Free Tool
What Are You Actually Paying to Take Cards?
Rates verified August 2026
The rate you were quoted is not the rate you pay. The real number is your effective rate — total fees divided by total volume. Once the percentage, the per-transaction fee, and any monthly charges are all in there, the answer is usually a good deal higher than the quote.
Or load a published rate
Monthly fees
$2,475.00
2,000 transactions
Your effective rate
4.95%
you were quoted 2.99%
At Ginger rates
2.20%
$1,100.00 /mo
That is about $1,375.00 a month — roughly $16,500.00 a year.
Ginger’s ~2% + 5c is a partner rate and depends on volume. This is an estimate — your statement and a written quote are the real answer.
The Same Rate, Four Ticket Sizes
The per-transaction fee does not scale, so the smaller the ticket, the more of it you pay. Here is 2.99% + 49c at four ticket sizes:
| Average ticket | Fixed fee as a % | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | 4.90% | 7.89% |
| $25.00 | 1.96% | 4.95% |
| $50.00 | 0.98% | 3.97% |
| $100.00 | 0.49% | 3.48% |
This is why two restaurants on the same processor and the same quoted rate can pay very different real costs. Quick service and boba shops feel the fixed fee in a way a steakhouse never does.
Published Card-Present Rates, 2026
| Provider / plan | Published rate | Effective at a $25 ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Ginger (via partners) | ~2% + 5c | 2.20% |
| PayPal Zettle, in person | 2.29% + 9c | 2.65% |
| Toast Point of Sale ($69/mo) | 2.49% + 15c | 3.09% |
| Square Free plan, in person | 2.6% + 15c | 3.20% |
| Toast Starter (no monthly fee) | 3.09% + 15c | 3.69% |
| PayPal standard card | 2.99% + 49c | 4.95% |
These are each provider’s published card-present rates, verified August 2026. Note how far apart PayPal’s two products are: Zettle in person is 2.29% + 9c, while standard card payments are 2.99% + 49c. If you take cards at a counter and your statement shows the latter, you may simply be on the wrong product.
Want the Real Number for Your Restaurant?
Send us a recent statement and we will work out your effective rate the same way this calculator does, then put a quote in writing. No contracts, and hardware included for eligible restaurants.
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