How to read a merchant
processing statement.

Begin with total monthly card sales and total processing fees. Dividing fees by sales gives your effective rate, which is the percentage of card volume absorbed by processing costs.

Then separate unavoidable network costs from processor markup and account-level charges. Look for monthly fees, PCI fees, batch fees, gateway fees, non-qualified surcharges, and equipment costs.

• ✓Locate gross card sales
• ✓Total every processing fee
• ✓Calculate effective rate
• ✓Identify recurring account fees
• ✓Check pricing structure and equipment terms