The MCCPS Payments Blog
Straight answers on interchange, pricing models, statements, security, chargebacks and running a lower-cost, faster-paid business.
90 in-depth guides · updated October 2026
How Credit Card Processing Works, Step by Step
6 min read
How Credit Card Processing Works, Step by Step
Guide · MCCPS
Interchange Fees Explained
6 min readInterchange Fees Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Card Network Assessment Fees Explained
6 min readCard Network Assessment Fees Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Processor Markup: What You're Really Paying For
6 min readProcessor Markup: What You're Really Paying For
Guide · MCCPS
Your Effective Rate: The Only Number That Matters
6 min readYour Effective Rate: The Only Number That Matters
Guide · MCCPS
Tiered Pricing: Qualified vs. Non-Qualified
6 min readTiered Pricing: Qualified vs. Non-Qualified
Guide · MCCPS
Flat-Rate vs. Interchange-Plus Pricing
6 min readFlat-Rate vs. Interchange-Plus Pricing
Guide · MCCPS
Subscription (Membership) Pricing for Processing
6 min readSubscription (Membership) Pricing for Processing
Guide · MCCPS
Dual Pricing Explained
6 min readDual Pricing Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Cash Discount vs. Surcharge: What's the Difference?
6 min readCash Discount vs. Surcharge: What's the Difference?
Guide · MCCPS
Credit Card Surcharge Rules: What to Check in Your State
7 min readCredit Card Surcharge Rules: What to Check in Your State
Guide · MCCPS
Convenience Fees Explained
6 min readConvenience Fees Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Debit vs. Credit: Why Costs Differ
6 min readDebit vs. Credit: Why Costs Differ
Guide · MCCPS
Why Rewards Cards Cost Merchants More
6 min readWhy Rewards Cards Cost Merchants More
Guide · MCCPS
Card-Present vs. Card-Not-Present Transactions
6 min readCard-Present vs. Card-Not-Present Transactions
Guide · MCCPS
What Is a Merchant Account?
6 min readWhat Is a Merchant Account?
Guide · MCCPS
Payment Facilitator vs. Dedicated Merchant Account
6 min readPayment Facilitator vs. Dedicated Merchant Account
Guide · MCCPS
What Is an ISO in Payments?
6 min readWhat Is an ISO in Payments?
Guide · MCCPS
What Is a Payment Gateway?
6 min readWhat Is a Payment Gateway?
Guide · MCCPS
Payment Processor vs. Payment Gateway
6 min readPayment Processor vs. Payment Gateway
Guide · MCCPS
How to Read a Merchant Statement
6 min readHow to Read a Merchant Statement
Guide · MCCPS
12 Hidden Fees on Merchant Statements
7 min read12 Hidden Fees on Merchant Statements
Guide · MCCPS
The PCI Non-Compliance Fee and How to Stop Paying It
7 min readThe PCI Non-Compliance Fee and How to Stop Paying It
Guide · MCCPS
Processor Early Termination Fees
6 min readProcessor Early Termination Fees
Guide · MCCPS
Leasing vs. Buying a Card Terminal
6 min readLeasing vs. Buying a Card Terminal
Guide · MCCPS
POS Features That Matter for Small Businesses
6 min readPOS Features That Matter for Small Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
The EMV Liability Shift Explained
6 min readThe EMV Liability Shift Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Contactless Payments: A Merchant Guide
6 min readContactless Payments: A Merchant Guide
Guide · MCCPS
Apple Pay, Google Pay & Mobile Wallets Explained
6 min readApple Pay, Google Pay & Mobile Wallets Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Payment Tokenization Explained
6 min readPayment Tokenization Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) Explained
6 min readPoint-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) Explained
Guide · MCCPS
3-D Secure Explained
6 min read3-D Secure Explained
Guide · MCCPS
AVS and CVV Checks: Your First Fraud Defense
6 min readAVS and CVV Checks: Your First Fraud Defense
Guide · MCCPS
Chargeback Reason Codes Explained
7 min readChargeback Reason Codes Explained
Guide · MCCPS
How to Win a Chargeback Dispute
7 min readHow to Win a Chargeback Dispute
Guide · MCCPS
Friendly Fraud: What It Is and How to Fight It
6 min readFriendly Fraud: What It Is and How to Fight It
Guide · MCCPS
Card Testing Attacks on Online Stores
6 min readCard Testing Attacks on Online Stores
Guide · MCCPS
Refund vs. Chargeback
6 min readRefund vs. Chargeback
Guide · MCCPS
Next-Day Funding: How Settlement Timing Works
6 min readNext-Day Funding: How Settlement Timing Works
Guide · MCCPS
Batch Settlement Explained
6 min readBatch Settlement Explained
Guide · MCCPS
ACH vs. Credit Card Payments for Businesses
6 min readACH vs. Credit Card Payments for Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
Recurring Billing Best Practices
7 min readRecurring Billing Best Practices
Guide · MCCPS
Card Account Updater: Fewer Failed Payments
6 min readCard Account Updater: Fewer Failed Payments
Guide · MCCPS
Level 2 and Level 3 Data Explained
7 min readLevel 2 and Level 3 Data Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Accepting Cards From Business Customers
