Cheapest Credit Card Processing Services In Canada For May 2024

• Square: Best for point of sale (POS)
• Stripe: Best for international payments

Depending on how you accept payments in your business and which service you use, you may pay these fees to accept credit and debit card payments from customers:

• Transaction fees. Pay these each time a customer checks out with their card, whether they swipe or enter the information online. Fees are typically charged as a percentage of the sale, ranging between 1% and 4%, plus a fee of less than $0.50. Some processors charge a flat fee that’s the same for every transaction, and some vary the percentage and fee depending on factors like which credit card is used, whether the transaction uses credit or debit and which membership plan you’re on.
• Service fees. Some processors charge a monthly or annual subscription fee to use the service, on top of transaction fees.
• Equipment setup. If you have to get a POS station and a credit card reader, you may have to purchase or lease those or pay a refundable deposit to use them. Some payment processing companies give you equipment for free with a monthly subscription.
• Incidental fees. You pay these one-time fees in specific situations, such as chargebacks, nonsufficient funds or special verification services.

Types of Credit Card Processing Fees

Payment processors use one of these three pricing models to charge fees:

• Flat rate. Pay the same rate for every transaction, usually a percentage plus a small fee. This is usually the best model for small businesses that have low-priced tickets or process less than $5,000 per month.
• Interchange plus. Pay a flat fee per transaction (the processor’s cut) plus a varying percentage of the transaction that matches the amount charged by the credit card company (interchange fee). This is a good model for businesses that process a lot of credit card transactions each month because they can negotiate the processor’s fee to save money.
• Tiered pricing. The processor bundles interchange fees and tiers pricing, so you pay a variable rate in three tiers, rather than different rates for each credit card. Experts generally advise against using a servicer with this model because pricing isn’t transparent, so it can be costly and difficult to negotiate.

You’ll have a hard time eliminating the costs of credit card processing altogether, but you could reduce them using these tips.

Choose the Right Payment Processor for Your Business

Evaluate your options before selecting a payment processor and choose one that minimizes your costs for the services you need. For example, if you don’t need an online store, you don’t need to pay the monthly fee to use Shopify; you could use Stripe for free. Also, consider the size and volume of your sales to choose the most economical fee structure.

Use a Merchant Services Provider

Major banks provide many of the same services as payment processing companies, but they tend to charge more. Go with a dedicated merchant services provider for better rates.

Use a Mobile Payment Processor

If you’re a very small or brand-new business, start with a mobile payment processor like Square. These services charge a flat rate and use minimal equipment, so you’re not saddled with a contract, monthly fee or setup costs.

You can typically use a mobile payment processor with a free swipe attachment for your smartphone or tablet, and a free app. Apps like Square can grow with your business, so you can always upgrade to add more equipment or capabilities later.

Avoid Lengthy Contracts

Especially if you’re new to business, a years-long contract with a traditional payment processor could lock you into rates that don’t work for your business long term. They can be difficult to get out of and charge high termination fees.

Avoid the costs and keep your flexibility by using a payment processor that lets you pay month to month or doesn’t require a subscription at all.

Cut Services You Don’t Need

If you sign up for a subscription-based service, shop around to make sure you don’t overpay for a bunch of services you don’t need. Subscriptions tend to be tiered, and if you need just one capability that a company includes in its second tier but not the rest, your costs can quickly add up.

Negotiate Discounts

The benefit of using a subscription-based service (if your business processes a large amount in credit card purchases) is the ability to negotiate the processing fee. You’ll usually be stuck with the interchange fee because that’s set by credit card companies. But you could ask to reduce the fee that represents the processor’s cut.

Opt for Flat-Rate Pricing

Avoid tiered pricing, which is opaque and difficult to negotiate. If you’re a small or new business, choose a service that uses flat-rate pricing. If you’re more established with a higher volume of purchases, choose a service that uses interchange plus pricing to get the most affordable rates.

Restrict the Cards You Accept

Most retailers you walk into accept Visa and Mastercard. But you might have a harder time finding a business that accepts Discover or American Express. That’s because the latter two charge higher interchange fees—since they offer greater rewards to their customers.

You could save money by declining to accept payments from networks that charge higher fees. But keep in mind that this could mean losing some potential customers who prefer those payment methods.

Apply a Surcharge to Credit Card Purchases

In Canada, merchants are allowed to apply a surcharge to credit card purchases as long as that surcharge is clearly disclosed and you are not applying a surcharge that is higher than your actual cost to accept the credit card or higher than 2.4% in addition to a service or convenience fee.

Offer Cash Discounts

You can pass the cost of card processing fees onto your customers by raising your prices and offering a discount to those who pay in cash.

Related: Best Credit Card Processing Companies