Payment knowledge
What makes up payment fees?
Payment fees often contain several components: interchange, card-scheme fees, the PSP or acquirer markup, and possible fixed, currency, chargeback or add-on fees. A single percentage is therefore rarely enough to compare proposals economically.
A meaningful comparison applies every fee to the real transaction profile. Countries, card types, order values, currencies, refunds and declines affect effective cost, as do monthly and minimum fees.
Which costs belong in the model?
Transaction costs
Percentage and fixed components for successful or attempted payments.
Event-based costs
Fees for refunds, chargebacks, disputes, 3-D Secure or specific risk checks.
Operating and follow-on costs
Monthly fees, FX, payouts, reporting, integrations, manual effort and potential switching costs.
Headline price and the real question
| Price component | Meaning | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage fee | Share of payment value | Which countries and cards does it cover? |
| Fixed amount | Amount per transaction | Does it also apply to refunds or declines? |
| FX markup | Currency-conversion cost | Which reference rate and markup are used? |
| Chargeback fee | Dispute handling | Is it refundable and what additional cost applies? |
How to build a reliable cost comparison
1. Build the transaction profile
Segment revenue and count by country, currency, payment method, card type and order value.
2. Capture every price component
Normalize variable, fixed, monthly and event-based fees in one model.
3. Calculate scenarios
Model the current state, realistic growth and stress cases separately.
4. Add non-price factors
Account for acceptance, outages, operating effort, reserves and integration cost.
Payment fees FAQ
What is Interchange++?
Interchange++ presents interchange, card-scheme fees and the provider markup separately. It creates transparency, while total cost varies with the transaction mix.
Why is the percentage fee not enough?
Fixed charges, card and country mix, monthly fees, FX, refunds and chargebacks can materially change the effective price.
Are the website calculator values binding?
No. The calculator explicitly uses simplified examples. A defensible proposal requires the real transaction and risk profile and the complete contractual terms.
Primary reference material
These primary sources provide context. A specific recommendation always depends on the business model and the rules and contracts in force.