Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover, in-store, online, and on mobile. Transparent fees, next-day funding, and a free rate review to show you what you should actually be paying.
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CARD PROCESSING
Whether you run a retail shop, a service business, or an online store, we set up the processing that fits how you sell. EMV chip readers for in-person sales. Payment gateways for your website. Mobile readers for field service and events.
Every setup includes PCI compliance support, clear reporting, and a rate you can actually understand.
Most small business owners are on a pricing model that costs more than it should. Here are the three models and which one is best for you.
| Pricing Model | How It Works | Best For | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interchange-Plus | You pay the real card network cost plus a small fixed markup. Full transparency on every transaction. | Most small businesses. The fairest and most transparent model. | Slightly more complex to read on your statement. |
| Flat Rate | One rate for every transaction regardless of card type. Simple and predictable. | Very low volume businesses or those who value simplicity over savings. | You overpay on debit cards and low-cost transactions. |
| Tiered Pricing | Transactions are sorted into qualified, mid-qualified, and non-qualified buckets with different rates. | Primarily benefits the processor, not the business. | Hidden fees in the mid and non-qualified tiers. Avoid if possible. |
Peakwa uses interchange-plus pricing for most small businesses because it is the most transparent and typically the lowest cost. A free rate review shows you what you are paying now and what you would pay with us.
EMV chip readers, contactless tap-to-pay, and countertop terminals. Works with all major cards and digital wallets including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
A secure payment gateway for your website and a mobile reader for sales on the go. One account, one statement, one rate.
Your money hits your bank account the next business day. Monthly statements you can actually read, with no surprise fees buried in the fine print.
Retail, restaurants, and service businesses.
Small e-commerce merchants.
Businesses seeking secure and transparent payment processing.
How we compare to generic processors or bank-offered programs.
We pass card network rates directly to you, minimizing processor markups and saving you money on every transaction.
Transaction collections reach your bank account the next business day, supporting healthy daily cash flow operations.
Get step-by-step assistance to complete security assessments easily and avoid non-compliance fee penalties.
We do not lock you into monthly minimum volume requirements, annual statement fees, or surprising batch surcharges.
The best option depends on your volume, how you sell, and which cards your customers use. For most small businesses, interchange-plus pricing with no monthly minimums and next-day funding is the strongest combination. A free rate review shows you exactly which setup makes sense for your business.
Interchange fees set by Visa and Mastercard typically range from around 1.5 to 2.5 percent depending on card type. On top of that your processor adds a markup. With interchange-plus pricing you see both separately. With flat-rate or tiered pricing the markup is blended in and harder to compare.
Most small businesses can be approved and processing within one to three business days. Equipment ships quickly if you need a terminal.
Yes. Every Peakwa setup supports EMV chip, tap-to-pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Contactless is now the majority of in-person transactions at most retail locations.
PCI DSS compliance is a set of security standards required of every business that accepts card payments. Non-compliance can result in fines and increased liability if a breach occurs. Peakwa includes PCI compliance support with every account.
Every time a customer swipes, taps, or dips their card at your business, a small fraction of the sale flows through a network of banks, card networks, and processors before the money reaches your account. That fraction is your processing fee. For most small businesses it amounts to somewhere between 1.5 and 3.5 percent of every card transaction. It is one of the largest variable costs in retail and one of the least understood.
Understanding how credit card processing works, and more importantly how to compare it properly, is how most small businesses find meaningful savings. The difference between a well-structured interchange-plus agreement and a poorly structured tiered account can easily amount to thousands of dollars a year on the same volume of sales.
Peakwa ensures smooth, fast, and reliable card payments for every business.
