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Merchant processing: see what you really pay to take cards

Your real card processing cost is your effective rate, total fees divided by card sales, and the only part you can negotiate is the processor's markup and contract terms.

By Business Funders editorial teamUpdated Oct 20, 2026
Advertiser disclosure

Batch Capital and BatchOut are affiliated with Business Funders and appear on this site. We earn money when you get funded or sign up through them. How we make money

Card processing

Start here

Start with the cost guide, then check your own numbers with the fee analyzer.

  1. Card processing costsWhat you really pay to take cards, and how to pay less.
    Cost
    2.9% + 30¢ per online domestic card sale (Stripe list price)
    See the full cost breakdown

General, dated ranges from published sources, not offers. Each product page shows its sources next to every figure.

Where to start: find your effective rate, then read the contract

  1. Add up last month's processing fees from your statement and divide by your card sales. That is your effective rate.
  2. Find your pricing model: flat rate, interchange-plus or tiered. Learn the difference in interchange-plus vs flat rate.
  3. Check the contract: term, early termination fee, equipment lease and monthly minimums.
  4. Only then compare quotes, on markup and contract terms.

Thinking about passing fees to customers? Read the surcharge and cash discount laws by state first.

Card processing, compared

Our own service, not a ranking

From the team behind Business Funders: BatchOut

BatchOut is the card processing service affiliated with Business Funders. It signs businesses up for card processing and earns ongoing revenue on those accounts, including as a Square dealer. We earn money when you sign up through BatchOut.

It appears here because it is ours, not because it ranked first. We have not scored providers yet; when we do, BatchOut is scored by the same published method as everyone else and shown separately unless it earns its place.

Your request goes only to BatchOut. We never sell or share it without your OK for a specific processor. Legal name: Batch Group LLC d/b/a BatchOut.

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