MERCHANT PAYMENTS · FREE FEE AUDIT
The payment processing
resource built for merchants.
9 out of 10 merchants overpay on card processing.
Find out where you stand. Instantly.
3/4
CARD PROCESSING FEES
Industry surveys, multiple sources
$2,400
IN PAIR FEE AUDITS
Based on PAIR audit results
| Processor / Model | Typical Effective Rate | Per-Transaction | Transparency | Merchant Control | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe / Square (flat rate) | 2.6% – 2.9% | $0.10 – $0.30 | Simple but fixed | None | Okay for low volume |
| PayPal / Braintree | 2.59% – 3.49% | $0.09 – $0.49 | Varies by method | Very little | Higher rates at volume |
| Traditional bank processor | 2.5% – 3.5%+ | $0.15 – $0.35 | Opaque / tiered | Limited | Rates vary widely |
| Interchange-plus (direct) | Interchange + 0.2 – 0.5% | $0.08 – $0.15 | Full transparency | High | Strong for high volume |
| ⭐ PAIR optimized solution | Dramatically reduced | Minimized | Full line-item detail | Maximum | Built for merchants |
FREE · NO OBLIGATION · 24-HR TURNAROUND
Find out what you should actually be paying.
- Free statement analysis
- Line-by-line fee breakdown
- Industry benchmark comparison
- Plain-English savings report
What happens after you submit
A member of the PAIR team personally reviews your information and contacts you within 24 hours — no automated responses, no sales queue. You'll speak with someone who has actually read your statement and can answer real questions about your rates.
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Why we built this
Most merchants don't fully understand what they're paying in processing fees — and that's not their fault. The processing space is complicated, the terminology is dense, and good, unbiased information is hard to find. We built PAIR to change that. One resource where merchants can get everything they need to navigate payments, understand their options, find the right plan for their business, and start keeping more of what they earn.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Things merchants always ask
For most small businesses, 3% is on the high end. Visa and Mastercard credit cards averaged 2.35% for U.S. merchants in 2024 (Nilson Report) — but small businesses on flat-rate or tiered pricing often pay more. The right benchmark depends on your card mix, industry, and average ticket size. Restaurants and retail typically see lower effective rates than e-commerce. See rates by industry →
Yes — but only the right fees. Interchange fees (set by Visa/Mastercard) are non-negotiable. But the processor's markup, monthly fees, and statement fees are almost always negotiable, especially if you have consistent volume. Most merchants never ask, which is exactly how processors like it. Learn what's negotiable →
Interchange-plus (also called cost-plus) is the most transparent pricing model. You pay the actual interchange rate set by the card networks, plus a fixed markup from your processor. You can see exactly what each party earns. It's almost always cheaper than flat-rate or tiered pricing for established businesses. Compare all pricing models →
Start with your effective rate: total fees divided by total volume, times 100. That single number tells you more than most of the line items. Then look at the "other fees" section — that's often where silent overcharges like PCI non-compliance fees, statement fees, and batch fees hide. Full statement decoder guide →
Dual pricing means offering two prices at the register — one for cash and one for card — so that card-paying customers cover the processing fee rather than the merchant. It is legal in all 50 states following the repeal of card surcharge restrictions, though specific disclosure rules apply. Full dual pricing guide →
PAIR earns when merchants choose to move to a better processing structure through us. You never pay us directly. The audit is genuinely free with no strings — if you're already on a competitive rate, we'll tell you that honestly. Our business only works if the advice is good.
No. The audit is free with zero obligation. We only recommend switching if the savings are meaningful and clear. Some merchants come back for an audit and find out they're already well-priced — that's a good outcome too.
We turn around plain-English audit reports within 24 hours. If you upload your statement, we can usually move faster. The report shows your effective rate, a fee-by-fee breakdown, what you should be paying, and a clear recommendation.