Business
Card Processing: What It Costs and What to Check
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
Every card sale costs you a fee. The easiest way to compare is your effective rate: your total fees for a month divided by your total card sales. Ask every provider to show you this number.
Enter your ZIP code to see what to compare. You don't need to give us your name or phone number.
- No phone number neededSee costs and options before you share any contact details.
- Real price ranges, with sourcesWe name where every number comes from and when it was published.
- You choose who to contactWe show options. You decide if, when and who to reach out to.
We never ask for a Social Security number, date of birth or documents.
What affects your processing cost
Price range
Fees depend on your sales, card types and pricing plan, so we don't list one number. Use your effective rate to compare. Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the provider.
What moves the number
- The card. Rewards and business cards cost you more to accept than basic debit cards.
- How you take the card. Tapped or dipped in person costs less than typed in or online.
- Your pricing plan. See below.
- Your sales. Higher volume can get lower rates.
- Extra fees. Monthly, PCI, statement and gateway fees add up.
Pricing plans in plain words
- Flat rate: one simple rate for every sale. Easy to understand. It can cost more at higher volumes.
- Interchange-plus: the card network's cost plus a set markup. Usually the clearest and fairest.
- Tiered: sales get sorted into "qualified" and "non-qualified" rates. Hard to predict and often costs more.
How to find your effective rate
Take last month's statement. Add up every fee. Divide by your total card sales. Example: $450 in fees ÷ $15,000 in sales = 3.0%.
What to ask before you choose
- "Can you show my effective rate using my last statement?"
- "Is there a contract, and what does it cost to cancel early?"
- "Is the card reader a lease?" Card reader leases often can't be canceled and can cost far more than buying.
- "What monthly and yearly fees are there?"
The catch: watch out for long contracts with big early-cancel fees, and for card reader leases. Some leases run for years and can't be canceled, even if you close your business. Buy your equipment if you can.
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Why AssistQuote is different
On some websites
They ask who you are first
Some forms want your name and phone number before they show you anything useful. You may not know which companies will get it, or how many will call.
Here, you choose
Answer a few questions without giving your name, email or phone number. See prices, what to ask, and providers to explore. You choose who to contact and what to share with them.
- 1
Check local costs
See typical price ranges for your area and what moves the price up or down.
- 2
Tell us what you need
Answer a few questions about the work, not about who you are.
- 3
You decide what's next
Save or email your options, or visit a provider when you're ready.
Cost information is not a live rate, quote or offer. A provider shown here is not an endorsement. Each provider sets its own prices, privacy and contact rules.
Questions people ask
Ready to see merchant processing options in your area?
Start with your ZIP code. You will see typical local costs and options to explore. No phone number, email or name needed to look.
You choose if, when and who to contact.