Industry GuidesNovember 5, 20265 min read
Retail Store Card Processing Costs: A Plain Guide
In-store card sales are usually the cheapest to process. Here is what shapes retail costs and what to check before you sign.
By ONKORE Team
Card-present sales
Retail shops that take most cards in person are usually in the lowest-cost category, because the card is present and read by a chip or tap. Keyed and online orders generally cost more.
What shapes retail costs
- Average ticket. Fixed per-transaction fees matter more on low-value sales.
- Card mix. Premium rewards cards usually carry higher interchange.
- Share of keyed or online sales. If you add a web store, expect a different cost for those sales.
- Returns. Ask how refunds are handled and whether fees on the original sale are returned.
- Seasonal volume. Check for monthly minimums, which matter in slow months. See what to check before choosing a processor.
Equipment
Terminals can be bought, leased or included. Leases can run for years and may be hard to cancel. Compare the total cost over the whole term, not just the monthly payment.
Check your effective rate
Divide total fees by card volume. Our guide to calculating your effective rate shows how. Track it monthly to spot changes.
Next step
Send a recent statement for a free statement review, or see ONKORE pricing.
