Card data flow diagram
Every path a card number takes through your checkout, scripts, APIs, and staff, drawn on one diagram.
The Problem
Your SAQ Is Due and Nobody Knows Which One Applies
It shows up when your acquirer sends the yearly reminder, your processor adds a non-compliance fee, or an enterprise customer asks for your Attestation of Compliance.
01 · SAQ type
Nobody is sure which questionnaire fits the checkout.
A card data flow diagram confirms your SAQ type against its eligibility criteria.
02 · Scope
Every server and script sits inside the card data environment.
Hosted payment fields and tokenization move systems out of scope before we fix anything.
03 · Scripts
Marketing tags load unchecked on the payment page.
Payment page scripts are listed, authorized, and watched for changes where your SAQ requires it.
04 · Evidence
Questionnaire answers get ticked yes without proof.
Each answer links to a screenshot, policy, or scan report in one evidence pack.
Your acquirer's portal asks which Self-Assessment Questionnaire you're filing, and the options read like alphabet soup. Your checkout uses a hosted payment page, yet a marketing script loads on that same page. Someone added a phone order form for wholesale buyers. The processor already charges a non-compliance fee every month. Your developer thinks you're out of scope, and your bookkeeper ticks yes to every question to make the reminders stop. Nobody has drawn where a card number actually goes.
We start by tracing every path a card number takes, from checkout pages and scripts to phone orders and support tickets. That map decides your SAQ type and shows what can leave scope through hosted fields or tokenization. Then we fix what remains, requirement by requirement, with evidence attached. You file a questionnaire you can defend, not one you guessed at.
Every card path traced
Checkout pages, scripts, APIs, phone orders, and tickets mapped before any questionnaire gets answered.
Scope cut before fixes
Hosted fields and tokenization take systems out of scope, so fewer requirements apply to you.
Answers backed by evidence
Every yes in your questionnaire links to a screenshot, a policy, or a scan report.
Our PCI Compliance Services Process
From Card Data Map to a Filed SAQ in Five Clear Steps
You approve the scope diagram, every checkout change, and each questionnaire answer before anything goes to your acquirer or assessor.
We look at how you take payments online, in person, and by phone, and which providers touch card data. You get a written scope and a fixed price. If your processor's free SAQ wizard covers you, we'll say so before we quote.
What's Included
What You Get With PCI DSS Compliance Services
Each engagement covers the card data map, SAQ confirmation, scope reduction, a requirement checklist, payment page controls, and an evidence pack for filing.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs Processor portal vs QSA firm
A processor's free SAQ wizard suits simple hosted checkouts, and only a QSA firm can issue a Report on Compliance. Here is where each option fits your business.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Processor portal | QSA firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping | Card data traced end to end | Self-reported answers | Assessed during fieldwork |
| SAQ choice | Confirmed against eligibility criteria | Wizard picks from your answers | Advised, often for a fee |
| Scope reduction | Hosted fields and tokenization built | Not included | Recommended, not built |
| Gap fixes | Fixed by our engineers | Left to you | Left to you |
| Formal sign-off | Prepared for your assessor | Self-attested AOC | Yes, ROC and AOC |
| Speed to start | Within a week of scoping | Same day | Booked weeks ahead |
| Support | 30 days after you submit | Help desk articles | During the assessment |
| Cost | Fixed price from $850 | Free or bundled | Highest of the three |
DeveloperLook
Processor portal
- Scoping
- DeveloperLook: Card data traced end to endProcessor portal: Self-reported answers
- SAQ choice
- DeveloperLook: Confirmed against eligibility criteriaProcessor portal: Wizard picks from your answers
- Scope reduction
- DeveloperLook: Hosted fields and tokenization builtProcessor portal: Not included
- Gap fixes
- DeveloperLook: Fixed by our engineersProcessor portal: Left to you
- Formal sign-off
- DeveloperLook: Prepared for your assessorProcessor portal: Self-attested AOC
- Speed to start
- DeveloperLook: Within a week of scopingProcessor portal: Same day
- Support
- DeveloperLook: 30 days after you submitProcessor portal: Help desk articles
- Cost
- DeveloperLook: Fixed price from $850Processor portal: Free or bundled
Projects We've Built
Ecommerce Stores We Have Built
Fashion and furniture stores we designed and built, each with a checkout, a payment provider, and order data. Stores like these are what PCI scoping maps.
