RBA Confirmed: Card surcharges will be banned from 1 October 2026 — check you're on the right rate →

Merchant fee savings calculator

Most Australian businesses have no idea what they're really paying to accept cards — because the fees are buried in a percentage that never gets questioned. Enter your current rate and card turnover below to see, in seconds, roughly how much you could save by switching to a sharper merchant rate.

Savings calculator
See what you could be saving

Adjust the numbers and watch the estimate update. We compare against an indicative MerchantRates partner rate of 0.89%.

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%
$
Your estimated annual fees
At your current rate—
At 0.89% with MerchantRates—
Estimated annual saving
$0
per year
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Indicative estimate only. Actual savings depend on your industry, card mix and volume, and are not guaranteed.

How merchant fees actually work

Every time a customer pays by card, your payment provider takes a cut. It's usually expressed as a percentage of the transaction — your "merchant rate" — and sometimes bundled with fixed per-transaction fees or monthly terminal charges. Because it's taken automatically out of each settlement, most business owners never see the true total. Add it up across a year of card turnover and it's often one of the larger costs a business never negotiates.

Why two businesses pay very different rates

Merchant rates aren't fixed by the banks — they're shaped by your industry, your mix of debit and credit cards, your average transaction size, your monthly volume, and the pricing model you happened to be signed up on. That's why one café can pay 0.9% while the one next door pays 1.8% for almost identical sales. The calculator above gives you a quick, indicative sense of the gap; a free comparison turns that into exact numbers for your business.

Common questions
Merchant fees, explained
What is a good merchant rate in Australia?
For many small and medium businesses a competitive blended merchant rate sits well under 1%, yet plenty of businesses are still paying 1.4%–2% or more — often without realising it. The MerchantRates indicative partner rate starts from 0.89%. The right rate for you depends on your industry, card mix and monthly card turnover.
How are merchant fees calculated?
Merchant fees are usually charged as a percentage of each card transaction, sometimes with fixed per-transaction or monthly terminal fees on top. Your effective (blended) rate is the total fees you pay divided by your total card turnover. That blended figure is the number worth comparing between providers.
Why do merchant rates vary between businesses?
Rates vary based on your industry, the mix of debit versus credit and domestic versus international cards, your average transaction size, your monthly volume, and the pricing model your provider uses (flat rate versus interchange-plus). Two similar businesses can pay very different rates simply because of the deal they signed.
Is this calculator accurate?
It gives an indicative estimate based on the figures you enter and an indicative comparison rate of 0.89%. Your actual savings depend on your industry, card mix and volume, so treat the result as a guide rather than a quote. A free comparison gives you exact numbers for your business.
Will switching merchant providers disrupt my business?
Usually not. In most cases you keep the same kind of terminal and setup — only the rate you pay changes. MerchantRates handles the paperwork and switching at no cost to you, and favours month-to-month providers so you are not locked in.
What is changing with card surcharges in 2026?
From 1 October 2026 the Reserve Bank of Australia’s reforms change how card surcharging works for Australian businesses. When you can no longer pass card costs to customers at the till, your merchant rate comes straight off your margin — which makes securing a low rate now more important than ever.
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Ready to pay less?

Tell us about your business and we'll find you a lower merchant rate — or pay you $100 for your time.

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Response within 2 hours. A specialist will be in touch same business day.
No obligation. Compare your options on your own terms. No pressure.
Same terminal, same setup. Nothing changes except the rate you pay.

Supported by Australian Merchant Payment Advisory (AMPA) — helping Australian businesses navigate the 2026 RBA surcharge changes.

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