By the openTILL Payments team · Isolex Corporation · Updated 2026-11-05
Compare payment offers using the same transaction volume and channel mix. A percentage rate alone cannot tell you what a merchant account will cost.
Separate processing, software, and equipment
| Cost area | What to request |
|---|---|
| Processing | Pricing model, percentage and per-transaction charges, and card-present versus remote-payment terms. |
| Account and service fees | Monthly charges, gateway costs, minimums, compliance-related fees, dispute charges, and optional services. |
| Software | Base subscription, added locations, users, reporting, inventory, and integration subscriptions. |
| Equipment | Purchase, rental or lease terms; replacement coverage; shipping; setup and accessories. |
| Exit and change costs | Contract duration, cancellation terms, data migration, and hardware return obligations. |
Use your own transaction profile
Prepare a recent processing statement, monthly card sales, transaction count, average ticket, and share of in-person and remote payments. Remove full cardholder data and account credentials before sharing documents. Ask each provider to explain a quote against that same profile.
Calculate a historical effective rate carefully
For a period with consistent coverage, divide total processing-related fees by processed card volume and multiply by 100. This is a retrospective comparison aid. It is not a guaranteed future rate and can be distorted by refunds, one-off charges, or fees billed in a different month.
Ask about cash discounts and surcharges separately
Cash discounting, dual pricing, and surcharging have different requirements. Do not treat them as interchangeable programs. Ask the provider to confirm eligibility, disclosures, debit-card treatment, and applicable rules for your business and location before implementation.
Compare the customer experience too
Settlement timing, device reliability, support access, reconciliation, and integration fit can matter as much as the quoted price. Review the written offer alongside the workflow you need.
Discuss your setup with openTILL
We help businesses explore options across our technology network. Tell us what you sell, how you take payments, and where your current workflow slows you down.
Talk through your requirements ↗Product references
Shift4 Dine · NRS · CardConnect · North · Electronic Payments