Calculate the True Cost of Your Current Credit Card Processor Finding your true cost for processing services in today's credit card processing maze is not an easy task. The challenge for business owners is sorting through multiple offers from credit card processors, all claiming to be the best deal. Which is better - a small transaction fee or a bundled rate? Is a monthly fee less expensive than an annual fee? What about equipment – should you lease, rent or purchase? The Answer: It depends.
Every business has its own unique set of circumstances that must be considered when making a financial decision like choosing an electronic payment services provider. For example, whether a bundled discount rate or a rate plus transaction fee makes better financial sense depends primarily on the dollar volume your business processes each month and the average transaction size. The lower the average transaction size, the greater the percentage of the sale a transaction fee represents. The same is true for equipment needs - there are benefits to all three equipment financing options.
But one factor that can be easily determined is what you are really paying for your processing services once all additional fees and charges are considered. This is not always as simple as it may seem, since just about every credit card processor prices their services differently. To truly assess your cost for credit card processing, you must look beyond the discount rate you are paying, and instead calculate the effective rate. The effective rate takes into account ALL fees paid for the month in relation to the total dollar volume processed. It is the most accurate measure of what you paid.
The effective rate is found by dividing your total processing charges for the month, including the discount rate amount paid, transaction fees, and monthly fees, by the total credit card sales volume for the month. This calculation gives a comprehensive measure of program cost as a percentage of sales. Once this amount is known, multiple offers can be meaningfully compared, even if they have widely diverse pricing.
Why is this so important? Because a lower discount rate does not necessarily mean a lower effective rate. The following example illustrates the importance of making an accurate comparison:
| Plan 1 | Plan 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Sales Volume | $10,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Discount Rate | x 1.75% | x 2.05% | ||
| Monthly Discount Paid | $175.00 | $205.00 | ||
| Transaction Fee | $0.20 | $0.00 | ||
| (@ 500 transactions) | $100.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Monthly Service Fee | $15.00 | $15.00 | ||
| Equipment Lease | $50.00 | $50.00 | ||
| Total Paid For The Month: | $340.00 | $270.00 | ||
| EFFECTIVE RATE | 3.40% | 2.70% | ||
As this simple example shows, a lower discount rate does not necessarily mean you will save more money. Obviously there are other factors to consider when choosing a processor, such as the ability to provide personal service and a comprehensive suite of quality products that meet all of your transaction needs. Considering these factors together with an accurate indicator of price helps you make an informed decision.
How to Calculate Your Effective Rate The formula provided below will help you determine the effective rate you are paying for your current service so you can accurately compare it to a competitive offer.
Follow these quick steps to calculate YOUR true cost for credit card processing:
1. Grab several of your last processing statements and a calculator.
2. Enter the TOTAL amount deducted from your account for service. Make sure this number includes ALL charges during the statement periods.
3. Divide the number entered in step 2 by the TOTAL amount of sales volume processed during the statement periods.
4. Multiply by 100 to get a percentage rate. This is your effective rate for that time period.