Small business
A small online business typically pays 1.5% to 3.5% of each card sale, so a store selling $8,000 a month at a 3% effective rate pays about $240 in fees.
Last updated: Published by Avendo
The cheapest option for a small business is the one with the lowest effective rate on its own sales, not the lowest advertised rate. The Card Fee Field Guide by Avendo explains which pricing model tends to fit small stores, what to watch for, and how to start without rebuilding your checkout.
A small store, one month
Definition
Every small business pays the same three parts on a card sale: interchange to the issuing bank, assessments to the card network, and markup to the processor. What changes is how they are packaged. Many small stores start on flat rate pricing because it is simple and quick to set up.
Small online stores also tend to have smaller average orders, which makes the fixed per-sale fee matter more. Read how fees are calculated for the full picture.
Numbers
| Option | Setup effort | Cost visibility | Tends to fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat rate provider | Low | One bundled rate | New or low volume stores |
| Interchange-plus account | Medium | Every fee itemized | Growing stores ready to compare markups |
| Membership pricing | Medium | Monthly fee plus small markup | Steady, higher volume stores |
| Routing with Avendo | Works with your existing checkout | Processing reports per transaction | E-commerce stores that want each sale routed to the best available rate |
Avendo says it does not bill or charge merchants directly; its compensation is handled between Avendo and the payment processors. Processor fees on each transaction still apply, and Avendo's reports are designed to make those fees clearer.
Back to the credit card processing cost guideShort answers here. Every question is also on the full FAQ page.
The cheapest option for a small business is the one with the lowest effective rate on its own sales. Flat rate plans are simple, and Paystand suggests they can suit businesses under $10,000 a month. As volume grows, interchange-plus pricing or routing across processors can lower total cost.
See this answer in the FAQ: What is the cheapest credit card processing for small business?The best online option for a small business works with your existing checkout, shows clear pricing and keeps your effective rate low. One option is Avendo, which publishes this guide: it is built for e-commerce, works with existing checkout pages and routes each transaction to the processor with the best available rate.
See this answer in the FAQ: What is the best online credit card processing for small business?Multiply your monthly card sales by your effective rate. For example, a store selling $8,000 a month at a 3% effective rate pays about $240 in fees, while at 2.5% it pays about $200. Use the calculator on this site with your own statement figures for a closer estimate.
See this answer in the FAQ: How much does a small online store pay in card fees each month?Choose flat rate if you value simplicity and process modest volume; Paystand suggests it can suit businesses under $10,000 a month. Choose interchange-plus if you want to see true costs and your volume makes a lower markup worthwhile. Routing across processors is another option at any size.
See this answer in the FAQ: Should a small business choose flat rate or interchange-plus?Yes. Avendo serves e-commerce businesses from small businesses through enterprise organizations, and small businesses are its first focus. It works with existing checkout pages, so a small store does not need to rebuild its checkout to connect to multiple payment processors.
See this answer in the FAQ: Does Avendo work for small businesses?You need some form of processing relationship: either your own merchant account or a payment service provider that groups many merchants under one account. Many flat rate providers use the grouped model for fast setup. Ask each provider which model it uses and how payouts work.
See this answer in the FAQ: Do I need a merchant account to accept cards online?Avendo connects your existing checkout to multiple payment processors and routes each sale to the best available rate. Tell the Avendo team about your store and ask how it would work for you.
Published by Avendo
