Square and Stripe fees: when a flat rate is fair, and when it is not
Updated October 19, 2026
Three numbers are enough
Square and Stripe monthly summaries show gross sales, fees and net. Enter gross card sales, the number of sales and the fees charged for the month. Their summaries have no interchange detail to read, so entering the numbers by hand is the quickest path.
When a flat rate is fair
For a small business, and for any business with small average sales, a published flat price is often at or below what interchange-plus would cost once fixed monthly fees are counted. FeeHound never sets the top of the fair range above a published flat price.
When it may not be
As monthly card sales grow, the processor's margin inside a flat rate grows with them. Larger businesses can usually get a lower price, either custom flat pricing or interchange-plus. Ask your provider about custom pricing, and count the cost of new equipment or POS software if you switch.
This is information, not legal or financial advice. Processor and network names are used only to say which statement a guide covers.