Start with volume and total fees
Find gross card volume for the month and the total amount deducted in fees. Those two figures produce your effective rate, which is the single best summary of what processing actually costs you.
Do this for two or three consecutive months. One month can be distorted by seasonality, refunds or an unusual batch.
Separate interchange from markup
Most statements group interchange detail in one section and provider charges in another. Interchange and assessments are fixed. Anything else is where a provider competes.
If your statement does not separate them at all, that itself is useful information about the structure you are on.
Scan the recurring monthly charges
Statement, service, gateway, PCI and equipment charges recur whether you process or not. List them and confirm each one maps to something you actually use.
Dormant gateway or software charges on accounts that changed workflows years ago are common and easy to miss.
Look for signals, not just totals
A few patterns tend to explain most surprises on a statement.
Multiple batch fees per day
Often a settings issue rather than a pricing one.
High non-qualified volume
Suggests card mix or entry method is driving cost.
Non-compliance charges
Usually resolved by completing the annual PCI questionnaire.
Chargeback and retrieval fees
Point to a dispute workflow worth tightening.
What to do with what you find
Bring the numbers, not the conclusion. A specialist can confirm which costs are structural, which are configuration and which are markup.
BSV Solution performs a line-by-line review at no cost and explains the cost structure before any recommendation. Program eligibility remains subject to underwriting approval.
Frequently asked questions
How many statements should I gather?
Two or three consecutive months gives a reliable picture and smooths out seasonal swings.
What is a normal effective rate?
It varies widely by industry, ticket size and card mix, so a benchmark without context is misleading. Comparison against your own profile is more useful.
Is my statement information kept private?
Statements are used only for the review and handled as confidential business information.
Can I upload a statement online?
Yes. Statements can be uploaded securely as a PDF with the rate analysis request form.
Want a second opinion on your setup?
Tell us how you take payments today and a BSV Solution specialist will walk through the options with you. Eligibility and processor selection are reviewed individually, subject to underwriting approval.