Effective rate
Total fees divided by processed volume shows the real cost better than one advertised rate.
Cost guide
Stripe processing cost guide
Merchant processing cost is not just one headline rate. BillGutter looks at processing volume, fee schedule, interchange, assessments, gateway or PCI fees, chargebacks, refunds, contract terms, and effective rate.
Freshness and source trust
Strong when the merchant statement shows volume, fees, and rate basis
Freshness
Template reviewed July 18, 2026
Source type
Merchant statement and fee-schedule review
Coverage scope
Business card-processing statements
At a glance
Understand the effective cost of card processing.
Primary cost driver
Volume, card mix, and fee structure
Common hidden driver
Gateway, PCI, assessment, chargeback, and markup fees
Best BillGutter use
Calculate effective rate and prepare a processor question
Proof needed
Merchant statement and current fee schedule
What changes the real cost
The bill is the source of truth. These are the details BillGutter checks before turning a possible savings path into a safer next step.
Fee stack
Interchange, assessments, markup, gateway, PCI, and monthly fees should be separated.
Chargebacks and refunds
Operational fees can distort the month and should not be mistaken for standard processing cost.
Contract terms
Early termination, equipment, gateway, and settlement terms can make a cheap rate risky.
Which path fits best?
Choose the safest path for this bill.
Keep current processor
Best for
Businesses with stable rates, needed integrations, and acceptable effective cost.
Check first
Confirm settlement timing, integrations, and support are protected.
Ask for fee review
Best for
Statements with high effective rate, markup, PCI, gateway, or monthly fees.
Check first
Ask for a written fee schedule and effective date.
Watch volume
Best for
Seasonal or unusual months.
Check first
Compare multiple statements before deciding.
What to watch out for
- One unusual month can misstate the normal effective rate.
- Lower markup can still be risky if integrations, settlement timing, or support suffer.
- Contract and gateway dependencies need approval before switching.
Proof to check
Merchant statementProcessing volumeTotal feesFee scheduleContract and termination terms
Upload a recent merchant statement so BillGutter can calculate the fee stack and effective rate.