ndependent sales organizations and agents throughout the payment- processing industry should check out this audition notice: Electronic Payment Systems wants to cast some major talent in its long-running, well- established production.

With a 60-employee headquarters in suburban Denver, EPS has built one of the largest merchant-services businesses in the country after evolving from a series of businesses spearheaded by one of the industry's most well-known people, John Dorsey. For the last five years, EPS has grown remarkably under the guidance of Dorsey, its CEO, and has emerged as a one-stop- shopping company whose focus is creating profitability and growth for ISOs.

Consider what EPS enables agents to re-sell, with residual income for every service:

+ Same-day merchant number issuance (sometimes in four hours).

+ In-house underwriting and risk management.

+ 24/7 customer service and tech support.

+ Web site construction.

+ Software download capability.

+ Direct link to processors.

+ High-speed T1 lines.

+ Special agreements with leasing, equipment warranty and check guarantee companies.

+ Internet service provider.

Thus, ISOs don't have to scramble from one provider to another - EPS centralizes every aspect of the payment-processing industry. How many other providers offer such a variety of revenue streams?

Consider EPS's statistics: more than 800 deals a month, more than 18,0000 merchant deals on the books in recent years, residual rates of $5 per month per warranty, $10 per month per check guarantee, $10 per month for Internet services - all per merchant. As long as the agent sells the services, EPS pays residuals that are separate from the agent's residual income from the merchant.

Then there's the product marketing and agent training. And don't forget EPS's willingness to accept "sub-par" or high-risk accounts. Undercapitalized, start-up merchants find a friendly face at EPS. Except for adult-oriented businesses and travel, EPS rarely turns down a request.

Then there's the impressive inventory of state-of-the-art equipment, including terminals and printers from Verifone, Nurit and Hypercom and other products from Gateway and IVI Checkmate. CMS even has RDM products for check truncation.

This extensive and competitively priced inventory guarantees 48-hour (or less) turnaround time for repair. Include an online catalog for paper, imprinting slips, imprinter, ribbons, tent signs, POS trays, banners - all orderable at EPS's Web site - and ISOs have the payment-processing world at their fingertips.

GS asked Tony Maley, the EPS vice president of operations, who his company's competitors are, and he responded, "We can get as big as we want to get. The only thing that holds you back is yourself. However, we feel it is important to manage our growth. We are very cautious. We have an entire risk-management department that watches over us. We keep our losses at a low minimum. The biggest thing is not the growth - it is the management of the growth."

How exactly is EPS looking to expand its cast? The answer lies in what it already has created - 25 affiliate offices scattered around the United States. EPS wants ISOs to be in business for themselves, not by themselves. Trained and assisted financially by EPS, these are talented ISOs who had proven track records and looked to achieve the next level of success.

EPS hopes to add dramatically to its office total with an "agent-friendly" approach. "Our goal is for you to make as much money as you can," Maley says. "We give fast turnaround and good service for you and your merchant."

That service even includes a special program for ISOs - agent advocates. EPS provides an alternative to having to deal with a different person each time an agent calls in for help. Once ISOs join the EPS family, they're introduced to the Agent Advocate Department - EPS employees who are there to build lasting relationships with ISOs.

Agent advocates are available for customer service, tech support, equipment issues, various information gathering and any other concerns agents have. "Their whole job is to take care of you," Maley says. "There are several for you to choose from to find the personality that suits you best."

The advocates can contact anyone in any department, all the way up to Dorsey. Maley emphasizes that EPS is a very approachable, hands-on organization.

EPS wants to give ISOs the chance to be their own boss and reach their own financial goals. With its start-up assistance, ongoing support and access to a solid business system, EPS offers what every agent needs for long-term residual income without the adversity of large debts, heavy inventory and overpriced equipment and services.

Maley shares EPS's future vision: "In two to five years, we'd like to see 2,000 new merchant apps per month. We have an entire infrastructure in place to handle those needs."