Are Credit Card Processing Fees Eating Your Profits?

Restaurant owners, how much are you REALLY paying in credit card processing fees every year?

If you think those small transaction fees don’t add up, think again. Most restaurants bleed thousands (or even tens of thousands) of dollars per year in hidden processing costs.

Let’s break it down.

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The Real Cost of Credit Card Processing: A Wake-Up Call

Most credit card processors charge fees in three main categories:

• Transaction Fees – A percentage of the sale + a per-transaction fee.
• Monthly Fees – Some providers charge a fixed fee for "lower rates" (but is it really saving you money?).
• Hidden Fees – Chargebacks, payout fees, PCI compliance fees, and POS integration fees.

How Much Are You REALLY Paying?

Let’s say your restaurant processes $50,000 per month in credit card sales. That’s $600,000 per year.

Processor	In-Store Rate (Card-Present)	Online Rate (Card-Not-Present)	Annual Cost on $600K Sales
Square	2.6% + $0.10	2.9% + $0.30	$15,900
Stripe	N/A	2.9% + $0.30	$17,400
Helcim	1.92% + $0.08	2.38% + $0.25	$12,120
Dharma	2.60% + $0.10	2.90% + $0.15	$15,480
Chase Payment Solutions	2.50% + $0.10	2.90% + $0.25	$15,300
Savvy Order Systems	2.70% + $0.15	2.99% + $0.18	$16,500

Over 5 Years, That’s...

• Square: $79,500
• Stripe: $87,000
• Helcim: $60,600
• Dharma: $77,400
• Chase: $76,500
• Savvy Order Systems: $82,500

💸 You could be paying over $80,000 in processing fees over the next five years—money that should be in your pocket.

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Use the Fee Analyzer to See YOUR Restaurant’s Exact Cost

Every restaurant is different. Your actual cost depends on transaction size, number of sales, and whether customers pay online or in person.

📊 Use our free Restaurant Credit Card Fee Analyzer to see how much you’re losing—and how much you could save.

✅ Instantly compare your yearly costs across multiple processors
✅ See your total loss in dollars (not just percentages)
✅ Find the most cost-effective option for your business

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How to Stop Overpaying (Even If You Don’t Switch Providers)

🔹 Negotiate Your Rates – If you process high volume, demand lower rates.
🔹 Reduce Online Transactions – Online orders = higher fees. Consider direct ordering instead of third-party apps.
🔹 Watch Out for Hidden Fees – Chargebacks, payout fees, and "compliance" fees add up.
🔹 Consider Cash Discounting – Some processors let you pass fees to customers.
🔹 Optimize Your POS – Some providers charge for integration—are you overpaying?

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Final Thought: Are You Letting Banks Eat Your Profits?

If you're paying $15,000+ per year in credit card fees, that’s an employee salary, a new kitchen upgrade, or a major marketing push—all going straight to processors instead.

💡 Take control. Find out exactly how much you're losing with our Restaurant Credit Card Fee Analyzer and start keeping more of your hard-earned money today.