Four structures. One that fits you.
There is no honest way to publish one rate for every business — your cost depends on card mix, ticket size and volume. What we can publish is the structure, the markup model and every fee we do not charge.
Simplified flat rate
Best under $15K monthly volume
- Single published rate, in person and online
- No monthly minimum or statement fee
- PCI compliance included free
- Forecast your cost on a napkin
- Upgrade to interchange-plus any time
Interchange plus
Best above $15K monthly volume
- Interchange passed through at cost
- Fixed basis-point markup you can audit
- No tiers and no reclassification games
- Markup steps down as volume grows
- Every transaction verifiable against published tables
Zero-fee dual pricing
Where your jurisdiction allows it
- Cash and card prices posted compliantly
- Debit never surcharged — ever
- Card-brand registration handled
- Compliant signage supplied
- Built per state and province, not one template
Custom
Multi-location, B2B and high volume
- Level II and III optimisation for B2B cards
- Blended ACH, EFT and card routing
- Multi-location consolidated reporting
- Interchange optimisation review quarterly
- Dedicated account team
What we charge, and what we refuse to
The second column is where most merchant statements quietly do their damage.
| Line item | Industry norm | CELER Merchants |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly statement fee | $9.95 - $29.95 | $0 |
| PCI program fee | $99 - $199 per year | $0 |
| PCI non-compliance fee | $19.95 - $39.95 per month | $0 |
| Monthly minimum | $25 | $0 |
| Annual fee | $79 - $149 | $0 |
| Early termination / liquidated damages | $295 - $795 | $0 |
| Batch fee | $0.15 - $0.35 per batch | At cost, itemised |
| Interchange & card-brand assessments | Often marked up | Passed through at cost |
| Chargeback fee | $25 - $45 | $15, waived on won disputes |
| Gateway fee (where applicable) | Bundled and hidden | Quoted as its own line |
Industry norms are typical ranges observed in statements we analyse. Your current provider's fees will differ — the analysis names every one of them.
The markup you sign is the markup you keep
Interchange moves twice a year for everyone. Our margin does not move at all without your written agreement.
If your effective rate rises for any reason other than a published card-brand change or a shift in your own card mix, we correct it and credit the difference back.
- Fixed markup stated in basis points on your agreement
- Rate reviews every quarter, unprompted
- Written notice before any pass-through change takes effect
- Credit back if we get it wrong
- No contract term holding you in place while we fix it
Pricing questions, answered
Across small businesses, total cost usually lands between 2.6% and 3.5% of volume once every fee is counted. Card-present retail on well-structured interchange-plus typically runs 2.1% to 2.6%. Card-not-present and B2B sit higher because interchange itself is higher.
No. No statement fee, no monthly minimum, no PCI program fee, no PCI non-compliance fee and no annual fee. Those exist to pad margin, not to cover cost.
No. Month to month, cancel any time, no liquidated damages clause. If we stop earning your business you should be free to leave — that constraint keeps us honest.
Under about $15,000 monthly volume with small tickets, flat rate often wins on total cost and simplicity. Above that, interchange-plus is almost always cheaper. Dual pricing beats both on net margin when your jurisdiction and customer base support it. We model all three from your statement.
Card-brand interchange and assessments change twice a year and get passed through at cost — those move for everyone. Our markup is fixed in writing and does not change without your written agreement. That is what the CELER Rate Lock covers.
Every fee named in 4 hours. Or call now and we quote you on the spot.
Everyone else in this industry says twenty-four hours. We say four — and if that is still too slow, pick up the phone and get your numbers while you are on the call. No contract, nothing to cancel, no pressure.