FieldHub supports a couple of merchant service processors, giving you some choice in the processor and the type of pricing plan you choose. Key to that decision is your selection of flat fee pricing and interchange plus pricing.
Flat fee pricing charges the same percentage and per-transaction fee on every card payment, regardless of the card type used. Whether your customer pays with a basic debit card or a premium rewards credit card, you pay the same rate. This model offers simplicity and predictable billing, making monthly statements easier to understand and budgeting more straightforward.
Interchange plus pricing separates your processing costs into two components: the interchange fee set by the card networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) plus a fixed markup from your processor. Interchange is the base cost that goes to the card-issuing bank, and these rates vary based on card type, card category, transaction method, and merchant industry. With interchange plus, you see exactly what the card networks charge versus what your processor charges.
For most merchants, interchange plus pricing results in lower overall processing costs. This is especially true for businesses with significant debit card volume, since debit interchange rates are substantially lower than credit card rates. Flat fee pricing absorbs this difference, often to the merchant’s disadvantage.
Consider your typical transaction mix when deciding. If you process a high volume of debit cards or have a lower average ticket size, interchange plus pricing typically offers meaningful savings. If your business primarily processes premium credit cards and you value billing simplicity over cost optimization, flat fee pricing may be acceptable.
