Merchant Account Cost May 2026
: Penalties applied when a customer disputes a transaction, typically ranging from $15 to $50 per instance.
: Charged to ensure your business meets security standards for handling card data.
: If you sell online, you may pay a separate fee to the payment gateway that secures the digital transaction. The "High-Risk" Premium merchant account cost
Maintaining an account often involves recurring "hidden" or incidental charges:
: Banks may hold 5%–10% of your revenue for 90–180 days to cover potential chargebacks. : Penalties applied when a customer disputes a
Most providers offer one of three main pricing models to businesses like Stripe or Lendio :
: The fee your merchant services provider charges for handling the technical routing of the money. Secondary and Operational Costs merchant account cost
Businesses in certain industries (luxury goods, travel, or high-volume e-commerce) are often flagged as high-risk . This designation significantly impacts costs: : Processing fees can jump to 3.5%–5.5% .