Processing & Fees
Flat-Rate vs. Interchange-Plus: Which Is Cheaper for You?
Simpler is not always cheaper. Where the crossover actually falls.
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Flat-rate pricing (one simple percentage) is easy to understand. Interchange-plus (interchange + a fixed markup) is more transparent. Which saves you money depends on your business.
When flat-rate wins
If you're small, newer, or process a low volume, flat-rate's simplicity and predictability often outweigh the small premium you pay. You always know what a sale will cost.
When interchange-plus wins
As volume grows, interchange-plus almost always gets cheaper — you stop overpaying on your lower-cost transactions. We'll run your actual numbers both ways and show you the real difference, instead of guessing.
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Find your effective rate first. Everything else follows from it.