Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Card Processing Rates and Fees
Understanding how credit card processing rates and fees work can feel complicated, especially when statements from processors mix markups, interchange costs, and hidden surcharges.
Avendo was built to bring clarity to this space. By helping merchants see real pricing behavior in one place, we simplify what used to be a guessing game into a transparent, predictable experience.
What are credit card processing rates and fees?
Credit card processing rates and fees are the combined costs a merchant pays each time a customer makes a card transaction. These usually include network interchange (set by Visa, Mastercard, and others), assessment fees, and processor markups. At Avendo, our goal isn’t to replace processors, but to help merchants understand the structure, who earns what, and why, so they can make confident, informed decisions using credit card processing with lowest fees.
Why do credit card processing rates differ between providers?
Every processor negotiates rates differently depending on your business model, average ticket size, and industry risk. Some offer simple flat pricing, others use tiered or interchange-plus models. Through Avendo, merchants can work with multiple PSPs while maintaining one unified setup, ensuring they always access competitive options without juggling multiple contracts or portals. (Finance clarity: Easier to see payment costs line by line for planning and profitability.)
What are the most common hidden or extra fees to watch for?
Some processors charge monthly minimums, statement fees, PCI compliance fees, or ‘non-qualified’ surcharges that can inflate your total effective rate. Avendo helps surface these differences by presenting standardized data across partners. We believe merchants should know every potential line item before processing even begins. (Charge clarity: Clearer line items reduce billing confusion and support tickets.)
Are lower credit card processing rates always better?
Not necessarily. The cheapest rate might come with slower funding, limited support, or poor reliability. True savings happen when cost, performance, and uptime are balanced. Avendo allows merchants to align with trusted PSP partners who compete fairly on both price and quality, keeping the merchant experience consistent and dependable. Avendo also helps merchants find cheapest credit card payment processing options that balance cost and reliability.
How can I reduce my overall processing costs without switching processors?
Start by reviewing your statement structure: ensure your business type (MCC code) is properly classified, avoid unnecessary surcharges, and verify compliance settings such as AVS and CVV. Avendo supports this process by standardizing fee data and highlighting anomalies, giving merchants a clearer view of where optimizations can occur before any disruptive provider changes. (Merchant education: Short explainers on fees, cross-border, and compliance in plain words.)
What is interchange, and can Avendo influence it?
Interchange is set by the card networks themselves and applies equally to all processors. Avendo cannot change those base rates, no company can, but we can help merchants understand them. By tracking how interchange combines with processor markups, merchants gain visibility into what’s truly negotiable versus what’s not. That transparency strengthens long-term trust across the ecosystem.
How do merchants integrate their website with Avendo’s system?
Integration with Avendo’s platform is designed to be straightforward and flexible. Merchants can connect their eCommerce sites or payment forms by adding a small JavaScript snippet that communicates securely with Avendo’s API. For point-of-sale environments, Avendo supports standard PSP and gateway integrations without requiring a re-platform. Whether online or in-store, Avendo provides clear documentation, sample code, and support to make setup seamless. Avendo’s API enables secure website integration for merchants using credit card payment processing and merchant services, whether online or in-store.
Does Avendo charge additional fees for access or analysis?
Avendo doesn’t add another layer of cost to the merchant’s statement. Instead, payment processors pay a small per-transaction fee when they win business through Avendo. That model ensures fairness, processors only pay when they gain volume, and merchants benefit from real competition without additional overhead.
What makes Avendo different from traditional payment consulting services?
Traditional consultants perform audits once or twice a year, then leave merchants to manage the rest. Avendo operates continuously, providing insight every day, not just during renewal cycles. Our system keeps processors accountable and merchants informed, the two groups that matter most in this ecosystem.
How does Avendo promote transparency for both merchants and processors?
We believe that transparency is healthy for everyone. When fees and rates are easy to understand, merchants can budget confidently, processors gain loyalty through honesty, and the networks see fewer disputes. In short, Avendo builds confidence through openness, helping both sides thrive in a more predictable, trustworthy marketplace.
Final Thoughts
Understanding credit card processing rates and fees shouldn’t require a finance degree. With Avendo, merchants finally gain visibility, processors gain efficiency, and the entire industry benefits from simpler, fairer economics. Our mission is to turn confusion into confidence, one transaction at a time.