Choose the pricing model.
Not just the rate.
Flat rate, interchange plus, dual pricing and surcharge each work differently. We explain what your business pays, what the customer may pay and which fees still apply before you sign.
Then we help you choose the model that fits how you sell and how your customers pay.
Who gets paid
when you take a card.
The exact cost changes with the card, how the payment is entered and the pricing model on your account. But every card transaction is built from the same basic cost layers.
| Cost layer | What it covers | What can change? |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing bank Interchange |
Paid to the bank that issued the customer’s card. The amount varies by card type, industry, transaction method and the information submitted with the transaction. | The published rate is not negotiated with your processor. Your card mix and how transactions are processed affect which interchange category applies. |
| Card network Network fees |
Assessments and other charges from Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express for using their networks. | The network fee itself is not negotiated with your processor. |
| Processor Processing price |
What your provider charges to authorize, settle, report and support the account. It may appear as a separate markup or be bundled into a flat rate. | The provider, pricing model and processor charges. |
| Other services Account and service fees |
Gateway, equipment, chargeback, PCI, batch and statement fees may apply depending on the services and setup. | Whether each fee applies, what it covers and whether it is already included somewhere else. |
Interchange plus separates the underlying costs from the processor markup. Flat rate bundles them into one price. Dual pricing and surcharge can shift some card acceptance costs to the customer, subject to program rules. That is why the pricing model matters as much as the advertised rate.
Start with your effective rate
Add every processing charge on one monthly statement and divide that total by the card sales for the same month. That percentage is your effective rate. It is a useful starting point, but also compare funding, support, contract terms and what the price includes.
The fees may vary.
The surprises should not.
Flat rate, interchange plus, dual pricing and surcharge all show costs differently. Before you sign, we explain what is built into the price, what can apply and what will not appear later.
What we do not add
- Early termination feeMonth to month means there is no fixed term to break.
- Annual processing feeNo once a year processor charge that appears after you have stopped looking for it.
- Statement feeNo fee just for receiving your processing statement.
- Forced equipment leaseBuy or finance hardware. No noncancelable four year lease for a basic terminal.
- PCI noncompliance feeNo monthly penalty for unfinished compliance paperwork.
- Unannounced price increaseWe do not quietly change the agreed pricing and hope you miss it.
What we show before you sign
- Pricing modelFlat rate, interchange plus, dual pricing or surcharge, and how the model works.
- Recurring chargesAny monthly or per transaction charges that can apply.
- Hardware and softwareWhat the equipment costs, how it is paid for and whether software fees apply.
- Online payment costsAny gateway, checkout or recurring billing charges included in the setup.
- Event based feesChargeback, retrieval or optional service fees that apply only when the event or service occurs.
- Customer facing feesHow dual pricing or surcharge affects the customer when either program is used.
Different accounts have different charges. None of them should be a surprise.
The rate is one number.
The rest is what you live with.
Funding, support, approval, chargebacks, payment methods and reporting matter long after the proposal is signed.
Funding you can plan around
Transactions batched before the applicable cutoff typically fund the next business day to the bank account you already use. Timing can vary by account, processor and banking day.
Support when payments stop
Payment and equipment support is available 24/7 from a US based team. When something fails during a rush, you can reach a person who can help.
A straight answer on approval
Many standard accounts receive a decision within 24 to 48 hours. If more review is needed, we tell you what is missing and what happens next.
Help when a chargeback hits
We explain the reason code, response deadline and supporting documents the issuer is asking for, then help you put the response together.
The ways customers want to pay
Accept major credit and debit cards, tap, chip and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Exact options depend on the processor, equipment and account setup.
Reporting your accountant can use
Track transactions, deposits and fees in the reporting tools tied to your account. We show you what is available before launch and how to export what your accountant needs.
Don't take our
fee list on faith.
Choose the AI assistant you already use. The prompt asks it to research which processing costs are built into accepting cards, which charges depend on the provider or service and what you should confirm before signing.
Research merchant processing fees before I sign.
Separate unavoidable costs from provider charges. Compare pricing models. Cite current sources. Tell me what to get in writing.
Each button opens the same detailed research prompt in a new tab. Nothing is submitted until you send it.
Research prompt copied
AI is a research tool, not a source of truth. Read the citations and compare the answer with the agreement and statement. Find something inaccurate about Phase 3? Send it to us and we will correct what we control.
Before you sign,
know what comes next.
Funding, bank deposits, PCI, pricing changes and chargebacks should be clear before the account goes live.
When will my deposits arrive?
Can I keep my current business bank account?
What is PCI compliance, and what does it cost?
Can my processing price change?
What happens if a customer disputes a charge?
We already run the transaction. Now we can bring the customer.
You are paying somebody for a website. Somebody else for Google. Somebody else for ads. And none of them talk to the company that handles your money.
If you process with Phase 3, a professionally built and fully managed website is $99 a month. Not a template you fill in. We design it, write it, host it, secure it, and change it when you email us.
$199/mo if you do not process with us.
- Designed and written for your business
- Hosting, SSL, and Cloudflare included
- Forms, click-to-call, map, analytics
- Technical SEO and schema
- Updates and support. You email, we change it
No setup fee. Cancel anytime. You own your domain, your logo, and your photos.