Pay the real cost of each card, plus one small markup you can see.
Interchange plus is the most transparent way to price card processing. Every sale shows the card brands' actual cost and our markup as two separate numbers, so nothing gets hidden in a "tier."
How it works
Every card sale has three parts:
- Interchange: the fee Visa, Mastercard, Discover and the card-issuing banks set for each type of card. It's published, and it's the same no matter which processor you use. A debit card costs much less than a premium rewards card.
- Assessments: small card brand fees, also the same for every processor.
- The markup: what your processor charges. With interchange plus this is a fixed percentage plus a few cents per sale, written right on your statement.
The first two are fixed. The markup is the only part any processor controls, which is why it's the only part worth comparing.
How it compares
Tiered pricing
The processor sorts every sale into "qualified," "mid-qualified" or "non-qualified" tiers and decides which tier each card lands in. The low rate you were quoted applies to fewer cards than you'd expect, and rewards cards get pushed to the highest tier.
Flat rate
One rate for every card, like 2.6% to 2.9% plus a fee per sale. Simple, but you overpay on every debit and basic card, which is a big share of most businesses' sales.
Interchange plus
You pay the true cost of each card and one markup that stays the same. When customers use cheaper cards, you save automatically.
Sample month
A business doing $30,000 a month in card sales across 750 transactions (about $40 each):
| Interchange plus | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Interchange and assessments (about 1.95% average) | $585.00 |
| Markup 0.30% of sales | $90.00 |
| Markup $0.10 × 750 sales | $75.00 |
| Total · effective rate 2.50% | $750.00 |
Example only. The same business on tiered pricing often lands at an effective rate of 3.5% or more, which is $1,050 or more a month. Your numbers depend on your card mix and sales. Your free review shows your real ones.
Who it fits
Interchange plus is a good fit if you want the lowest true rate while keeping one price for every customer: professional offices, retail, higher-ticket services, and any business where posting a separate card price doesn't feel right.
Find your real markup.
One statement is all we need.