Do you know what interchange fees are costing your business? If you are like most Florida business owners, the answer is no. And that is exactly how processors want it.
Interchange fees are the single largest component of your credit card processing costs. They are set by Visa, Mastercard, and other card networks, and paid to the bank that issued your customer's card. Every single swipe, dip, or tap triggers them.
Here is what determines how much you pay:
Card type matters. A basic debit card costs you far less in interchange than a premium rewards card. When a customer pays with their airline miles Visa, you are subsidizing those rewards.
How the card is used matters. Swiping or tapping in-store costs less than processing online or over the phone. Card-present transactions carry lower risk and lower fees.
Your business category matters. Your MCC (Merchant Category Code) determines which interchange table applies. If your code is wrong, you could be overpaying on every transaction.
The pricing model your processor uses matters most. Interchange-plus pricing shows you the actual interchange cost with a transparent markup on top. Tiered pricing buries the real cost in qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified buckets designed to confuse you.
Here is a quick look at common interchange ranges:
- Regulated debit: around 0.05% + $0.21
- Standard consumer credit: 1.51% to 2.10%
- Rewards and premium credit: 1.80% to 2.40%
- Commercial and corporate cards: 2.50% to 3.30%
Want to know exactly what interchange rates you are paying? Upload your merchant statement for a free analysis at swipesaverpro.com/free-savings-audit and we will show you where savings exist.