What business owners aren’t told about processing fees, banking structures, compliance risk, and operational blind spots
Most business owners know their processing rate.
Far fewer understand how their payment structure, banking setup, payroll alignment, and compliance posture quietly affect cash flow, increase risk, and determine whether their business stays stable as it grows.
Behind every transaction are decisions and systems that don’t show up clearly on a statement — but they matter far more than most people realize.
That’s why 360 Global and Paragon Payroll are hosting a joint, educational webinar designed to pull back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the scenes.
This isn’t a sales pitch.
It’s the conversation most business owners were never invited into.
Why Profitable Businesses Still Feel Financially Strained
Many businesses appear healthy on the surface — strong revenue, steady growth, loyal customers — yet still experience:
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Higher-than-expected processing costs
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Surprise holds, reserves, or shutdowns
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Banking fees that quietly erode margins
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Payroll issues that surface during reviews or audits
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Downtime that directly impacts revenue
These challenges are especially common in regulated and high-risk industries like cannabis, CBD, and kratom — but they’re not limited to them.
The problem isn’t that owners are doing something “wrong.”
It’s that most were never shown how these systems connect — or how financial institutions evaluate risk across them.
What This Webinar Will Actually Teach You
In The Hidden Operational Costs Behind Payments & Banking, industry leaders from 360 Global and Paragon Payroll will break down:
Payments Transparency & Pricing Education
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How card brands, issuing banks, and processors are paid in every transaction
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The real differences between flat-rate, tiered, and interchange-plus pricing
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Why tiered pricing and teaser rates often lead to 5–6% effective costs
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The “junk fees” most merchants don’t realize they’re paying
The Truth About PayFacs (Stripe, Square, PayPal, Venmo)
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Why PayFacs are not true merchant accounts
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What merchants give up in exchange for convenience
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Why shutdown risk increases as businesses grow — especially in regulated industries
Banking Costs in Cannabis & High-Risk Verticals
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Why “cannabis-friendly” banks are not all the same
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Hidden banking fees that can erase payment savings
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Why banking should be viewed as an operational cost — not just a necessity
Reserves, Risk & Advocacy
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What reserves are and why they’re imposed
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Why high-risk merchants are often over-reserved
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How proper advocacy can materially change outcomes
Payroll as an Early Warning Signal
Meet the Panel
Livia Caudell
CEO, 360 Global & Integrity Payment Processing
A payment industry leader and advocate for transparency, merchant protection, and sustainable growth in high-risk industries. Livia specializes in helping business owners understand the why behind pricing, risk decisions, and compliance requirements — so they can scale without unnecessary disruption.
Marie Towanit
Chief Strategy Officer, 360 Global & Integrity Payment Processing
With more than 17 years in payments, acquiring, underwriting, and risk management, Marie brings deep expertise in building infrastructure that holds up under growth and scrutiny.
Thomas Arrington
Senior Sales Executive, Paragon Payroll
A trusted advisor to founders navigating payroll, compliance, and workforce risk in regulated industries, known for helping businesses build payroll systems that scale correctly from the start.
Nick Renfro
Strategic Partnership Manager, Paragon Payroll
Focused on building the partnerships, integrations, and education that surround payroll — not just processing it — to reduce friction and improve outcomes for cannabis operators.
Clarke Lyons
Vice President of Brand Marketing & Business Growth, Paragon Payroll
A brand and growth strategist with over 17 years of experience helping regulated industries scale with purpose, clarity, and integrity.
Who This Webinar Is For
This session is especially valuable for:
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Cannabis operators
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CBD and kratom businesses
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Regulated or high-risk merchants
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Founders scaling beyond early-stage tools
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Business owners who’ve experienced holds, shutdowns, or surprise fees
Join the Conversation
The Hidden Operational Costs Behind Payments & Banking is a free, live webinar designed to educate business owners — not sell to them.
During registration, you’ll be asked to share the biggest payment, banking, payroll, or operational challenges you’re facing. This allows the panel to address real-world issues that matter most to operators today.
If you’re ready for clarity — and fewer surprises — this conversation is for you.