The method
How it is worked out
Fee = sale × percentage + fixed fee; effective rate = fee ÷ sale
- fixed fee
- The per-transaction pence that dominate small sales
Card Surcharge Calculator
Work out what a card payment really costs you and whether a surcharge or a minimum spend is fair. The result updates as you type so you can compare scenarios quickly.
Keep in mind
What it leaves out
- RulesConsumer-card surcharges are banned in the UK and EU and capped at cost in Australia; commercial cards differ.
- InterchangeCard type changes the real fee; this uses a blended rate.
Use the calculator to compare scenarios rather than as a guaranteed forecast.
About the Card Surcharge Calculator
See what each card payment costs a small business and whether a surcharge or minimum spend is fair and lawful.
How it works and an example to tryShow less
How to use the result
Fee is the sale multiplied by the processor percentage plus the fixed fee. The effective rate divides that by the sale; the break-even shows where the fixed fee alone is a heavy share.
Example to try
A £12 coffee-shop sale at 1.5% plus 20p costs 38p, an effective 3.2%. Below about £1.33 the fixed fee is more than 15% of the sale.
Put it to work
Try it on a real situation
Load an example
What moves the result most
Worked out from your figures above. Tap a row to try it.
Who uses it, and when
Cafés, market traders, tradespeople and any small business deciding on a card minimum.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Surcharging consumer cards where it is banned (UK, EU) or above cost (Australia).
- Setting a minimum spend so high it loses sales worth more than the fee.
- Quoting a blended rate to customers when premium cards cost more.
Questions
What does the Card Surcharge Calculator do?
Work out what a card payment really costs you and whether a surcharge or a minimum spend is fair.
How should I use the result?
Fee is the sale multiplied by the processor percentage plus the fixed fee. The effective rate divides that by the sale; the break-even shows where the fixed fee alone is a heavy share.
Does TechBullion store the information I enter?
The core calculation or transformation runs in your browser. Normal website security and analytics may still record page-level events, but the tool does not need to create a public record from your inputs.
What mistakes do people make with a card surcharge calculator?
Surcharging consumer cards where it is banned (UK, EU) or above cost (Australia). Setting a minimum spend so high it loses sales worth more than the fee. Quoting a blended rate to customers when premium cards cost more.
Is the result guaranteed?
No. Use the result as a practical check or planning aid and verify important decisions with the relevant primary source, provider or professional advice.
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Results are estimates based on the figures entered, for general information only, and not financial, investment, tax or legal advice. See our terms of use.