Mobile credit processing services usually come with lower fees than their full-service counterparts. Most of the best ones don’t charge monthly or setup fees. Some fees may be charged, though these are often unavoidable – for example, if a customer files a chargeback.
Flat-rate Pricing
When choosing the best mobile credit card processing services, you should look for flat-rate pricing. These plans are more flexible and allow you to determine a fixed monthly amount. In addition, these plans typically include the cost of the processing service, the interchange fee, and the card brand fee. This gives you predictability about the costs of processing each month. This is important for merchants who want to project costs each month.
Subscription-based payment processing is a good option for high-volume businesses. The monthly fee is usually flat, and the markup decreases as transaction volume increases. However, these plans require a merchant account. Flat-rate processing may be a better option if your business doesn’t require large transactions.
Flat-rate pricing is usually cheaper than other payment methods. Typically, flat-rate credit card processing services cost between 2.75% and 2.90%. The interchange fee is calculated by considering the card brand, type of transaction, and merchant volume.
Minimum Hardware Requirements
If you’re planning to begin processing credit cards on the go, you’ll need the right hardware and software to accommodate the needs of your business. For example, most mobile credit card processors require businesses to have a merchant account, but a few offer services available to individuals. In this case, you’ll need to make sure you’ve carefully read the terms and conditions before signing up.
A mobile credit card processor is usually cheaper than a full-service one, and the minimum hardware requirements for such a service are minimal. You can purchase a mobile credit card reader for as little as $100, which will accept all common cards and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Chargeback Fees
Credit card processing companies charge various types of fees for their services. Some of these fees are direct, and others are indirect. Direct charges include the chargeback fee, a portion of the original transaction amount. The fee is typically between $15 and $100 but can be higher if you deal with higher-risk customers.
The best way to avoid chargeback fees is to investigate the causes of disputes and respond to them as quickly as possible. For example, consumers have 60 to 120 days to dispute a transaction, and the merchant has 45 days to respond. After that, the bank will review the chargeback and decide whether to pursue arbitration.
Chargebacks are an ongoing issue for merchants. While it may seem a small inconvenience, the costs quickly add up. The cost of chargebacks is expected to rise to $117 billion by 2023. Chargeback fraud is a costly problem, and it can also have long-term ramifications for merchants. As a result, it is important to implement a well-developed representation strategy to minimize chargebacks.
Interchange Optimization
Interchange optimization is an advanced process that allows B2B merchants to qualify for the best interchange rates. This process requires additional data to be included with each transaction and can save merchants thousands of dollars annually.
Merchants should choose a service that can process Level 2 and Level 3 transactions quickly and securely. This type of processing reduces fraud risks and improves merchant interchange rates.
By using interchange optimization, you can avoid hefty international transaction fees. It also means that you can avoid denials from issuers. It also helps maximize profitability. It’s important to submit Level 2 or 3 data for every transaction to get the best interchange rate.