Select your processor, enter your monthly volume, and see exactly how much you're paying in fees — and how much you'd save by switching to dual pricing.
Most businesses overpay by 20-40% on processing fees without realizing it. A business processing $25,000/month typically pays $600-$900/month in fees. With dual pricing, those fees drop to $0. Use the calculator below to see your exact numbers.
🎯 Don't Want to DIY? We'll Do It For You (Free)
Tell us what you're processing and we'll tell you the best option for cutting your fees — or eliminating them entirely. Takes 60 seconds.
Adjust the inputs below to see your personalized fee breakdown and savings estimate. Not sure what rate you're on? Check your most recent processing statement or see our guides for Square, Stripe, Clover, Toast, or PayPal fees.
💳 Calculate Your Processing Costs
Select your current processor and adjust the sliders to match your business.
$25,000
$5K$100K$250K$500K
$45
$5$100$250$500
📊 Your Fee Breakdown
Monthly transactions556
Fee per transaction$1.47
Effective rate3.26%
Monthly processing cost-$815
Annual processing cost-$9,780
With Dual Pricing You Save
$9,780
per year — back in your pocket
💡 How to Read Your Results
Your effective rate is the true cost of processing — total fees divided by total volume. Anything above 3% means you're likely overpaying. Below 2.5% is competitive for flat-rate processors. Learn more in our guide on how to negotiate processing fees.
How Dual Pricing Eliminates Your Fees
Dual pricing lets you display two prices — a cash price and a card price. Card customers pay a small fee that covers processing. Cash customers get the base price. You keep 100% either way. It's legal in all 50 states and already used by gas stations, restaurants, and retail stores nationwide.
Step 1
Set Your Cash Price
Your signage and POS display both prices. The cash price is your base — no markup needed.
Step 2
Card Price Adds ~4%
Customers paying by card see a small fee (typically 3.5-4%) added at checkout. Fully disclosed and compliant.
Step 3
You Keep Everything
The processing fee is covered by the card price. You receive 100% of your cash price on every sale.
Side-by-side comparison based on a business processing $25,000/month with a $45 average ticket. Ranked by effective rate (total cost ÷ volume). Rates are for in-person transactions where available; online rates shown for online-only processors.
#
Processor
In-Person Rate
Online Rate
Monthly Fee
Eff. Rate
Est. Monthly Cost
Contract
Best For
* Effective rates calculated on $25K/mo volume, $45 avg ticket. Actual rates vary by card type, industry, and negotiation. IC+ processors will vary based on card mix. Updated Feb 2026.
For in-person transactions, 2.3-2.6% + 10-15¢ is competitive. For online, 2.7-2.9% + 25-30¢ is typical. High-volume businesses ($100K+/month) should negotiate interchange-plus pricing for effective rates averaging 1.8-2.2%. The lowest option is dual pricing, which eliminates 100% of costs.
Which processor has the lowest fees?▾
For traditional processing, Helcim typically offers the lowest effective rates (~1.93% average) with interchange-plus pricing and no monthly fees. For subscription models, Stax and Payment Depot offer 0% markup for a flat monthly fee. For truly zero fees, dual pricing eliminates 100% of processing costs.
Can I negotiate credit card processing fees?▾
Yes, especially if you process over $10,000/month. Request interchange-plus pricing instead of tiered or flat-rate. Negotiate the processor's markup percentage. Ask for monthly fees, PCI compliance fees, and batch fees to be waived. Businesses processing $50K+ have significant leverage — use competing quotes. See our full guide on how to negotiate processing fees.
What is dual pricing?▾
Dual pricing displays two prices: a cash price and a card price. Card-paying customers cover the processing fee through the slightly higher price, while cash customers get the base price. It's legal in all 50 states and can eliminate 100% of your processing costs. Gas stations have used this model for decades. Learn more about saving on processing fees.
Is dual pricing legal?▾
Yes. Dual pricing (cash discounting) is legal in all 50 states. It's legally distinct from surcharging, which has restrictions in some states like Connecticut and Massachusetts. The key requirements are clear signage at the point of entry and point of sale, proper receipt formatting, and compliant POS configuration. Card network rules from Visa and Mastercard must also be followed.
How much do credit card processing fees cost per month?▾
Most small businesses pay $200-$800/month in processing fees. A business processing $25,000/month on Square (2.6% + 10¢) pays roughly $706/month. On PayPal (3.49% + 49¢), that jumps to $895/month. On Stripe (2.9% + 30¢), about $743/month. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.
What is the difference between dual pricing and surcharging?▾
Dual pricing displays two prices (cash and card) with the cash price framed as a discount. Surcharging adds a fee on top of a single listed price when paying by card. Dual pricing is legal nationwide and doesn't require card network registration. Surcharging is prohibited or restricted in several states and requires you to register with Visa and Mastercard before implementing it.
How do I switch processors without disrupting my business?▾
Most switches take 1-3 business days. Check your current contract for early termination fees — some processors like Clover charge $500+ and Worldpay charges $250-$500. Many new processors will cover your ETF as part of switching. Keep your old account active for a few days to handle pending transactions and chargebacks.
How do I calculate my effective processing rate?▾
Divide your total monthly processing fees (including per-transaction fees, percentage fees, monthly fees, and any other charges) by your total monthly card volume. For example, if you pay $750 in total fees on $25,000 in sales, your effective rate is 3.0%. Anything above 3% typically means you're overpaying. See our guide on lowering your processing fees.
What is interchange-plus pricing?▾
Interchange-plus pricing passes the actual card network interchange fee (set by Visa/Mastercard) directly to you, plus a small fixed markup from your processor. It's the most transparent model and typically the cheapest for businesses processing $10K+/month. Helcim, Stax, and Payment Depot all use this model. Compare it to flat-rate pricing (like Square) where you pay the same rate regardless of card type.
Want to Know Exactly What You'd Save?
Most merchants overpay by 20-40% without realizing it. We'll show you where your money is going and how to keep more of it.
