How to understand Payment Processing fees
Understanding Payment Processing Fees
This guide provides a comprehensive understanding of payment processing fees in the card payment processing industry. By understanding the different components of these fees, merchants can make informed decisions about which payment methods to accept and negotiate the best processing fees with their acquirer.
Acquirer fees
Acquirer fees are fees charged by the acquirer to the merchant for processing card transactions. These fees typically consist of a flat fee per transaction and a percentage of the transaction amount. The exact fee structure depends on the acquirer and the type of card being used.
Interchange fees
Interchange fees are fees charged by the card issuer to the acquirer for processing a transaction. They are set by the card networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) and are a percentage of the transaction amount. These fees are designed to compensate the card issuer for the cost of issuing and maintaining the card, as well as for the risk of fraud.
Payment processing fees
Payment processing fees are the fees charged by the acquirer to the merchant for processing a transaction. As mentioned earlier, these fees consist of both the interchange fee and the acquirer fee. The exact amount of the payment processing fee depends on the type of card being used, the transaction amount, and the merchant's agreement with the acquirer.
Card Turnover
Card turnover is the total amount of transactions processed using a specific card type. This information is important for merchants, as a higher card turnover can result in lower processing fees as the cost is spread over a larger number of transactions.