November 2009
The rate that you actually pay to accept cards is likely much higher than what you thought you signed up for. This rate is referred to as your “Effective Rate” and it’s really easy to calculate. You thought you signed up for a low rate of 1.79% or similar, do the math and you’ll learn a different story.
The best way to calculate your Effective Rate is to add up all the fees that you paid for credit card processing including interchange, discount, transaction fees, authorization, AVS, batch, monthly fees, terminal lease and rental fees, etc. and then divide this total by your processing volume. For example, if your statement lists fees of $325 for interchange or discount, $50 for transaction or Auth fees, and $25 for monthly fees; then you’re paying a total of $400 per month in fees. Assuming your credit card transaction volume is $10,000 per month, doing the simple math below provides your Effective Rate of 4.0%.
Total Fees Paid: $400
Total Credit and Debit Card Volume: $10,000
Effective Rate: $400 / $10,000 = 4.0%
That teaser rate that you thought you were paying, is not what you’re actually paying…Surprise!
Do this simple calculation or call us and we’ll be happy to help you calculate your actual Effective Rate. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your rates and fees and do our best to reduce your Effective Rate, because this rate is the one that matters the most.