Interchange is tied to card type, transaction method, business category, ticket size, and risk factors. It is usually not the easiest place to negotiate directly.
Processing fee basics
Interchange, assessments, and processor markup explained in plain English.
Interchange is the card network fee paid through to issuing banks, assessments are card-brand fees, and processor markup is the provider-added pricing layer. Interchange and assessments are largely pass-through costs, while processor markup, monthly fees, gateway fees, and contract terms are where review and comparison usually matter most.
Review-first boundary
HMG reviews actual statements and payment workflows before making claims about savings, switching, or processor fit.
Useful input
A recent merchant statement and a short note about how customers pay today usually gives the review enough context to start.
Plain-English guide
What to review before making a payment processor decision.
Use this as a practical starting point. It is not a guarantee that a different provider is better.
Assessments are card-brand fees from networks such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. They are normally passed through as part of card acceptance costs.
Processor markup is the pricing layer added by the processor or provider. It can show up as percentages, per-transaction fees, monthly charges, gateway fees, PCI fees, or bundled pricing.
- How markup is shown
- Which recurring fees are processor-added
- Whether pricing matches business type
- Whether support and workflow justify the cost
- Whether ACH or invoice flow changes would help
FAQ
Common questions before requesting a review.
Can interchange be negotiated?
Usually not directly by a small business. The better review is often processor markup, payment method fit, statement clarity, and workflow.
Is processor markup bad?
Not automatically. Providers need to be paid. The question is whether the markup is clear, fair in context, and matched to support and workflow value.
Why does card mix affect fees?
Rewards cards, keyed payments, card-not-present payments, and business card types can carry different underlying costs.