Interchange Plus pricing means you get access to the lowest possible interchange rate for each transaction. Helcim passes on the true cost for each and every transaction you process, and adds our set margin on top for our service.
No surprises. You only pay for what you process and that's it.
With Interchange Plus pricing you only pay for what you process. We pass on the lowest possible wholesale rate for each transaction and simply add our nominal margin on top.
The interchange rate is the wholesale cost of a transaction - a variable cost made up of the interchange fees and the card-network fees.
The interchange rate is the wholesale cost of a transaction - a variable cost made up of the interchange fees and the card-network fees.
Most payment providers won’t tell you their margin, but at Helcim we break down exactly what your processing fees are made of - including our margin. And with volume-based discounts, we automatically lower our margin the more you process.
Most payment providers won’t tell you their margin, but at Helcim we break down exactly what your processing fees are made of - including our margin. And with volume-based discounts, we automatically lower our margin the more you process.
You get low processing rates and complete transparency with our honest Interchange Plus pricing.
Calculate your custom rate
The interchange fee - or interchange rate - is the true cost for processing a given transaction and is paid to the customer’s bank (not Helcim).
This fee is determined mostly by the type of card used and how it is processed (in-person vs online). Premium rewards and points credit card transactions have higher interchange fees associated with them which are paid to card brands who issue these cards.
Since every credit card processor is on the hook for the same interchange fee for a given transaction, keep an eye on their margin to understand how much they are taking for themselves.
We know what it's like to be a small business. Helcim’s margin is set, transparent, and automatically decreases as your business grows and you process more.
We know what it's like to be a small business. Helcim’s margin is set, transparent, and automatically decreases as your business grows and you process more.
Interchange Plus pricing takes the wholesale cost of the transaction - or interchange rate - adds a set margin on top, and passes on the savings directly to our merchants.
Other payment processors offer a flat-rate pricing model, which charges you a fixed credit card processing fee regardless of the actual cost of the transaction—often taking a larger margin that ultimately comes out of your pocket. By using the Interchange Plus pricing model, you can save on payment processing costs and increase your profits.
Interchange fees are determined by the card brand networks — these are updated every April and October. Not only do credit card transactions incur interchange fees, but debit card transactions are also affected by interchange rates. Stay up-to-date with those changes to learn where you can find extra savings from lower rates.
Visa and Mastercard interchange fees are determined based on factors such as the type of payment card, brand, the business accepting the card, transaction type, processing costs, consumer rewards and perks, and risk factors like fraud. For example, card-not-present transactions (online) are more expensive than card-present transactions (in person) because it is harder to verify whether the purchaser is the actual cardholder.
We post the interchange rates on this page, but they are also public information which you can find on the card brand websites.
If you perform a refund for a customer, Helcim does not charge interchange fees for this; however we will not return the processing fees for the original transaction. One way to avoid paying processing fees for same-day refunds is to void the original transaction rather than refunding a separate transaction.
The processing fee you pay to accept payments could depend on several factors such as:
For Visa, Mastercard, Amex and other card-brands, we offer Interchange Plus pricing to give you complete transparency and greater savings. By passing the base cost directly to you and only charging for a single markup, Interchange Plus pricing gives you significant savings. By knowing our cost as well as our markup, we promote a fully transparent partnership which means no surprises on your monthly statement!
To calculate your rates for in-person and online transactions, you can visit our pricing page.
No! You can use your existing bank account, provided by your financial institution or credit union. Sole proprietors can use a personal bank account. Incorporated business and partnerships are required to use a business bank account
Law firms and other businesses that require separate trust and operating bank accounts are able to customize the flow of deposits and fees to meet their needs.
Yes! And there is no need to call and renegotiate rates. Our Interchange Plus margin automatically decreases the more you process, helping you save even more.
You can view our complete volume discounts on our pricing page.
You can sign up directly on our website using your computer or mobile phone. There is no need for complicated paperwork nor signatures. The signup form takes as little as 5-minutes, asking you to enter basic information about your business, address and contact information.
Once you create your Helcim account, you can begin using it right away! Get started here.
New to accepting card payments? We take the time to help you understand how it all works so you can make the best decisions for your business.
