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Merchant Statement Analysis
Send one recent processing statement and get back a plain-English, line-by-line breakdown of what you are actually paying — what is wholesale cost, what is your processor’s markup, and what your true effective rate works out to.
Why statements are hard to read on purpose
A processing statement bundles several very different things into one number. Some of it is wholesale cost that no processor can discount, and some of it is margin and recurring charges that vary enormously between providers. Presented as a single blended rate, those two are impossible to tell apart — which is precisely why most statements present them that way.
A statement analysis pulls them back apart. Once separated, the question stops being “is 2.7% a good rate?” and becomes the answerable one: how much of that 2.7% is anyone’s to compete on?
What the analysis separates out
| Layer | Who sets it | Can it be negotiated? |
|---|---|---|
| Interchange | The card networks; paid to the card-issuing bank | No — identical for every processor. Card type and how the card is accepted change it. |
| Assessments / network fees | Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Interac | No — also fixed, though how they are disclosed varies. |
| Processor markup | Your processor | Yes — this is the part that is genuinely competitive. |
| Recurring & incidental fees | Your processor | Often — monthly minimums, statement fees, PCI fees, batch fees, gateway fees, terminal rental, non-compliance charges. |
The recurring fees are the ones most often overlooked, because each one is small. They are also fixed dollar amounts, which means they hurt lower-volume merchants disproportionately — a flat monthly charge is a much larger share of $8,000 in volume than of $80,000.
What you get back
- Your effective rate — total fees divided by total card volume, as one number you can actually compare against other quotes.
- Every fee line identified and grouped by the four layers above.
- Any charges that look unusual for your card mix, ticket size, or industry, flagged with the reason they stand out.
- A like-for-like comparison — same volumes, same card mix — if we believe we can do better, and a plain statement if we cannot.
If your current pricing is already competitive, the analysis will say so. That answer is worth having in writing too, and it is the answer we give more often than you might expect.
How to send a statement
- Use the secure upload form, or attach it to an email if you prefer.
- Send the complete statement. The summary page shows totals; the fee detail that makes the analysis useful is usually in the later pages.
- One month is enough for a first look. If your business is seasonal, two or three months spread across the year gives a truer picture.
- You are welcome to redact your account and deposit numbers — the analysis does not depend on them.
Statements are used solely to prepare your analysis and proposal. See our confidentiality pledge and an example of the finished output.
Questions
What is a merchant statement analysis?
A line-by-line review of your monthly processing statement that separates the wholesale costs your processor cannot change (interchange and card-brand assessments) from the markup and recurring fees it sets itself, then expresses the total as a single effective rate.
Does a statement analysis cost anything?
No. We review the statement and return the breakdown in writing at no charge and with no obligation to switch processors.
What do you need from me?
One recent monthly processing statement — ideally the full document rather than the summary page, since the fee detail is usually in the back pages.
Will you need my passwords or account access?
No. A statement analysis is done entirely from the document you send. We never ask for portal logins, banking credentials, or terminal access.
Get your own statement reviewed
Send a recent processing statement and we’ll return a plain-English, line-by-line breakdown of what you’re paying and why — free, with no obligation to switch.