terms of service that allow them to:

• Place rolling reserves

• Freeze funds without notice

• Ban your account without explanation

They may be great for personal projects or side hustles—but they're not built to support professional service businesses or large-ticket sales.

✅ The Solution: Use a Reputable, Fully Underwritten Processor

At Coast 2 Coast Payroll & Payments, we eliminate this issue entirely with upfront underwriting.

That means:

• Your business is reviewed and approved the right way.

• You’re matched with a processor that understands your industry.

• You can accept high-value payments without fear of freezes or delays.

We also offer zero transaction fee processing, which allows you to keep 100% of your sales—instead of handing over 2.9% to 4% to Stripe or Square on every transaction.

👇 Don’t Risk Your Revenue on Convenience

We’ve seen this happen over and over again: smart entrepreneurs trying to do things fast and cheap, only to lose access to tens of thousands of dollars because they didn’t understand the risk.

If your business:

• Handles large retainers or sales over $2,000

• Works in a professional services industry

• Relies on timely access to revenue

…then you can’t afford to gamble on a processor that might lock up your cash.

📲 Ready to Protect Your Business?

Let’s set you up with a professional merchant account that grows with you, not against you.

Click below to schedule a free consultation with our team and learn about:

• Zero-fee credit card processing

• Fast approvals

• Same-day funding options

👉 [Schedule a Call or Learn More Here] 

Don’t let bad advice—or the wrong processor—put your revenue on pause. Your business deserves better.