I've audited hundreds of processing statements for local businesses across the Northeast. Almost every single one is overpaying — and it's not because they picked the wrong processor.

It's because the fee structure is designed to be confusing.

Here are the 3 fees I find on almost every statement that business owners don't realize they're paying:

1. Non-Qualified Surcharges

Your processor quoted you 1.79%. But that rate only applies to basic debit cards swiped in person. Rewards cards, keyed-in transactions, and corporate cards all get bumped to a higher "non-qualified" rate — sometimes 3.5%+. Most business owners never notice because it's buried in the statement.

2. PCI Non-Compliance Fees

If you haven't completed your annual PCI compliance questionnaire (most small businesses don't even know it exists), you're paying $20-$99/month for doing nothing wrong.

3. Batch Fee Stacking

Every time your terminal settles at the end of the day, there's a batch fee. Some processors charge this per-terminal, not per-batch. If you have 2 terminals, you're paying double.

These three alone typically add up to $200-$500/month in unnecessary costs for a small business doing $15-30k in monthly card volume.

We do free processing fee audits for local businesses. Takes 10 minutes on our end, and we'll show you exactly where your money is going.

Keeping payments honest, simple, and local.