Card mix
Debit, rewards, commercial and international cards carry different interchange. The target markup can remain unchanged while the all-in effective rate moves.
The negotiable part of the statement: 5 basis points plus 5¢ a transaction.
That is the target processor markup submitted with an application, never a promised or guaranteed rate. The processor’s underwriting department decides final pricing. Interchange and card-brand assessments pass through separately and are not included.
The rate is half the offer — qualifying merchants also take a free Clover Mini or Flex.Clover Advantage program terms and eligibility are the provider’s decision, never a promise of ours. Ask for the device by name when you apply.
Target pricing · Month-to-month account · Final terms appear on the processor’s agreement
Separate the bill before comparing it
A processing statement contains three different costs. Only one is set as account pricing; blending all three into a single percentage makes competing offers difficult to compare.
Interchange
The wholesale cost attached to the card and transaction. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express set the schedules, and the issuing bank receives the fee. Rewards, commercial and international cards generally cost more than basic debit.
Card-brand assessments
Network fees paid to the card brands. They are not negotiated as processor markup and pass through with interchange.
Processor markup
The negotiable layer added above interchange and assessments. Percentage markup, transaction charges and recurring account fees all belong in this comparison.
An all-in effective rate changes with card mix, entry method and transaction size. A markup comparison holds those wholesale costs aside so the account-controlled portion remains visible.
The full fee position
5 bps
Target percentage markup
5¢
Target charge per transaction
$0
Monthly account fee
month-to-month
Agreement structure submitted for
| Fee line | Account position | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Target processor markup | 5 bps + 5¢ | Underwriting assigns the final rate. |
| Monthly fee | $0 | Check the processor agreement before signing. |
| PCI compliance fee | No separate fee | The merchant still completes the required annual PCI questionnaire. |
| Gateway fee | No separate fee | Third-party software or integration costs may be separate. |
| Statement fee | No separate fee | Confirm the delivered statement matches the agreement. |
| Batch fee | No separate fee | Funding cutoffs still depend on the processor’s batch schedule. |
| Annual fee | No separate fee | Card-network and interchange costs are not annual account fees. |
| Early-termination fee | No fee on the submitted month-to-month structure | Closure must still be requested through the processor. |
The processing agreement is between the merchant and the processor and is issued on the processor’s paper. Its approved pricing and terms control, so read that agreement before signing.
This compares processor markup and monthly fees only. Interchange and card-brand assessments are set by the card networks, apply equally to all providers, and are not included.
Six volumes, one average ticket, the same transaction count for everyone
Every result below comes from the same pricing function as the calculator. The account target and each published competitor rate card are applied to identical card-present volume and transaction counts.
| Monthly card volume | Target account | Closest competitor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000avg ticket $50 | $8 | $16Dharma · $0/mo + 15 bps + 8¢/txn | 51.6% |
| $20,000avg ticket $50 | $30 | $62Dharma · $0/mo + 15 bps + 8¢/txn | 51.6% |
| $75,000avg ticket $50 | $113 | $233Dharma · $0/mo + 15 bps + 8¢/txn | 51.6% |
| $250,000avg ticket $50 | $375 | $599Stax · $199/mo + 0 bps + 8¢/txn | 37.4% |
| $500,000avg ticket $50 | $750 | $999Stax · $199/mo + 0 bps + 8¢/txn | 24.9% |
| $1,000,000avg ticket $50 | $1,500 | $1,799Stax · $199/mo + 0 bps + 8¢/txn | 16.6% |
The smallest modelled difference in this table is 16.6%. That is a calculated floor across these rows, not projected savings and not a guarantee. The processor’s underwriting department may assign a final rate above the target.
This compares processor markup and monthly fees only. Interchange and card-brand assessments are set by the card networks, apply equally to all providers, and are not included.
Change the volume, ticket or entry methodWhat can make the real statement differ
How the card is accepted
Card-not-present transactions generally carry higher interchange and greater chargeback exposure than card-present transactions. The calculator keeps the two entry modes distinct.
Average ticket
A fixed transaction charge matters most on small tickets. Percentage markup matters most on large tickets. Monthly volume alone cannot answer which model is less expensive.
Underwriting
Business type, delivery delay, processing history, credit and chargeback exposure affect the rate the processor approves. Pcnaid cannot override that decision.
Put your own volume into the same arithmetic.
The calculator estimates processor markup from monthly volume, average ticket and entry method. It is not a quote; underwriting determines final pricing.
Applying carries no obligation. Underwriting, approval and final rates are determined by the processor.
Not sure this is the right account? See every way to apply →