The truth is your rate should be determined by your average size ticket and industry. If you have an average tiocket (sale) under $15 you can get a very low transaction fee about $0.15. Your percentage rate will be a little higher about 1.85% for debit and credit cards. That is the best program for you due to the transaction fee having a greater affect on low ticket transactions.

If your average ticket is above $15, you will pay a transaction fee between $0.20 -0.25 and a percentage rate of about 1.80% for credit and 1.40% for check cards.

The next thing you want to look out for is what you pay for key entered transactions and corporate cards. This is very important. Some place will charge a very low percentage for swiped personal check and credit cards, but charge over 4% for rewards and hand keyed cards. BE CAREFUL.

Now you need to know the difference between a pin based debit and a check card. A check card is charged different (see check card rates above) due to how it is processed. If a customer swipes a debit card and signs for it instead of entering their pin #, you will be charged a % and trans. fee. If they enter their pin #, you can get a flat rate of around $0.65 trans fee and no %. It is important to know your business, and decide wether or not your average ticket is high enough for a pin based transaction to be worth it or not. Usually a $40 or higher transaction amount is when you want to use that pin pad.

Contrancts: Most every credit card processor has a 3 year contract agreement. Very common practice.

You can find out more about rates and other programs here:
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I hope this helps! Good Luck