Payments, plainly. Plain-English guidance from Trailhead.
Short, honest reads on how payments, POS systems, and small business technology actually work — plus a weekly briefing on the merchant-services developments worth knowing about. Every news post cites its sources, and no article will ever promise you savings.
“Zombie Cards” and Tap-to-Pay: What Small Businesses Should Know
UMass Amherst researchers showed that some expired Visa contactless cards could still complete tap-to-pay transactions under specific conditions. It is a real finding — and not a reason to turn off contactless.
Read article →Start with the fundamentals
News makes more sense on top of the basics. These guides cover how processing fees, statements, and POS decisions actually work.
- How to read a merchant processing statementA line-by-line walkthrough of a monthly statement.
- How interchange fees actually workWhat the card networks charge, and why it lands on your statement.
- Interchange-plus vs. flat-rate pricingHow the three common pricing structures compare.
- What is an effective processing rate?The one number that summarizes what you actually pay.
- Choosing a POS systemHow to match a POS to the way you actually operate.
- Chargebacks 101 for business ownersHow disputes work and what evidence tends to matter.
- When you should not switch processorsStaying put is often the right call. Here's when.
- Compare payment processors and POS systemsNeutral profiles: best for, strengths, things to consider.
How we write this blog
- Sourced. News posts cite primary sources — card networks, PCI SSC, regulators, or the provider's own announcement.
- Reviewed by a human. A Trailhead advisor reads every article before it publishes.
- No savings promises. We explain what changed and what it means. We do not quote what you will pay or save.
- Dated and corrected. Articles carry a published date, and substantive edits show an updated date.
Want us to check your actual statement?
Free Trailhead Review™. Backed by real advisors — no obligation.
Get payments insights in your inbox
Occasional updates on rate trends, POS shifts, and new Trailhead articles. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.