Are Rising Card Processing Fees Eating Into Your Business Margins?
For many businesses, payment processing is simply part of the cost of doing business. But as transaction volumes grow and card products become more complex, the fees associated with accepting payments can have a meaningful impact on your bottom line.
According to the Nilson Report, U.S. merchants paid $198.25 billion in card processing fees in 2025 — a 70% increase compared with 2019. While these figures reflect the U.S. market, they highlight a broader challenge for businesses: payment processing costs deserve more attention than simply accepting the rates provided by a processor.
The Real Cost of Card Processing Fees
In Canada, the Retail Council of Canada reports that close to 1.5% of Canadian credit card spending goes directly to major credit card companies and issuing banks, reducing retailer margins and contributing to the cost of doing business.
The cost can also vary significantly depending on how customers pay. Different card products and transaction types can carry different interchange rates, meaning that two transactions for the same dollar amount may not cost a business the same to process.
The introduction of new premium card products is another example. Visa Canada introduced the Visa Infinite+ product in April 2026, with different interchange rates applying depending on the transaction and merchant category.
For businesses processing thousands of transactions, even relatively small differences in processing costs can add up.
Payment processing fees optimization shouldn't be left on autopilot
Many businesses review their processing costs only when changing providers, upgrading their POS equipment, or negotiating a new agreement. But changing hardware or providers does not necessarily mean that a business is optimizing its overall payment costs.
A more detailed review can look at the actual data behind your transactions — including card types, transaction methods, processing rates and other fees — to identify where costs may be reduced or better aligned with the way your business operates.
With more than 20 years of experience in the Card Acceptance market and over $1 billion in annual processing volume, 8760 helps businesses understand their payment processing costs and identify opportunities for optimization.
Start with a Complimentary Statement Review
Every business has a different customer base, transaction profile and payment mix. That's why optimization starts with understanding your business and reviewing the data in your processing statement.
8760's experts can analyze your statement to help identify where you may be paying more than necessary and outline strategies tailored to your business needs.
If your current rates are already a good fit, we'll let you know. If there are opportunities to improve, we'll help you understand where they are and what can be done.
When was the last time you reviewed your card acceptance fees?
Don’t let high card acceptance costs eat into your bottom line. 8760 provides a no-cost, no-obligation review of your current card acceptance statements to determine if you are being overcharged.
Visit https://www.8760.ca/freestatementreview to learn more and request your free statement review.
For expert advice, contact merchant@8760.ca.
Sources:
Nilson Report — Merchant Processing Fees in the United States — 2025:
https://nilsonreport.com/articles/merchant-processing-fees-in-the-united-states-2025/
Retail Council of Canada — Payment and Credit Card Fees:
https://www.retailcouncil.org/topics/finance-taxation/payment-and-credit-card-fees/
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