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Interchange Plus Pricing: What Is It & How Does It Work?

Interchange Plus Pricing: What Is It & How Does It Work?

Interchange Plus Pricing: A transparent cost model with Visa/Mastercard fees + processor markup. Optimize your payments and reduce fees with DepositFix today!

Interchange plus pricing aims to make costs clearer and possibly lower for businesses. This pricing breaks down into two parts: the interchange fee set by Visa and Mastercard, and a markup from the processor. If you handle over $5,000 in card transactions monthly, this model could cut your costs. It's more effective than tiered or flat-rate pricing for high-volume businesses.

With DepositFix, you can easily implement Interchange Plus pricing and start benefiting from lower fees, particularly if your business processes over $5,000 a month in card transactions. This model allows you to see exactly how much you're paying in interchange fees and processor markups, helping you avoid unexpected costs.

Key Takeaways

  • Interchange plus pricing offers transparency in credit card processing fees.
  • This model can reduce costs for businesses with high transaction volumes.
  • It consists of two parts: interchange fees and processor markups.
  • Many businesses may not realize they can negotiate lower processor markups.
  • Understanding the nuances can empower you to optimize your payment processing strategy.

What Is Interchange Plus Pricing?

Interchange plus pricing is a clear way to handle credit card payments. Businesses pay the interchange rate set by credit card networks. They also pay a fixed markup from their payment processor. This markup is shown in basis points and covers extra costs for processing.

The interchange fees make up about 87.5% of the total cost. These fees change based on card type and transaction type. With interchange plus pricing, businesses can easily see their credit card processing fees.

Businesses with over $5,000 in monthly sales benefit the most. The fixed markup makes costs on credit card transactions predictable. This is different from tiered and flat-rate pricing. High-volume sales businesses find interchange plus pricing more cost-effective.

This pricing model is known for its clear approach. Rates are competitive, ranging from 0.20% to 0.50% above the base interchange fee. Tiered pricing can be expensive, so interchange plus pricing is often the best choice for businesses.

How Does Interchange Plus Pricing Work

In an Interchange Plus model, you’re charged two parts:

  1. Interchange Fees: These are set by the card networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), and they vary depending on the card type and transaction.

  2. Processor Markup: This is a fixed percentage or flat fee added by your payment processor to cover their services.

DepositFix helps you access these transparent costs in real time, providing an easy way to calculate and manage your payment processing fees. The markups range from 0.20% to 0.50% over the interchange fees, making this model a great choice for businesses with high transaction volumes.

What Is Interchange Plus Plus Pricing?

Interchange plus plus pricing is an update to the traditional model. It includes extra fees from card networks. You pay the base interchange rate, a markup from the processor, and a fee for the card scheme.

For example, on a $100 transaction, the interchange fee is 2%, or $2. The card network fee is 0.5%, or $0.5, plus a 1% markup, or $1. This adds up to $3.5 in fees, leaving you with $96.5.

This pricing model is clear and cost-effective. It helps businesses understand their fees better. It's especially useful for those with different transaction types.

The interchange plus plus model can also lower your costs. This is because it uses Level 2 and Level 3 processing. These levels require more detailed transaction data.

This model isn't as common as others, but it has its benefits. It's great for businesses that want clear and fair fees. Settlement times are 2 to 3 days, giving time to gather necessary information.

Eligibility for this model requires onboarding and Advanced Checkout setup. More merchants are seeing the value in understanding their costs. This pricing structure makes it easier to compare different payment processors.

Interchange Plus Pricing Comparison

When looking at credit card processing, beware of the differences between interchange plus pricing and other models. These include tiered and flat rate pricing. Each has its own features that can affect your costs and financial plans.

Interchange Plus vs Tiered Pricing

Tiered pricing groups transactions into three types: qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified. Non-qualified ones often have the highest fees, leading to uncertain costs for businesses. On the other hand, interchange plus pricing has many interchange rates set by card networks.

These rates depend on the card type, where the transaction happens, the merchant category code (MCC), and how many transactions you do each year. This makes it easier to understand your costs.

Interchange Plus vs Flat Rate Pricing

Flat rate pricing charges a single rate for all transactions, often a bit higher than the actual interchange rates. This can make your costs go up. Interchange plus pricing, however, usually means lower fees based on the interchange rates.

It also lets you negotiate with your processor, which can save you a lot if you have a lot of transactions. This makes interchange plus pricing the most cost-effective choice for processing credit cards.

Pricing Model
Description
Costs
Interchange Plus
Processor adds a fixed markup to the card network rates.
Lower fees based on interchange rates; negotiable for high-volume businesses.
Tiered Pricing
Transactions are grouped into qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified.
Uncertain costs; non-qualified transactions have higher fees.
Flat Rate Pricing
Single rate for all transactions, higher than interchange rates.
Higher costs due to fixed rate.