Modeverse Ecommerce Web Design & Development
- Fashion
- Retail
- E-commerce
Havenly Furniture Ecommerce Website
- Furniture
- E-commerce
- Dashboard
Sefinix Furniture Ecommerce Store and Dashboard
- Furniture
- Dashboard
- E-commerce
Fuison Fashion Ecommerce Website and Dashboard
- Fashion
- Dashboard
- E-commerce
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built stores, apps, and websites for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Merchants Trust Us Near Their Checkout
Payment pages are where small mistakes cost the most. These habits keep your checkout taking orders while we tighten it, and keep your questionnaire honest.
We never handle card numbers
We map where card data goes without entering, viewing, or storing a real card number. Every test payment uses your provider's published test cards.
Checkout changes off-peak
Payment page changes go live in quiet hours with a rollback ready. Your store keeps taking orders while fields and scripts move.
Straight answers on scope
If a system is out of scope, we say so and show why. You won't pay to harden servers that never see a card number.
Honest about our role
We're not a QSA or an ASV, and we never sign anything on their behalf. You'll always know which document comes from whom.
No answer without evidence
We don't tick yes without proof. Each answer links to a screenshot, a setting, or a policy your acquirer can ask to see.
Your evidence, your storage
Diagrams, policies, and evidence stay in your own storage. When the work ends, we close every account we used and send you the list.
Overview
What do PCI compliance services include?
DeveloperLook provides PCI compliance services for online merchants, SaaS platforms, and service providers. We map card data flows, confirm your SAQ type, cut scope with hosted fields and tokenization, fix the remaining gaps, and assemble the evidence. Projects start at $850 and take 1 to 12 weeks, and we never pose as your assessor.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · PCI Compliance Services
- Service
- PCI compliance services (card data mapping, SAQ readiness, scope reduction, fixes)
- Typical timeline
- 1 to 2 weeks for SAQ readiness, 3 to 12 weeks with fixes
- Platforms
- Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Stripe, Braintree, and PayPal
- Built with
- Stripe Elements, Braintree Hosted Fields, Cloudflare, and Burp Suite
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 days of support after you submit
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $850 USD, fixed scope after a free scoping call
Reviewed 22 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Online stores on hosted checkouts
Your Shopify or WooCommerce store got its yearly SAQ reminder, and you're not sure whether SAQ A or SAQ A-EP fits your checkout.
Merchants with their own payment pages
Your Magento store posts card details through a payment page your developers built, so your scope now covers most of your servers.
SaaS platforms taking card payments
Your platform bills customers through Stripe, Braintree, or PayPal, and an enterprise buyer wants proof that card data is handled safely before signing.
Merchants paying non-compliance fees
Your processor statement shows a monthly non-compliance fee, and you want it gone without paying for work you don't need.
Agencies building checkouts for clients
Your clients ask whether their new store is PCI compliant, and you need PCI compliance consulting you can resell under your brand.
Not a fit
Need a signed ROC
You need a Report on Compliance signed by a QSA. We prepare you for that assessment, but only a QSA company listed by the PCI Security Standards Council can issue it.
Store just needs hardening
Your store only needs plugins, admin accounts, and settings reviewed, not a PCI program. Our website security audit services cover that from $450.
Want the checkout attacked
You need testers to attack your payment app and APIs the way a criminal would, with proof for each flaw. Our web application penetration testing services fit better.
Hosted checkout, few sales
Your store uses a fully hosted checkout, takes few card payments, and your processor's free SAQ wizard already walks you through it. Start there before paying anyone.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for PCI Compliance Services
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on your SAQ type, your card data flows, and the gaps to fix, and you get a fixed proposal after a free scoping call.
For merchants with hosted checkouts that need the right SAQ completed with evidence.
$850one-time, USD
- Free scoping call and card data flow map
- SAQ type confirmed against eligibility criteria
- Gap review of every question in your SAQ
- Fix list with owners and dates
- Evidence pack for your SAQ and AOC
- 30 days of support after you submit
Recommended
For merchants with their own payment pages that need scope cut and gaps fixed.
$2,400one-time, USD
- Everything in SAQ Readiness
- Scope reduction with hosted fields or tokenization
- Payment page script inventory and change alerts
- MFA, access control, and logging fixes
- Security policies and incident response plan
For larger merchants and service providers preparing for SAQ D or a QSA assessment.
