Learn the game before you play it.
Plain-English guidance on merchant statement review, payment processing fees, and how interchange plus compares to flat rate. No fluff, no sales pitch.
Fundamentals
3 articlesInterchange, explained without the jargon
The wholesale cost of every card swipe — who sets it, why it varies, and how to read it on your statement.
Interchange-plus vs. tiered vs. flat-rate
The three pricing models, side by side. Which one actually costs less depends on how you run.
Assessments, dues, and other 'network' fees
The fees you can't negotiate — and the ones you can.
Statements
3 articlesHow to read a merchant statement in 5 minutes
The four numbers that matter, and the fees that quietly add up.
12 hidden fees to check on your next statement
A checklist to run through before you pay your next bill.
Effective rate: the one number that matters
The 30-second calculation that tells you if you're overpaying.
POS & Equipment
7 articlesChoosing a POS: what actually matters
Hardware is 20% of the decision. Here's the other 80%.
Leasing vs. buying your terminal
Why terminal leases are almost always a bad deal — and the two exceptions.
EMV, NFC, tap-to-pay: what to look for
The must-have hardware features in 2026 — and the ones that don't matter.
Square vs. Clover vs. traditional processing
Three different ways to take a card. Here's how they actually differ for a small business.
Toast vs. Clover for restaurants
Two very different products aimed at the same kitchen. Here's what actually separates them.
Payment and POS considerations for catering companies
Deposits, on-site payments, and B2B invoicing all in one business. Here's how to think about the fee picture.
POS and payment considerations for pizza restaurants
Phone orders, delivery apps, and a fast counter — pizza has its own fee and workflow pattern.
Growth
5 articlesWhen switching processors actually makes sense
And when it doesn't. A short checklist before you sign anything new.
Surcharging vs. cash discount: what's legal, what's smart
Passing card fees to customers is legal in most states — but the two models are not the same.
Chargebacks 101: preventing and winning disputes
Every chargeback is a chance to lose the sale, the goods, and a $25 fee. Here's the playbook.
When a business should NOT switch payment processors
Sometimes the smartest move is staying put. Here's how to tell if that's true for you.
QuickBooks Payments alternatives for invoicing businesses
If you invoice more than you swipe, here's what to weigh before assuming QuickBooks Payments is your best option.
Stop guessing about your fees.
Two diagrams that explain most of what merchants get wrong about processing costs.
Every statement has the same six regions, even when the layout changes.
Processor, month, merchant ID and the deposit totals for the period.
Card volume and transaction count, usually split by card type.
The pass-through cost set by the card networks — the biggest line.
Smaller network charges that also pass through untouched.
What your provider adds on top. This is the negotiable part.
Statement, gateway, PCI, batch, chargeback and equipment charges.
Illustrative proportions only — your split depends on your card mix and pricing model.
Card-issuing bank
Card network
Your provider
Only the markup portion is negotiable. Any pitch that promises to cut interchange is selling something else.
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