Gulf Management Systems history begins in 1992, with a business built around helping other businesses handle payments. Today, our team in Clearwater, Florida works with companies whose payment needs range from a single transaction to recurring billing and connected software.
The technology has changed over more than three decades. Our emphasis on personal service and understanding how each business operates remains central to the GMS approach.
1992: the beginning of Gulf Management Systems
Florida’s Division of Corporations records the incorporation of Gulf Management Systems, Inc. on September 14, 1992. The current corporate record lists our principal office in Clearwater and names Charles G. Billone as an officer.
That date marks the start of a company whose work has continued across changing payment methods, software platforms and business expectations. Our company story reflects the same focus today: practical payment solutions and a team clients can reach.
Chuck Billone on learning to build a business
A Summer 2017 interview in Alpha Sigma Phi’s The Tomahawk identifies Chuck Billone as the founder of Gulf Management Systems. In the profile, he connects his business experience with helping rebuild a fraternity chapter during his undergraduate years at American University.
Organizing day-to-day operations, attracting members and finding a house required practical work. Billone described those experiences as preparation for starting his own business. It is a useful part of the GMS story: the founder’s account centers on organization, relationships and persistence.
Read Chuck Billone’s 2017 interview on printed pages 23 and 24.
2018: connecting payments with industry software
In an announcement published in July 2018, GMS described a partnership with Tan-Link, a software provider serving tanning salons. The announcement described combining GMS payment processing with software designed around salon operations.
It is a documented example of a recurring theme in our work: payments are part of a larger business workflow. The software a team uses to manage its customers, memberships or appointments affects how payment information needs to move.
Read the original 2018 Tan-Link announcement. This milestone describes the partnership announced at that time; current compatibility and availability should be confirmed for each business.
Clearwater roots, business-specific payment support
Today, GMS offers card and ACH processing, recurring billing, payment technology and software integration options. Our industry solutions include healthcare, fitness, restaurants and automotive businesses. The right setup depends on the way a business collects payments and the tools its staff already uses.
For a healthcare practice, the conversation may start with its payment workflow. For a membership business, it may start with recurring billing. In either case, we begin by understanding the current setup and the questions the business wants answered.
The next chapter starts with your business
Our history gives context to the work we do now. If you want a clearer view of your processing statement or payment workflow, bring your questions to our team.
Schedule a conversation with GMS.
Historical references: Florida Division of Corporations; The Tomahawk, Summer 2017; and the GMS Tan-Link announcement published July 18, 2018.