Benefits of Interchange Plus Pricing

Interchange plus pricing has many advantages for your business's finances. It focuses on clear billing and saving money. Knowing these benefits helps you make better choices for your payment needs.

Transparency

One big plus of interchange plus pricing is how clear it is. It shows you exactly how much you're paying for processing. This makes it easier to manage your money.

Lower Fees for High-Volume Businesses

Businesses that handle a lot of transactions can save money with this pricing. For example, big businesses can pay much less in fees. This is especially true for those processing over $20,000 a month.

Customization

Interchange plus pricing lets you tailor your payment processing. You can pick a plan that fits your business and how much you process. This way, you only pay for what you need, helping your profits grow.

Scalability

This pricing is great for businesses that are growing. As your sales go up, you can adjust your pricing without trouble. This makes it easy to keep costs down as your business gets bigger.

Fairness

Fairness is a key feature of interchange plus pricing. It aligns processor fees with actual interchange rates. This means merchants only pay for what they need, avoiding hidden charges.

For example, a processor fee might be 0.3% on a 1.76% interchange rate. This totals 2.06%. Such clear fees build trust and make budgeting easier, helping with financial planning.

Better for Complex Transactions

Businesses with complex transactions find interchange plus pricing very helpful. It clearly shows the actual costs, unlike tiered pricing which can charge more for certain transactions. Larger businesses often see lower fees with higher volumes.

This model simplifies pricing for complex transactions. It ensures businesses don't overpay, making it great for varied payment processes.

Predictability

Predictable costs are a big plus for any business. Interchange plus pricing makes payment processing costs clear. Fees are based on known interchange rates, making it easy to forecast expenses.

Unlike tiered pricing, there's no worry about unexpected costs. This clarity helps with cash flow management and can save a lot over time.

benefits of interchange plus pricing

Is Interchange Plus the Best Merchant Account Pricing

If you’re a business with high transaction volumes, Interchange Plus pricing is the most cost-effective option for you. Unlike flat-rate pricing, which can eat into your margins, or tiered pricing, which can leave you guessing about your fees, Interchange Plus gives you clear, predictable costs. And with DepositFix, you’ll be able to optimize your payment processing, negotiate better terms with your processor, and reduce your overall fees.

But what about businesses with lower transaction volumes? While Interchange Plus is perfect for high-volume merchants, DepositFix also offers flexible pricing options to ensure that small businesses benefit from the best rates available.

Get Smarter Payment Processing with DepositFix

DepositFix offers a smarter way to handle payment processing. It seamlessly fits into your current software systems. This makes your business more efficient, letting you grow without getting bogged down by complex pricing.

If you’re looking to optimize your payment processing with Interchange Plus pricing, DepositFix is the ideal solution. Our platform provides:

  • Full transparency on your fees

  • Competitive rates that save you money

  • Seamless integration with your current systems

  • Scalable solutions as your business grows

DepositFix makes it easier than ever to streamline your payment processing, reduce costs, and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you’re a small business or a high-volume merchant, we’ve got the perfect solution for you.

Get started with DepositFix today and take control of your credit card processing costs!

Conclusion

In conclusion, interchange plus pricing is a great way to handle credit card processing. It makes things clear and can save you money. This model helps businesses see how different transactions affect their fees.

Learning about interchange plus pricing can help you choose the right payment processing. This includes interchange rates, assessment fees, and processor markups.

Knowing how payment processing works contributes to your financial success. With interchange plus pricing, you can save money now and grow your business in the future.

FAQs

How do interchange fees affect businesses under the Interchange Plus model?

Interchange fees are set by the card networks (e.g., Visa, Mastercard) and vary based on the type of transaction. Under the Interchange Plus model, businesses pay these fees directly, plus a fixed processor markup. This ensures that businesses only pay for the actual costs associated with the transaction.

Is Interchange Plus pricing better for small businesses?

Interchange Plus pricing is typically more beneficial for businesses with high transaction volumes. Small businesses with lower transaction volumes may not experience as significant savings, and other pricing models like flat-rate pricing might be more straightforward and cost-effective for them.

Can Interchange Plus pricing be negotiated?

Yes, many processors offer negotiable fees on the markup portion of the Interchange Plus model. Businesses with higher transaction volumes or long-term relationships with processors can often negotiate better rates to further reduce processing costs.

Does Interchange Plus pricing work for international transactions?

Yes, Interchange Plus pricing applies to international transactions as well. The interchange fees for international payments may be higher, but the model still provides transparency and can help businesses manage those costs better than flat-rate pricing.

See how you can save up to 60%+ with DepositFix.
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