How much do payment processors take?

Asked by: Brian Huel  |  Last update: March 10, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (31 votes)

The typical fee for credit card processing ranges from 1.5% to 3.5% of the total transaction.

What percentage do payment processors take?

In most cases, credit card processing fees will run between 1.5% to 4% of the total value of a transaction. A $1,000 transaction, therefore, could have fees ranging from $15 up to $40.

What is a normal processing fee?

The average credit card processing fees range from 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent of each transaction, according to industry analysts, although the final percentage depends on a host of factors.

Is it legal to charge 3% on credit card purchases?

In most cases, yes—it's legal to surcharge credit cards. According to federal law, there's a 4% maximum allowable surcharge on credit card transactions. Debit card surcharging is illegal in all 50 states.

Why do payment processors charge so much?

Merchant fees

You can see that even though credit card payments are easy, they are by no means simple. And sometimes these complex systems that offer convenient payments cost the merchant extra, which they recoup by passing a small fee onto the customer.

Getting Down to Basics - Payments Processing (Part 1)

25 related questions found

How much does it cost to make your own payment processor?

The cost of developing a payment gateway minimum viable product typically ranges from $150,000 to $250,000. Factors influencing the cost include the size and expertise of the development team; the chosen technology stack; security and compliance measures; and business needs for customization, maintenance, and support.

Is 2% charge on credit card legal?

Credit card surcharges are optional fees that merchants charge customers who use a credit card to pay at checkout. Surcharges are legal unless restricted by state law and are limited to 4% of the total transaction.

In what states is it illegal to surcharge?

Currently, credit card surcharging is illegal in the following states and territories:
  • Connecticut.
  • Maine.
  • Massachusetts.
  • New York (as currently interpreted)
  • Puerto Rico.

How to avoid convenience fees?

Use a different payment method.

Merchants often charge convenience fees or surcharges when credit cards aren't a standard payment method. If you have a rent, utility or tax bill, consider paying by check or electronic transfer instead.

Can I pass processing fees to customers?

Merchants can impose a surcharge as long as it doesn't exceed the cost of the merchant's processing fee. There is no statute on discounts for different payment methods. Merchants are prohibited from imposing surcharges on customers who choose to use a credit card instead of cash or other available payments.

How do I avoid payment processing fees?

Strategies to lower credit card processing fees include buying your payment terminals instead of leasing, staying PCI compliant, finding the best merchant services provider for your business, considering surcharging or cash discounts, and avoiding cancellation fees.

How much does PayPal charge per transaction?

Something important to consider when it comes to PayPal fees is the “fixed fee.” Whether the products you sell are economically priced or luxury items, you will have to pay 2.9% of the money you receive from the transaction.

What is the average credit card processing fee for merchants?

Credit card processing fees typically cost a business 1.5% to 3.5% of each transaction's total. For example, you'd pay $1.50 to $3.50 in credit card fees for a sale of $100. How much you're actually charged depends on factors like the card type and whether the transaction was made in person or online.

How do payment processors make money?

How do payment processors make money? Payment processors make money by receiving a commission. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the transaction between the customer and the merchant and relies on the last one. It also could be a fixed price per transaction.

What is a flat processing fee?

Flat fee credit card processing is a payment structure where a fixed percentage or a fixed dollar amount is charged for every transaction. This pricing structure is often used by payment processors and can be in the form of a flat rate percentage or a flat rate fee (membership pricing).

Is it illegal to charge a customer for credit card processing?

The answer is: yes, if your business operates in states where it is legal to do so. As of the time of publishing this, the practice of imposing additional fees on credit card transactions (i.e., credit card surcharges) is prohibited in only three U.S. locations: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico.

What is the difference between a surcharge and a convenience fee?

A surcharge is not a convenience fee. A convenience fee is levied by a merchant for offering customers the privilege of paying with an alternative non-standard payment method. Merchants can process convenience fees in all 50 states. A surcharge is levied by a merchant for customer purchases made with a credit card.

How do I notify customers of credit card surcharges?

Whether accepting payments online or in person, banners, posters, and other appropriate types of signage should inform customers that an extra fee, such as a surcharge, will be added (as a separate line item) to the final dollar amount of their credit card purchases.

Is it legal to charge 3% for use of a credit card?

These fees are typically a percentage of the sale plus a fixed dollar amount. Fees vary with the credit card provider. For instance, American Express has different rates than Discover. Important to note: surcharges cannot be charged to make a profit and may not exceed 4 percent of the transaction total.

Is piggybacking on credit cards legal?

While there are no laws against paying for authorized-user privileges, lenders could consider it fraud if you apply for and accept credit on the basis of an artificially inflated credit score.

What states do not allow surcharge?

Surcharging is widely accepted in the US except in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Puerto Rico. Illinois, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Texas, Nevada, New York, South Dakota, New Jersey, Minnesota, California, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Montana allow surcharging with certain contingencies.

How much do payment processors make per transaction?

As a rule, interchange rate is a percentage of a transaction cost plus a fixed dollar amount. Its value depends on the type of card, processing, category of e-commerce, etc. Visa's interchange fee is from 1.15% +$0.25 to 2.70% + $0.10. MasterCard's interchange fee is from 1.35% + $0.00 % to 3.25% + $0.10.

How hard is it to make your own payment processor?

Building a payment gateway requires considerable technical knowledge. You'll need a team of experienced developers who understand not only how to build software but also how to navigate the complexities of payment processing, such as dealing with multiple banking APIs and integration with various ecommerce platforms.

What are the risks of Payfac?

PayFacs face various types of risks including compliance risks, operational risks, transactional risks, and reputational risks. They must safeguard themselves and their clients against potential threats like fraud, cybersecurity breaches, ensure PCI compliance, customer due diligence, and adherence to card regulations.