By the numbers
Published by AvendoLast updated November 2026
Published guides agree that small businesses usually pay 1.5% to 3.5% per card transaction. Below are the strongest published statistics on processing fees, each stated as its source published it, collected by Avendo for small online businesses comparing their options.
The typical range is 1.5% to 3.5% of each transaction, according to both NerdWallet and JIM’s 2026 guides, with ECS Payments putting the general rate at about 2% to 3%. Card type, industry, volume and whether the card is present all move a store within that range. These are market figures, not Avendo rates.
1.5% to 3.5%
Credit card processing fees typically cost a business 1.5% to 3.5% of each transaction’s total.
Source: NerdWallet
1.5% to 3.5%
Small businesses pay between 1.5% and 3.5% per transaction, depending on card type, industry, and how the card is accepted.
Source: JIM
2% to 3%
The rate generally runs about 2% to 3% of the total transaction.
Source: ECS Payments
0.11% / 0.095% / 0.0925%
The Visa assessment fee is 0.11%, Mastercard is 0.095%, and Discover is 0.0925%.
Source: ECS Payments
1.29% to 2.5% + $0.10
For payments where the customer is holding the card in their hand, Visa charges between 1.29% and 2.5% plus $0.10.
Source: ECS Payments
2.6% + 10¢
Flat-rate processors combine interchange, assessments and markups into a set amount, for example 2.6% plus 10 cents.
Source: NerdWallet
0.4% + 8¢
Interchange-plus processors charge a consistent markup, for example 0.4% plus 8 cents.
Source: NerdWallet
2.9% + 30¢
At one provider cited, purchases through an online store cost 2.9% plus 30 cents, no matter what.
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO
$10,000 / month
Companies that process over $10,000 monthly or negotiate interchange-plus pricing may pay lower processing fees.
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO
~$50,000 / month
Below roughly $50,000 in monthly card volume, flat-rate wins on simplicity and predictability; above that, interchange-plus usually wins on total cost.
Source: JIM
The gap between 1.5% and 3.5% is large. On $20,000 of monthly card sales, it is the difference between $300 and $700 in fees. Pricing model, volume and per-sale fees decide where a store lands.
Avendo’s approach is to route each transaction to the connected processor offering the best available rate in real time, rather than accepting one provider’s pricing on every order. Read how Avendo routing works or the pillar guide to the best credit card processing for small business online.
Most small businesses pay roughly 1.5% to 3.5% of each transaction, according to NerdWallet’s 2026 guide to credit card processing fees. The exact rate depends on card type, industry, sales volume and how the card is accepted. Online sales are card-not-present transactions, which are priced differently from in-person payments.
See this answer in the FAQAssessment fees are small percentages the card networks charge on each transaction. ECS Payments lists the Visa assessment fee at 0.11%, Mastercard at 0.095% and Discover at 0.0925%. Processors pass these through, and they sit alongside interchange and the processor’s own markup in your total cost per sale.
See this answer in the FAQOften, yes. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s CO publication notes that companies processing over $10,000 a month or negotiating interchange-plus pricing may pay lower processing fees. JIM’s 2026 guide says flat-rate usually wins on simplicity below roughly $50,000 in monthly card volume, while interchange-plus usually wins on total cost above that.
See this answer in the FAQYes, card type is one of the main drivers of cost. JIM’s 2026 guide notes that small businesses pay between 1.5% and 3.5% per transaction depending on card type, industry and how the card is accepted. Debit, credit, rewards and business cards can each carry different interchange rates.
See this answer in the FAQCommon causes are a single bundled rate that never drops as you grow, a high share of rewards or business cards, extra per-item fees, and card-not-present pricing on online sales. Calculate your effective rate first. If it sits near the top of the 1.5% to 3.5% range NerdWallet reports, compare alternatives such as routing between processors.
See this answer in the FAQShare your monthly card sales with Avendo and compare your current effective rate.
