Rates · 6 min read

How to read a merchant statement in ten minutes

Volume, fees, effective rate, and the line items processors hope you never add up.

Start with volume and count

Total processed (Visa/MC/Amex/Discover) and number of transactions. Everything else is a cost against that volume.

Add every fee

Discount, per-item, batch, statement, PCI, monthly minimum, gateway, wireless, IRS reporting, ‘regulatory.’ If it is a dollar amount, it counts. Divide the sum by volume. That is effective rate.

Watch for the anniversary

PCI non-compliance fees, annual ‘membership,’ and equipment insurance are how a cheap quote becomes an expensive year. We do not use those.

Send us the PDF

If this feels like homework, it is our homework. Attach the statement after the form or email payments@verturagroup.com.

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