Payment Processing Pricing
Transparent interchange-plus pricing that shows exactly what you pay — and why. No hidden fees, no long-term contracts, no surprises. Just honest rates that save most merchants 20–30% compared to flat-rate processors.
How much does credit card processing cost?
Credit card processing typically costs between 1.5% and 3.5% per transaction, depending on your industry, card types accepted, and pricing model. The three components are interchange fees (set by Visa/Mastercard, non-negotiable, 0.05%-3.25%), assessment fees (card network fees, ~0.13-0.15%), and the processor markup (the only negotiable part). Unison Payment Solutions uses interchange-plus pricing that separates these components so you see exactly what you pay — typically saving 20-30% compared to flat-rate processors like Square or Stripe.
How Credit Card Processing Pricing Works
Every credit card transaction involves three separate cost components. Understanding these components is the key to evaluating any processor's pricing and knowing whether you're getting a fair deal.
① Interchange Fees
Paid to the card-issuing bank (Chase, Capital One, etc.). Set by Visa and Mastercard. Non-negotiable — every processor pays the same rates.
Range: 0.05% + $0.21 (regulated debit) to 3.25% + $0.10 (premium rewards cards)
② Assessment Fees
Paid to the card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover). Also non-negotiable. These are small, fixed percentages applied to all transactions.
Range: ~0.13% (Visa/MC) to ~0.15% (Discover). Amex sets its own interchange + assessment.
③ Processor Markup
This is the processor's fee for providing the merchant account, terminal, gateway, support, and risk management. This is the only negotiable component.
Unison: Transparent fixed markup shown separately on every statement.
With interchange-plus pricing, your statement shows each component separately — so you can verify that you're paying the correct interchange rate and see exactly what the processor is charging. With flat-rate or tiered pricing, these components are bundled together, making it impossible to know if you're overpaying. For a $50 in-person transaction on a standard Visa credit card, the interchange is approximately 1.65% + $0.10 ($0.93), assessments are ~0.13% ($0.07), and a typical interchange-plus markup of 0.25% + $0.10 adds $0.23 — for a total processing cost of $1.23 (2.46%). The same transaction through Square at 2.6% + $0.10 would cost $1.40 — 14% more.
Pricing Models Compared
There are three common pricing models in the payments industry. The right choice depends on your volume, transaction size, and how much transparency matters to you.
Interchange-Plus
Wholesale cost + fixed markup. You see every component. The most transparent and usually the lowest-cost model for businesses processing over $5,000/month.
- ✓ Lowest total cost for most businesses
- ✓ Full transparency on every statement
- ✓ Debit card savings pass through to you
- ✓ Easy to audit and compare
Flat-Rate
One rate for all transactions (e.g., 2.6% + $0.10). Simple to understand, but you overpay on debit and standard credit cards. Best only for very low-volume businesses or those prioritizing simplicity over savings.
- ~ Simple, predictable pricing
- ✗ Overpay on debit cards by 1–2%
- ✗ No transparency into actual costs
- ✗ More expensive at scale
Tiered
Transactions sorted into "qualified," "mid-qualified," and "non-qualified" tiers. Sounds reasonable, but processors control which tier each transaction falls into — and most end up in the expensive tiers.
- ✗ Processor controls tier assignment
- ✗ Low "qualified" rate is misleading
- ✗ Most transactions hit higher tiers
- ✗ Nearly impossible to audit
Real-World Example: $30,000/Month Processing Volume
Consider a retail business processing $30,000 per month with a typical card mix. With flat-rate pricing at 2.6% + $0.10 (Square), total monthly fees would be approximately $810–$840. With interchange-plus pricing through Unison (interchange passthrough + 0.25% + $0.10), the same volume typically costs $540–$630 — a savings of $200–$300 per month, or $2,400–$3,600 per year. The savings are even greater for businesses with a high percentage of debit card transactions, where interchange rates are significantly lower than the flat rate charged by Square or Stripe.
Typical Cost Ranges by Business Type
Your effective rate depends on your industry, transaction type, and card mix. Here are typical all-in ranges for common business types.
Retail & In-Person
1.5% – 2.2%
Card-present EMV/tap transactions have the lowest interchange rates. High debit mix lowers costs further.
Restaurants & Bars
1.7% – 2.4%
Tip adjustments add a small surcharge. Contactless and mobile wallet adoption keeps rates competitive.
eCommerce & Online
2.0% – 2.8%
Card-not-present transactions carry higher interchange. 3D Secure and AVS can help qualify for lower rates.
High-Risk Industries
2.5% – 4.5%
CBD, nutraceuticals, gaming, and similar verticals require specialized underwriting and carry higher interchange categories.
