Credit Card Processing Fees Are Going Up in 2025 - Here's How to Avoid Paying More

SignaPay SouthEast
Jul 30
2 min read

💳 The Reality: Credit Card Fees Keep Climbing

If you're a small business owner, you’ve probably noticed your monthly processing fees creeping up — or spiking unexpectedly. You’re not alone. In 2025, Visa and Mastercard are once again increasing interchange rates across many categories, and processors are following suit with new surcharges and gateway fees.

⚠️ Why You Should Care

Even a 0.2% increase in rates can translate into hundreds or thousands of dollars per year, especially for businesses with high transaction volume like restaurants, retail stores, or service providers.

And here’s the kicker: Most merchants don’t even know what they’re paying for.

📊 Where Your Fees Go

Here’s a simplified breakdown of what makes up your processing fees:

70% goes to the card-issuing bank (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
15% is paid to the payment processor
10% covers gateway/technology fees
5% are miscellaneous costs and markups

💡 5 Ways to Protect Your Bottom Line

Switch to Flat-Rate Pricing - Predictable monthly costs with no hidden markups.
Leverage a Surcharge Program - Offset fees legally by passing small processing charges to credit card users.
Avoid Long-Term Contracts - Some providers lock you into outdated, overpriced agreements. Don't settle.
Use an All-in-One POS - Integrated systems can eliminate redundant gateway fees and speed up transactions.
Get a Statement Review - Many merchants overpay by 20–30% without realizing it. A quick audit can reveal savings.