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How processing pricing actually works

No jargon. Here is what you’re paying for, the fees worth watching on any statement, and the models we offer. The goal is simple: you should be able to read your own bill.

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How interchange-plus works

  • Every card transaction has a base cost set by the card brands, called interchange. Nobody can lower that part.
  • What a processor adds on top is the "plus." That’s the part you can actually compare and control.
  • With interchange-plus you see both numbers, so there are no games.
  • Flat-rate and tiered programs blend everything together, so you can’t tell what you’re really paying. Flat-rate charges you the same high price for every card, even cheap debit cards.

We show you both numbers. That is the whole idea.

Our markup One fixed, visible number Card brands’ cost (interchange) Set by the card brands added on top passed straight through Your cost per sale Markup Interchange What you pay Both lines appear on your statement
Interchange-plus in one picture: the card brands’ cost passes straight through, and one fixed markup sits on top. Together they’re what you pay. Illustration, not to scale.
What a processing fee is made of: a statement whose left side is a to-scale bar A stylized merchant statement with four fee lines. Down its left side runs a slim bar split to scale, and each fee line sits in a band as tall as its share of the total. Interchange and card-brand assessments 1.81%, pass-through, same with every processor, the tallest band. Processor markup 0.62%, the part you compare. Non-qualified downgrades 0.71% and monthly junk fees 0.28%, both flagged avoidable. Effective rate 3.42%; with the two flagged lines removed, 2.43%. Side cards group the lines into same everywhere, compare this, and remove these. Processing fee summary Each line as a share of card sales, so the lines add up. EXAMPLE STATEMENT REVIEW TO SCALE RATE Interchange and card-brand assessments Set by the banks and card brands. Same with every processor. 1.81% Interchange, set by the bank that issued the card Assessments, set by the card brands Processor markup What the processor adds on top. The only line that varies between providers. 0.62% "Non-qualified" downgrades AVOIDABLE An advertised low rate that quietly jumps on most of your transactions. 0.71% Monthly junk fees AVOIDABLE Statement, PCI, batch and other padding. 0.28% Effective rate What you actually pay on every dollar, once every fee is counted. 3.42% With the two flagged lines removed 2.43% Hold your own statement next to this. The bar down the left side is to scale: the taller the band, the bigger the cost. SAME EVERYWHERE Pass-through, set by the banks and card brands. No processor can lower this line. COMPARE THIS The one line that differs between providers. Ask for it in writing. REMOVE THESE Not bank costs. A statement review shows which of these can come off, and the total drops with them. Numbers from the example statement review on allpropay.com. Illustration, not a quote. Same with every processor The part you compare Flagged, avoidable or padded

Watch: Interchange Plus, explained

The honest version, in under a minute.

Dual Pricing and AllPro Rebate, briefly

We offer three programs: Dual Pricing, interchange-plus, and AllPro Rebate. Here’s how the other two work.

Card customers cover the fee

Dual Pricing

  • You post a card price and a cash price. Also called cash discounting.
  • Customers who pay by card cover the card fee.
  • Your card processing fees can drop to $0. Standard Dual Pricing has a small monthly fee.
  • Rules differ by state and card brand. We set up the signage and receipts correctly for where you operate.
Dual Pricing that pays you back

AllPro Rebate

  • Works like Dual Pricing: $0 card processing fees, and no monthly fee.
  • Members earn a cash rebate every month on their card volume, paid by ACH or Zelle the month after.
  • Members are part of the AllPro Rebate Club.
  • For businesses doing $10,000+ a month in card sales. We go over your rebate with you on a call.

Compare all three programs

The fees worth watching

These show up on statements across the industry, ours or anyone else's. Now you’ll know them.

PCI "non-compliance" fees

A monthly charge that is often avoidable once your account is set up and validated correctly. Should frequently be $0.

Tiered and "non-qualified" downgrades

An advertised low rate that quietly jumps to a much higher rate on most of your transactions. The headline number is rarely the real number.

Batch, statement, gateway, and recovery padding

Small recurring fees that add up and almost never get explained. We name each one and tell you what it should cost.

Early-termination and cancellation fees

Buried in the contract so leaving is painful. We don’t use long-term contracts or cancellation fees.

Frequently asked questions

How do interchange-plus rates actually save me money?
Flat-rate processors charge the same high price for every card, even cheap debit cards. Interchange-plus passes the direct cost from the card brands straight to you and adds a small, transparent margin on top. Because you can see both numbers, there is nothing hidden. Whether it saves you depends on your volume and card mix, which is exactly what the free statement review checks.
Are there monthly, PCI, or hidden fees?
Our promise is simple: what you sign is what you pay. We don’t use long-term contracts or cancellation fees. We’ll lay out every fee in your setup before you sign and tell you what each one is for, so there are no surprises on your statement.
How long does it take to switch, and will my payments be interrupted?
We set you up before you cancel your old provider so there is no downtime. If you have recurring customers or stored card data, we help move it so you don’t lose a payment.
Will my current hardware work?
Some hardware from the big providers is locked to their network. If you’re stuck in a lease or contract, tell us and we’ll look at your options for switching. See our switch page.
What about surcharging, cash discounting, or dual pricing?
These can reduce or offset your processing cost by passing the card fee to the customer who chooses to pay by card. With our Dual Pricing program, your card processing fees can drop to $0. The rules differ by state and by card brand, and they aren’t allowed everywhere. We set the program up correctly for where you operate. See pricing.

See it on your own statement

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