Calgary-based Helcim has launched the Helcim Payment Extension, a browser-based tool that injects Helcim’s low-cost, interchange-plus payment processing directly into the web-based business software merchants already use.
For many growing businesses, payments come with a hidden tradeoff. Vertical SaaS platforms for scheduling, accounting, legal practice management, or client administration often bundle payments with their software, restricting users to a single processor and charging flat rates—often 2.9 percent or higher. While convenient early on, those costs can materially erode margins as transaction volumes increase.
Helcim’s new extension is designed to break that lock-in. By installing a lightweight browser extension, merchants can connect Helcim’s payment interface directly into third-party platforms such as Jobber, Clio, and Jane App. The extension allows payment data to flow between the software and Helcim automatically, ensuring invoices are marked paid and records remain synchronized without manual reconciliation or custom integrations.
The approach allows businesses to effectively “bring their own payments” into the operational software they rely on, challenging the economics of tightly bundled embedded payments.
“Finally, we don’t have to choose between our favorite clinic software and fair payment rates,” said Jedd Ylagan, owner of Kinetically Whole Therapies and a beta user of the extension. “Our staff works exactly the same way as before, but now we’re saving significantly on every transaction.”
At launch, the Helcim Payment Extension supports more than 20 popular vertical software platforms, with plans to expand to over 100 integrations by the end of the year. Helcim says the product is already being used across industries including healthcare, home services, automotive, and professional services—sectors where payment volumes tend to rise quickly as businesses scale.
Unlike most embedded payment offerings, Helcim operates on an interchange-plus pricing model, passing card network costs through transparently rather than bundling them into flat rates. That structure has positioned the company as an alternative for merchants frustrated by rising payment fees as they grow.
“We believe merchants should be in control of their financial partnerships,” said Nic Beique, CEO and founder of Helcim. “Business owners shouldn’t be forced to overpay for payments just to use the operational software they love.”
As scrutiny grows around embedded payments and platform-driven pricing, Helcim is betting that flexibility—without sacrificing workflow integration—will resonate with scaling businesses looking to keep costs under control.
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