7 min readAccepting Cards From Business Customers
Guide · MCCPS
Accepting EBT/SNAP: A Retailer Guide
6 min readAccepting EBT/SNAP: A Retailer Guide
Guide · MCCPS
Accepting HSA and FSA Cards
6 min readAccepting HSA and FSA Cards
Guide · MCCPS
Tipping on Card Terminals: Setup & Etiquette
6 min readTipping on Card Terminals: Setup & Etiquette
Guide · MCCPS
Restaurant Payment Tips to Cut Costs
6 min readRestaurant Payment Tips to Cut Costs
Guide · MCCPS
Retail Payment Tips to Cut Costs
6 min readRetail Payment Tips to Cut Costs
Guide · MCCPS
Checkout Optimization for Online Stores
6 min readCheckout Optimization for Online Stores
Guide · MCCPS
Why Some Industries Are 'High Risk' for Processing
6 min readWhy Some Industries Are 'High Risk' for Processing
Guide · MCCPS
How Merchant Account Approval Works
6 min readHow Merchant Account Approval Works
Guide · MCCPS
Merchant Account Holds and Reserves
6 min readMerchant Account Holds and Reserves
Guide · MCCPS
The MATCH List Explained
6 min readThe MATCH List Explained
Guide · MCCPS
Switching Processors: A Checklist
6 min readSwitching Processors: A Checklist
Guide · MCCPS
15 Questions to Ask a Payment Processor
6 min read15 Questions to Ask a Payment Processor
Guide · MCCPS
Red Flags in Payment Processing Contracts
6 min readRed Flags in Payment Processing Contracts
Guide · MCCPS
How to Negotiate Lower Processing Rates
6 min readHow to Negotiate Lower Processing Rates
Guide · MCCPS
Small-Ticket Transactions and Processing Costs
6 min readSmall-Ticket Transactions and Processing Costs
Guide · MCCPS
Large-Ticket Transactions: Limits and Risk
6 min readLarge-Ticket Transactions: Limits and Risk
Guide · MCCPS
Cross-Border and International Card Fees
6 min readCross-Border and International Card Fees
Guide · MCCPS
Cash vs. Card for Small Businesses
6 min readCash vs. Card for Small Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
Should Your Business Go Cashless?
6 min readShould Your Business Go Cashless?
Guide · MCCPS
Payment Links: A Small Business Guide
6 min readPayment Links: A Small Business Guide
Guide · MCCPS
QR Code Payments for Small Businesses
6 min readQR Code Payments for Small Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
Buy Now, Pay Later for Merchants
6 min readBuy Now, Pay Later for Merchants
Guide · MCCPS
Omnichannel Payments: One Account, Every Channel
6 min readOmnichannel Payments: One Account, Every Channel
Guide · MCCPS
Using Payment Data to Grow Sales
7 min readUsing Payment Data to Grow Sales
Guide · MCCPS
Building Loyalty Through Your Payment System
7 min readBuilding Loyalty Through Your Payment System
Guide · MCCPS
Running a Gift Card Program
7 min readRunning a Gift Card Program
Guide · MCCPS
Preparing Your Payments for the Holiday Rush
7 min readPreparing Your Payments for the Holiday Rush
Guide · MCCPS
Payments for Seasonal Businesses
7 min readPayments for Seasonal Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
Payment Security Checklist for Small Businesses
7 min readPayment Security Checklist for Small Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
What to Do After a Payment Data Breach
7 min readWhat to Do After a Payment Data Breach
Guide · MCCPS
Preventing Employee Theft at the POS
7 min readPreventing Employee Theft at the POS
Guide · MCCPS
Taking Payments When the Internet Goes Down
7 min readTaking Payments When the Internet Goes Down
Guide · MCCPS
Card Terminal Troubleshooting Guide
7 min readCard Terminal Troubleshooting Guide
Guide · MCCPS
Receipt Best Practices: Paper, Email and SMS
6 min readReceipt Best Practices: Paper, Email and SMS
Guide · MCCPS
Payment Processing for Startups
7 min readPayment Processing for Startups
Guide · MCCPS
How to Become a Merchant Services Sales Agent
7 min readHow to Become a Merchant Services Sales Agent
Guide · MCCPS
Merchant Services Residuals Explained
7 min readMerchant Services Residuals Explained
Guide · MCCPS
ISO vs. Independent Sales Agent
7 min readISO vs. Independent Sales Agent
Guide · MCCPS
How to Sell Merchant Services: A Beginner's Guide
7 min readHow to Sell Merchant Services: A Beginner's Guide
Guide · MCCPS
Using Statement Analysis to Win Merchants
7 min readUsing Statement Analysis to Win Merchants
Guide · MCCPS
The Future of Payments for Small Businesses
7 min readThe Future of Payments for Small Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
Payment Processing Terms Every Owner Should Know
8 min readPayment Processing Terms Every Owner Should Know
Guide · MCCPS
Are Credit Card Processing Fees Tax Deductible?
7 min readAre Credit Card Processing Fees Tax Deductible?
Guide · MCCPS
Paper Checks vs. Card Payments for Small Businesses
7 min readPaper Checks vs. Card Payments for Small Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
Working Capital Options for Card-Accepting Businesses
7 min readWorking Capital Options for Card-Accepting Businesses
Guide · MCCPS
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