Most businesses are on tiered merchant accounts, which can offer a variety of rates when it comes to the type of transaction and payment method used. Tiered merchant accounts work on something called “Qualification” to determine which rate tier a merchant’s transaction falls into. The “Qualifications” are implemented by the credit card processors.
The word “tiered” indicates that the merchant account provider splits all card transactions into separate “tiers” or “buckets.” The most common tiered pricing structure includes three tiers of pricing: Qualified, Mid- Qualified and Non-Qualified. The major credit card networks post a qualification matrix which dictates what interchange category a transaction will post to based on:
1. How the transaction is entered (swiped, keyed in, etc.)
2. What type of card is used (rewards, non-rewards, corporate cards)
Once the card is swiped or keyed in, the credit card terminal talks to the cardholder’s bank to identify the card type and then places the transaction into one of the three tiers.
It’s easiest to understand this system if we run through an example:*
Example: A rewards card is swiped at your terminal. You pay a Mid- Qualified 2.09% for that transaction. But if this is an over-the-phone transaction, you will pay the Non-Qualified Rate.
* These rates are part of an example and not actual rates
Understanding the different pricing models and how each of them could benefit you, as a small business, could definitely be a difficult task. A part of being successful while starting your own business is to know what you are spending your money on; and we want to share all of our knowledge to see you succeed.
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