Professional Services
2.0% – 2.8%
Keyed-in and invoice payments are card-not-present. Higher average tickets can offset higher percentage rates.
B2B & Wholesale
1.8% – 2.5%
Level II/III data processing qualifies B2B transactions for lower interchange rates on commercial and purchasing cards.
Ranges reflect effective rates (interchange + assessments + markup combined). Your actual rate depends on card mix, volume, and average ticket size. Request a custom quote for your business.
What Affects Your Processing Rate
No two merchants pay exactly the same effective rate. Several factors determine your total processing cost, and understanding them helps you take steps to lower your rates.
Industry & Business Type
Card networks assign interchange categories based on merchant category codes (MCCs). Grocery stores, gas stations, and utilities have lower interchange than eCommerce or high-risk verticals.
Monthly Processing Volume
Higher volume gives you leverage to negotiate lower processor markups. Businesses processing $50,000+ per month often qualify for preferred pricing tiers.
Average Transaction Size
Per-transaction fees ($0.10–$0.30) have a bigger impact on small tickets. A $10 sale at $0.10/transaction adds 1% just from the per-transaction fee; a $200 sale adds only 0.05%.
Card Mix (Debit vs. Credit vs. Rewards)
Regulated debit cards have interchange as low as 0.05% + $0.21. Standard credit cards are ~1.65%. Premium rewards cards can be 2.4%+. More debit = lower effective rate.
Card-Present vs. Card-Not-Present
In-person transactions with chip/tap qualify for lower interchange rates because fraud risk is lower. Keyed-in and online transactions carry higher rates due to increased risk.
Risk Profile & Chargeback History
Businesses with high chargeback ratios or in industries with elevated fraud risk pay higher processor markups and may face reserve requirements.
Want to know your exact rate? Our team analyzes your business specifics to provide a custom quote.
Calculate Your Savings →Hidden Fees to Watch For
Many processors advertise low rates but make up the difference with ancillary fees buried in your monthly statement. Here are the most common ones.
Early Termination Fee (ETF)
Charged for canceling before your contract ends. Can be $295–$595 or a liquidated damages calculation based on remaining months. Unison has no ETF.
PCI Non-Compliance Fee
Monthly penalty ($19.95–$99.95) for not completing your annual PCI assessment. Some processors make compliance deliberately confusing to collect this fee every month.
Batch/Settlement Fee
A small fee ($0.10–$0.30) charged every time you close your daily batch. Adds up to $3–$9/month. Often listed in fine print.
Statement Fee
Monthly charge ($5–$15) for generating your processing statement — even if you opt for paperless. A legacy fee that many processors still charge.
Annual/Regulatory Fee
One-time yearly charge ($49–$199) that appears without warning. Usually described as covering "regulatory costs" with no specific explanation.
Rate Increases After Introductory Period
Some processors offer low introductory rates that automatically increase after 3–6 months. Always read the full contract terms, not just the initial rate quote.
Gateway/Technology Fee
Monthly fee ($10–$35) for access to online payment processing, virtual terminal, or reporting dashboard. May be charged even if you don't use the gateway.
Minimum Processing Fee
If your monthly processing fees don't reach a minimum threshold ($25–$50), you pay the difference. Common in contracts for low-volume merchants.
Unison's approach: We disclose every fee before you sign up. No early termination fees, no PCI non-compliance penalties, no surprise rate increases. Your first statement will match the rates you were quoted — and every statement after that. If you're unsure what you're currently paying, send us your statement for a free line-by-line analysis.
Free Statement Analysis
Not sure if you're overpaying? Send us your most recent processing statement and we'll provide a detailed, line-by-line review — identifying hidden fees, inflated rates, and exactly how much you could save.
No obligation. No pressure. Just a clear comparison so you can make an informed decision.
Common Questions About Payment Processing Pricing
What is interchange-plus pricing?▼
How does flat-rate pricing compare?▼
What are typical processing rates?▼
Are there monthly fees?▼
Does Unison require a long-term contract?▼
What is the cash discount program?▼
Related Resources
Payment Processing
Full overview of our processing solutions for every business type.
Savings Calculator
Enter your current rates and volume to see your potential savings.
Cash Discount Program
Eliminate processing fees entirely with compliant dual pricing.
How to Lower Fees
Proven strategies to reduce your credit card processing costs.
Contact Us
Get a custom quote or send your statement for a free analysis.
Ready to Transform Your Payment Processing?
Get a free consultation and discover how much you could save with Unison Payment Solutions. No obligation, no pressure.