: Set by card networks (Visa, Mastercard) and paid to the card-issuing bank.
: Transactions are categorized as "qualified," "mid-qualified," or "non-qualified." While common for high-risk merchants , it is often the least transparent and most expensive option. Direct Transactional Expenses merchant account cost
: The most transparent model. You pay the direct cost from card networks (interchange) plus a fixed markup from the processor. : Set by card networks (Visa, Mastercard) and
: High-risk accounts often require long-term commitments (2-3 years) rather than month-to-month flexibility. : Set by card networks (Visa
Businesses in certain industries (luxury goods, travel, or high-volume e-commerce) are often flagged as high-risk . This designation significantly impacts costs: : Processing fees can jump to 3.5%–5.5% .
Maintaining an account often involves recurring "hidden" or incidental charges: