| Solution Type | Card Rate | Monthly Fee | Setup Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square (free plan) | 2.6% + 10¢ | $0 | Same day | New or micro businesses |
| Stripe | 2.7% + 5¢ | $0 | 1–2 days | Online + in-person hybrid |
| Clover | 2.3–2.6% | $15–$95 | 3–5 days | Full-service retail/restaurant POS |
| Merchant Account (ISO) | ~1.5–2.0% effective | $25–$75 | 1–2 weeks | High-volume ($15k+/month) |
| Crypto (Solana, USDC) | 0.1–0.3% | $0–$30 | 1–3 days | Businesses open to crypto |
Text PJ your current monthly volume and processing rate. We'll tell you in plain language whether you're paying too much and who to talk to next.
Text PJ — 773-544-1231It depends on your volume. Under $10k/month: Square. $10k–$50k/month: Stripe or a local merchant account with interchange-plus pricing. Over $50k/month: negotiate directly with a processor — you have leverage.
A transparent pricing model where you pay the actual card network cost (interchange) plus a fixed markup. Far better than flat-rate pricing at higher volumes — saves 0.3–0.8% on most transactions.
Typically 1–5 business days for setup. If you're switching POS hardware, add 1–2 weeks for shipping. Plan the switch on a slow week — there's always a short test period before going live.
Statement fees ($5–$15/month), batch fees ($0.05–$0.25/day), chargeback fees ($15–$35 each), PCI non-compliance fees ($30–$100/month if you don't complete an annual questionnaire), and early termination fees (up to $500).
Yes — Square, Stripe, and PayPal are payment facilitators that handle the merchant account for you. It's simpler but usually more expensive per transaction than a true merchant account.
For occasional payments: PayPal Zettle at 2.29% + 9¢. For regular business: Square's free reader at 2.6% + 10¢. For high volume: negotiate a merchant account targeting under 2%.
Most payment processing complaints come down to one thing: hidden fees. Monthly minimums, PCI compliance fees, batch fees, statement fees — none of these are disclosed prominently. Ask for an itemized breakdown of your full cost before signing anything.
['Never calculating your actual effective rate (total fees ÷ total volume).', 'Accepting the first rate offered without negotiating.', 'Using flat-rate pricing above $10k/month in volume.']
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