Learn About Payment Processing

The pillar reference. Interchange, assessments, processor markup, all four pricing models, a junk-fee catalog, worked math at $5K / $20K / $50K, and a 7-step rate-audit checklist.

The 8-step checklist, the legal basis, the signage and receipt rules, and the Durbin debit carve-out — for Florida merchants running (or considering) a cash discount program.

The complete guide to Florida’s surcharging laws, cash discount compliance, dual pricing, and which option is right for your business.

2026 benchmark data for restaurants, retail, auto repair, home services, and more. See what a competitive rate looks like for your business.

How to read your processing statement, spot junk fees, and calculate your real effective rate. Plus, try our free AI-powered analyzer.

The 11-fee junk-fee catalog with typical dollar ranges, where each appears on a statement, and how to remove the ones that shouldn’t be there.

Four pricing models side by side, a break-even formula, three card-mix scenarios that flip the answer, and honest coverage of subscription pricing most guides skip.

Side-by-side table, worked cost math at $5K and $20K/mo, an honest “when Square wins” section, and the cash-discount third option most guides skip.

14-row comparison with real hardware prices, cost math at $30K and $80K/mo, a 7-row operator-type matrix, and the cash-discount path for Florida restaurants.