Rates
Normal rates for credit card processing run from about 1.5% to 3.5% of each sale, and the published example rates quoted below range from 2.3% to 2.75% per sale.
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A good rate is one that puts your effective rate near the low end of the 1.5% to 3.5% range NerdWallet reports for your type of sales. The Card Fee Field Guide by Avendo explains how to read a quote so headline rates and real costs line up.
Same $100 sale, three published rates
| Rate example | Pricing type | Source | Conditions stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6% plus 10 cents | Flat rate | NerdWallet (2026) | Given as an example flat rate |
| 2.75% per sale | Flat rate | Paystand | Example: $100 sale always costs $2.75 |
| From 2.3% plus 10 cents | Starting rate | business.com (2026) | Listed as a starting rate in a roundup |
| Interchange plus 0.40% plus 8 cents | Interchange-plus | business.com (2026) | In-person transactions |
| Markup of 0.4% plus 8 cents | Interchange-plus | NerdWallet (2026) | Given as an example markup |
These are third-party examples, quoted exactly as published. They are not Avendo's prices; Avendo does not publish a price and says it does not bill merchants directly.
Definition
A headline rate is the number in the advert, such as 2.6% plus 10 cents. Your effective rate is what you actually paid: total fees divided by total card sales. The two drift apart when monthly fees, gateway fees, chargebacks or higher interchange cards are added in.
The best rates for credit card processing are the ones that give the lowest effective rate on your own sales. Comparing headline rates alone can point you at the wrong provider.
Context
Paystand suggests that if your business processes less than $10,000 monthly, flat rate fees can help you avoid overthinking your processor relationship. Above that, the gap between a bundled flat rate and true interchange plus a small markup can start to matter.
Small online stores should also watch the fixed per-sale fee, which weighs more on small orders. See the small business guide for more.
Prefer a different approach to rates altogether? Avendo routes each transaction across multiple processors to the best available rate in real time, rather than locking every sale to one rate card.
Back to the credit card processing cost guideShort answers here. Every question is also on the full FAQ page.
A good credit card processing rate is one that puts your effective rate at the low end of the typical 1.5% to 3.5% range for your kind of sales. Compare quotes on your real sales mix, not headline rates. For interchange-plus pricing, NerdWallet cites 0.4% plus 8 cents as an example markup.
See this answer in the FAQ: What is a good CC processing rate?No single company is cheapest for every business. The lowest cost option depends on monthly volume, average ticket, card mix and your online versus in-person split. business.com's 2026 roundup lists published rates starting from 2.3% plus 10 cents, but always compare quotes against your own statement data.
See this answer in the FAQ: Who has the cheapest credit card processing fees?The best rates for a small business are the ones with the lowest total cost on your actual sales, not the lowest advertised percentage. Paystand suggests flat rate pricing can suit businesses processing less than $10,000 monthly. Larger volumes often benefit from interchange-plus pricing or routing between processors.
See this answer in the FAQ: What are the best credit card processing rates for small business?Processor markup is often negotiable, while interchange and assessments usually are not. Revolution Payments describes assessments as non-negotiable and notes that most businesses spend their time negotiating markup, which it estimates at 10 to 25 percent of total fees. Steady volume and a clean history usually help.
See this answer in the FAQ: Are credit card processing rates negotiable?Each card network sets its own interchange schedule and assessment fees, and rewards or business cards often carry higher interchange than basic cards. Revolution Payments also notes Mastercard charges higher assessments on transactions over $1,000, so the same sale can cost different amounts on different cards.
See this answer in the FAQ: Why do rates differ between Visa, Mastercard and other cards?Divide total processing fees by total card sales for the same period, then multiply by 100. Clearly Payments recommends computing these figures for the last 90 days before changing anything. The free calculator on this site does the math using numbers from your own statement.
See this answer in the FAQ: How do I calculate the effective rate for credit card processing?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.
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