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Small businesses can accept digital payments without adding a separate card fee by choosing a suitable payment channel and provider, then absorbing acceptance costs or reflecting them in overall prices where local rules allow. In Australia, card-network no-surcharge rules took effect on 1 October 2026; elsewhere, check local law, network rules and your processor agreement before changing what customers pay.
Choose the payment channels your business needs
Start with how customers actually buy from you. A shop taking tap, chip or swipe payments has different needs from a service business collecting deposits online or by payment link. You may need one channel or several:
- In person: Use a reader or terminal for contactless, chip or magnetic-stripe payments. Some providers also support phone-based contactless acceptance without an extra reader, subject to country, device and provider compatibility.
- Online checkout: Add a provider’s e-commerce payment option to your website. Check the supported payment methods and any software or account requirements.
- Payment links: Send a customer a link to pay remotely. Confirm how the provider classifies and prices those transactions; rates may differ from in-person payments.
- Manually keyed or virtual-terminal payments: Enter card details through a provider’s interface when a card is not physically present. This can be priced differently from a tap or chip transaction.
As one US-specific example, Chase for Business says its reader accepts tap, dip or swipe payments; its Tap to Pay option uses a phone without additional hardware; and its virtual terminal and e-commerce options do not require extra hardware. These features are provider- and market-specific, not a guarantee of availability with every device or plan. Check Chase’s merchant-services information for its current terms.
Compare providers using your own sales mix
A headline percentage alone does not tell you what accepting payments will cost. Compare the provider’s current quote with recent statements, using your normal sales volume, average transaction value, payment channels and card mix. Include fixed per-transaction charges and costs beyond processing.
#1 Best Overall
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
- Percentage and fixed transaction fees for each channel, including in-person, e-commerce, payment links and keyed transactions.
- Monthly or account fees, terminal rental or purchase costs, and other required charges.
- Accepted cards and digital wallets, plus compatibility with your phone, point-of-sale system and existing software.
- Settlement timing and any conditions attached to faster funding, such as a required account.
- Support and service terms relevant to your business.
For an illustrative US provider comparison—not an Australian price list or a market average—Chase advertised processing rates accessed 4 October 2026 of 2.6% + 10¢ for tap, dip or swipe; 3.5% + 10¢ for manually keyed payments or payment links; and 2.9% + 25¢ for e-commerce. Chase notes that monthly fees may apply to some products and that custom pricing may be available based on volume. Rates and terms can change, so request a current quote. Chase for Business lists its payment options and fees here.
Settlement details deserve the same scrutiny as the rate. For example, Chase advertises same-day funding at no additional cost when funds go to a Chase business checking account; that is a provider-specific offer with an account condition, not a general promise about payment processors.
Rank #2
- An intuitive interface to easily accept payments and manage your sales.
- Strong, reliable Wi-Fi connection. Free SIM card and mobile data so you can process payments anywhere.
- Great battery capability with an additional charging station.
- A truly portable device. Stay in control of your business, wherever you go.
- Support when you need it. Get in touch with our US-based support through phone, email and chat.
Set customer prices in line with local rules
There is no single surcharge rule for every country. In Australia, eftpos, Mastercard, Visa and American Express no-surcharge rules took effect on 1 October 2026. Businesses cannot add a card-use surcharge for covered payments, but payment-service fees still apply to the business. The Reserve Bank of Australia says merchants may reflect those costs in overall pricing. The ACCC warns that changing the label on a card surcharge does not make it permissible. Read the RBA’s FAQ on the 2026 payments changes and the ACCC’s card-surcharge guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAustralian businesses can choose whether to absorb acceptance costs, adjust overall prices or offer a discount for another payment method, subject to price-display rules. An eligible payment-method discount must be disclosed before the customer decides to buy, and the full undiscounted price must remain at least as prominent as the discounted price. The ACCC illustrates this with a $5 coffee offered for $4.75 with a clearly disclosed 5% cash discount. See the ACCC’s price-display guidance.
Rank #3
- Includes Elavon encryption
- Chip Card / EMV / NFC Compatible
- 2.4’’ Color LCD with backlight
- 192 MB of Memory (128 MB RAM / 64 MB DDR RAM)
- Includes terminal and power supply
The ACCC also illustrates incorporating a 1.0% processing surcharge on a $60 haircut into an overall price of $60.60. That example shows how an acceptance cost can be included in a price rather than listed as a separate card fee; it is not a prescribed rate or a recommended price. If a business changes its price for several reasons, it should not falsely attribute the whole increase to card-payment costs. Some other charges, such as weekend or public-holiday hospitality surcharges, are distinct from card surcharges and may continue where otherwise permitted. Check the applicable rules for your circumstances. The ACCC explains the distinction and its examples.
Outside Australia, check the law where your business operates, the card-network rules and your processor agreement before imposing any customer fee or discount. A fee that applies only to certain payment methods may still be treated as a card surcharge regardless of what it is called.
Rank #4
- The Clover Compact and Clover Mini /Station sync with each other through the Clover Dashboard and cloud-based network. This allows you to manage transactions, track sales, and access business data across both devices seamlessly. Plug in, not battery/mobile. Requires New Processing account through Powering POS. (US, PR, USVI). CANNOT be used with a different Processor. Rate match guarantee. Contact us for questions
Understand what payment reforms do—and do not—mean for your bill
In 2026, the RBA estimated that changes lowering domestic interchange caps and capping foreign-card interchange would reduce wholesale card-payment costs by around A$910 million per year across the system. That is an aggregate estimate, not a forecast of an individual small business’s savings or total processing fees. The RBA says smaller merchants tend to pay higher interchange fees than large merchants, but the effect on any one business’s invoice depends on its provider, plan and transactions. Read the RBA’s conclusions paper.
Provider charges do not vanish when a separate customer surcharge is removed or disallowed. The practical decision is whether to absorb the expense, reflect it in your general prices where permitted, or use a properly disclosed discount for another payment method. Review your costs as your sales channels, volumes and provider terms change.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- With Square Handheld, you can accept payments, take tableside orders, or scan barcodes anywhere. With a slim design and comfortable grip, the POS is easy to carry in your palm or pocket. Square Handheld is designed to withstand water splashes and dust. Add an optional protective case for accidental drops. A long-lasting battery and offline payments let you keep selling.
- Slim, pocketable, and lightweight so you can accept payments wherever your customers are.
- Take tableside orders, bust lines, or use the built-in barcode scanner, all with one sleek device.
- A battery that can power through your shift and offline payments let you keep selling, even if your internet is down.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one simple rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts required.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
