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How to Read Your
Merchant Processing
Statement
Most business owners don't overpay because they're careless — they overpay because these statements are designed to be confusing. Here's what actually matters.
Most merchants never verify if their fees are correct — and processors count on that.
The Core Problem
Every month your business processes payments. Every month fees are deducted. Rates change, hidden fees appear, and pricing structures shift — often quietly, without notice. By the time you notice, months of overcharges have already cleared.
What to Look For
The 3 Components of Every Statement
01 / Interchange
Interchange Fees
Set by Visa, Mastercard, and other card networks. Based on card type, transaction method, and risk level. Usually the largest portion of your total fees.
Non-negotiable02 / Assessment
Assessment Fees
Also set by card brands. Small percentage applied to total transaction volume. Think of this as the "network access fee" — you can't avoid it.
Non-negotiable03 / Markup
Processor Markup
This is where things get unclear. Processors bundle fees, rename line items, add "service" or "program" charges, and quietly increase margins over time.
You can control thisStatements Are Designed to Hide Markups
Most statements intentionally blur the line between what is fixed (interchange, assessments) and what is variable (markup). That's why two businesses with identical volume can pay very different fees.
Pricing Structures
Flat Rate vs. Interchange+ Pricing
What most providers offer
2.6% + $0.10
Flat rate. Simple — but often significantly more expensive. Common with Square, Toast, and most consumer processors. Easy to understand, hard to optimize.
What you should expect
Interchange + 0.10% + $0.10
Interchange+ pricing. Transparent. You pay actual network cost plus a fixed margin. Scales efficiently with volume and is auditable line by line.
Ongoing Vigilance
Why You Must Audit Regularly
-
Interchange tables update — Card brands revise rates twice a year. Your effective cost changes even if your contract doesn't.
-
Risk models shift — Your card mix, transaction types, and average ticket affect which interchange categories apply.
-
Providers adjust tiers quietly — Pricing tiers can shift in your contract's fine print without a direct notification.
-
New fees appear — "Program fees," "compliance fees," and "network access fees" are added over time. Most merchants don't notice until a full audit.
MKR Systems Perspective
Our Commitment to Transparency
We are a Fiserv (CardConnect) reseller.
Even on our side, pricing environments change. That's why we built a system around continuous statement auditing — not just a one-time review at onboarding. We actively monitor and work to maintain our pricing promise over time.
Interchange
+ 0.10%
+ $0.10 / txn
+ 0.10%
+ $0.10 / txn
Free Statement Audit
Upload your statement. We'll break it down in plain English.
Most merchants find savings within 24 hours.
Different statements. Same components.
The difference is visibility. Once you can see exactly where your fees come from — interchange, assessments, and markup — you can compare, negotiate, and control them. That's what we're here for.
The difference is visibility. Once you can see exactly where your fees come from — interchange, assessments, and markup — you can compare, negotiate, and control them. That's what we're here for.
MKR Systems
One local partner for Southern California restaurants & retailers.