Cheddar Up

Cheddar Up is a fintech platform founded in 2012 by Nichole Montoya and Molly DiCarlo, born out of a simple frustration—how difficult it was to collect small payments for school events. What started with a $4 pajama day fee has evolved into a platform that has processed over $750 million in group payments. Cheddar Up was created to solve a universal problem: the hassle of collecting money and information from groups. Whether it’s a PTA, sports team, nonprofit, or community club, organizers often struggle with spreadsheets, checks, and manual tracking. Cheddar Up flips that experience on its head by offering a streamlined, digital solution. At its core, Cheddar Up allows users to create custom collection pages where they can gather payments, forms, sign-ups, and more. The platform is designed to be intuitive and accessible—payers don’t need to download an app or create an account. Organizers simply build a page, share a link, and start collecting. Payments can be made via credit card, eCheck, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or even tracked cash/check transactions. Cheddar Up’s versatility is one of its strongest assets. It’s used for everything from collecting membership dues and tuition to selling spirit wear, managing event registrations, and running fundraisers. The platform supports recurring payments, peer-to-peer fundraising, ticketing, inventory tracking, and custom forms. Organizers can also collect waivers, permission slips, and other documents using secure eSignatures and file uploads. The platform offers several pricing tiers. The Basic plan is free forever and includes up to five items and one form per collection. The Pro plan ($15/month annually) unlocks unlimited items and forms, advanced selling tools, and lower processing fees. The Team plan ($35/month annually) adds features like unlimited managers, custom branding, group websites, verified nonprofit badges, and advanced reporting. For large organizations, Cheddar Up offers a Partner plan with custom templates, dashboards, and dedicated account support. Cheddar Up’s design emphasizes ease of use and professionalism. Organizers can customize their pages with logos, colors, and banners, creating a polished experience for their community. The platform also supports in-person payments via Bluetooth card readers or mobile apps, making it ideal for events and merchandise sales.

Cheddar Up stands out in the crowded fintech and group payment space by offering a purpose-built platform tailored specifically for group organizers. Unlike general payment apps like Venmo or PayPal, which are designed for peer-to-peer transactions, Cheddar Up provides a comprehensive suite of tools that address the unique needs of schools, PTAs, nonprofits, and community groups. One of Cheddar Up’s most significant advantages is its all-in-one functionality. It combines payment collection with custom forms, sign-ups, ticketing, merchandise sales, and reporting. This eliminates the need for multiple platforms or manual tracking, saving organizers time and reducing errors. Its ability to collect both payments and information—such as t-shirt sizes, waivers, or registration details—sets it apart from competitors that only handle financial transactions. Another key differentiator is frictionless user experience. Payers can contribute without downloading an app or creating an account, which increases participation and reduces barriers. Organizers benefit from instant tracking and automated reporting, which simplifies financial oversight and transparency.

• Small Businesses (1-99)
• Mid Market (100-500)
• Enterprise (500+)