$4,900one-time, USD
- Everything in Scope and Remediation
- Readiness across all 12 PCI DSS requirements
- Segmentation review of the card data environment
- Targeted risk analyses where the standard asks
- Mock assessment with an evidence index
- Support during your QSA's fieldwork
For Agencies
White-Label PCI Compliance Consulting for Agencies
You own the client relationship. We supply the card data mapping, scope work, and SAQ preparation under your brand, and stay off client calls unless you ask. Your store clients get a defensible questionnaire without you hiring a payments specialist.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the client brief
Send the store's platform, payment providers, and the acquirer's reminder or questions.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We scope and price
You get a written scope, an access list, and a fixed price per store.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Map, fix, prepare
We map card data, cut scope, fix gaps, and prepare the questionnaire.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
Stay client-facing
You present the scope and fixes while we work under your brand.
Checkout know-how
Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento payment flows handled by engineers who build them.
Your report format
Diagrams and evidence packs delivered in your template and your naming.
Every store you run
One client's SAQ or yearly validation across your whole store list.
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We work inside the payment providers and store platforms you already use, and favor hosted fields that keep card numbers off your servers.
Stripe
PayPal
Braintree- Authorize.net
Shopify
WooCommerce
Magento
BigCommerce
- Stripe Elements
- Content Security Policy
Cloudflare
Burp Suite
- PCI DSS v4.0.1
Google Sheets- Jira
Loom
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, processor fees, timing, legal requirements, and what PCI compliance really involves.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
Our PCI work starts at $850 for SAQ readiness on a hosted checkout, with scope confirmed and evidence prepared. Scope reduction and remediation start at $2,400, and SAQ D or QSA readiness starts at $4,900. Budget separately for quarterly ASV scans if your SAQ needs them and, for larger merchants, the QSA's own fee.
That fee is set by your processor or acquirer, not by the PCI Security Standards Council. Many processors charge a yearly program fee and add a monthly non-compliance fee when no current SAQ is on file. Filing a valid SAQ usually stops the extra charge, so check your merchant agreement for the exact amounts.
SAQ readiness for a hosted checkout takes 1 to 2 weeks. Scope reduction and remediation take 3 to 6 weeks, and SAQ D or QSA readiness takes 6 to 12 weeks. Moving card entry to hosted fields often saves more time than any other fix, because whole systems drop out of scope at once.
PCI compliance means meeting the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for every system that stores, processes, or transmits card data. The PCI Security Standards Council, founded by the major card brands, maintains the standard. Your acquirer and the card brands decide how you prove it: a questionnaire or an on-site assessment by a QSA.
PCI DSS compliance is meeting the 12 principal requirements of the current standard, version 4.0.1, grouped under 6 goals such as protecting account data. The requirements cover network controls, secure settings, encryption, malware protection, access, logging, testing, and policies. Smaller merchants answer only the subset that their SAQ type includes.
Yes, every business that accepts, processes, stores, or transmits card payments must comply, whatever its size. The duty comes through your merchant agreement with your acquirer, which can add fees or penalties if you don't. How much work you face depends on your transaction volume and how card data reaches you.
Not under US federal law: PCI DSS is an industry standard enforced through the card brands and your acquirer. A few states write it into statute, such as Nevada, whose data security law requires businesses that accept payment cards to comply with PCI DSS. Breach notification laws still apply alongside it everywhere.
You get there by mapping where card data flows, confirming your SAQ type or assessment level with your acquirer, and fixing every gap in scope. Then you complete the SAQ and Attestation of Compliance, or pass a QSA assessment, and run quarterly ASV scans if your SAQ requires them. You repeat the validation every year.
Yes, a small online store still needs it, but the work can be light. If a hosted checkout from Shopify, Stripe, or PayPal takes every card entry, you'll usually file SAQ A, the shortest questionnaire. Loading your own scripts on the payment page or taking phone orders adds requirements.
No, and no official PCI compliance certification exists for merchants to buy. You validate with an SAQ and Attestation of Compliance, or with a QSA's Report on Compliance. Only QSAs and ASVs listed by the PCI Security Standards Council can sign their parts. We prepare you and work alongside the assessor you choose.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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