Ryan Selenke joined Groover Labs in February 2023. He is the founder, owner, and operator of Reliant Merchant Services, a point-of-sale and debit/credit card services provider. In our interview, we learned that Ryan is much, much more. From custom customer engagements to inventory management, Ryan and Reliant Merchant Services provide exceptional service to small- and mid-sized businesses.

Tell us about your Reliant Merchant Services. What do you do?

Reliant Merchant Services is a full-service provider. That means we can provide point-of-sale systems for restaurants, retail, service-minded businesses, or Gateway access for online transactions. Basically, if your business accepts credit cards or ACH transactions, we can help!

Why did you decide to start Reliant Merchant Services? And what sets you apart from other merchant service providers?

I used to be in real estate, and I LOVED the interaction with people and helping, but I have a young family, and real estate is demanding (nights and weekends were brutal), so I started working for a technology company that sells point-of-sale (POS) systems. There, I engaged with businesses and people even more than I did when I was in real estate. I love working with small- to mid-sized businesses. Unfortunately, the technology fell short of what I’d hoped and did not provide the right value for my clients.

As an entrepreneur, I learned how to become a "broker" for multiple POS systems and technologies in the industry, so I left to start my own business. I now sell 30-40 different products instead of just one, which transfers the decision-making process to the customer. Reliant Merchant Services customers can choose from a variety of systems based on which ones best serve their needs.

All small-to-mid-sized businesses want to know: what are your fees, and are they less than I'm paying now? If they're not, what am I getting with Reliant that I'm not getting from my current provider?

Another beautiful part about starting my own business is that I get to set my own pricing, and I have a relationship with the product and their financial services provider. Not only do I know the tech, but I know the people behind the tech. I can, most of the time, get a discounted rate compared to if a business chooses a direct merchant services provider. I can bring providers hundreds of customers into their portfolio instead of just the handful I would bring if I only worked with one system.

I also offer specialized customer service. I am the first point of contact for my customers when there is a dispute or interruption. The level of support I provide is vital to success. If, as a merchant, you’ve ever been caught up in a dispute or interruption, then you know how frustrating it is. Having a real person advocate for you can make all the difference - especially when it comes to receiving your funds for services or goods rendered. If you can’t resolve an issue in a reasonable amount of time, it can cause uncountable damage to your operations. My job is to prevent that from happening.

[Groover Labs note: To see an example of how Ryan and Reliant Merchant Services support their customers, watch this video about how they helped Grow Plant Bar during a power outage.]

Does Reliant Merchant Services do more than just run my customer transactions? Do you help with inventory management?

YES! Today’s business environment is full of deep technology and automation, and I’ve partnered with the top POS providers on the market to ensure retail businesses get exactly what they need, not just a bundle of extra tools and features that don’t apply to their line(s) of business. You need to be agile and efficient in your sales and inventory management processes, and a good POS system can manage that for you. What’s even better? This can apply to all verticals like restaurants, service, manufacturing, el al.

You recently moved from a studio to an office at Groover Labs. How's the transition going? Tell us about the community you're building at Groover Labs and in Wichita.

I love being in the Groover Labs ecosystem. The relationships I am building are huge for my longevity in business. I am able to ask detailed questions and get back detailed answers from the community because we’re all in the same building together, and that’s great. I am also the type of person who feeds off others’ energy. If I see someone working hard, it keeps me motivated to work hard! Until my team outgrows a space that Groover Labs can offer, I will be here!

To learn more about Reliant Merchant Services, click here.

We’re glad to have you as part of our community, Ryan. Thank you for answering our questions. Good luck out there!