Calculate your exact net payout after credit card processing fees, or calculate exactly how much to invoice your client so you receive your full desired payment after processor deductions.
You Will Receive:
The Real Cost of Credit Card Processing for Small Businesses
Whether you are invoicing clients for digital services, running a local brick-and-mortar storefront, or operating an e-commerce website, merchant processing fees silently eat 2.5% to 3.5% of your gross top-line revenue. For a business bringing in $20,000 monthly, that amounts to $600 to $700 every single month in processing friction.
Why You Cannot Simply Add 3% to Your Invoice (The Pass-Through Math)
Many business owners mistakenly believe that if Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30, adding 2.9% to their customer's bill will leave them with an even balance. Mathematically, this leaves you in a deficit!
Because the payment processor applies its 2.9% fee to the new, higher gross transaction total (which includes the surcharge itself), you end up paying processing fees on your fees. The correct mathematical formula to receive an exact desired net payout is:
Invoice Total = (Desired Net Payout + Fixed Gateway Fee) ÷ (1 - Percentage Fee Rate)
Our calculator above automatically applies this inverse formula when you switch to Pass-Through Mode, ensuring you never lose a cent when passing processing costs to commercial clients.
Card-Present vs. Card-Not-Present: Why Rates Differ
Processors charge lower rates for in-person dip/tap/swipe transactions (e.g., Square at 2.6% + $0.10) compared to online keyed-in invoices (2.9% to 3.5% + $0.30). Card-not-present transactions carry higher fraud and chargeback liability for Visa and Mastercard, which is passed on to merchant accounts.
How Query247 Helps You Accept Payments Seamlessly
Query247 integrates compliant, enterprise-grade payment infrastructure into your website. Whether you need seamless Stripe checkout funnels, automated client retainer billing, or QuickBooks/WooCommerce synchronization, our team sets up turnkey gateways with zero monthly platform lock-ins.