Square, Clover, and Toast are good products. Plenty of businesses should use them, and if one is the right fit for you I will say so. The real question is not which brand is best. It is which pricing model fits how much you sell, and how much support you want when something breaks.
How each one prices
Each company publishes its current rates on its own pricing page, and they vary by plan, by how the card is taken (tapped, keyed in, or online), and sometimes by who sold you the system. What matters more than any headline number is the pricing model.
| Option | Pricing model | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Square | Flat rate per transaction | Simple; the same percentage on every card type |
| Clover | Flat rate or custom, depending on who sells it | Rates and contracts vary by seller |
| Toast | Rate tied to your plan | Built for restaurants; plan choice changes the rate |
| Local processor | Interchange-plus (cost-plus) | Card network costs at cost plus a fixed, visible markup |
Monthly software, hardware, and add-on fees are separate on every option and often matter as much as the rate.
When flat rate is the right choice
At low volume, the difference between flat rate and interchange-plus is often a few dollars a month. Simplicity can be worth that.
- You are just starting out, or process less than roughly $5,000 to $8,000 a month in cards.
- Your sales are seasonal or unpredictable.
- You value one simple number over the lowest possible cost.
- You want to be up and running today with no application.
When flat rate starts costing you
Flat rate charges the same percentage on a low-cost debit card as on a premium rewards card. As volume grows, you keep paying for that averaging. Roughly speaking, once a business is steadily processing more than $5,000 to $8,000 a month, interchange-plus pricing often starts to come out ahead, and the difference tends to grow with volume.
Hardware lock-in to watch for
- Some systems only work with their own processing, so switching processors means replacing equipment.
- Leases can run longer and cost more than buying outright. Read the term before signing.
- Ask who owns the equipment, and what happens to it if you leave.
Support: who answers when it breaks
Large platforms rely on help centers, chat, and phone queues. That works for many owners. The alternative is a local consultant who is your first call: someone who knows your setup, fixes the quick things on the spot, and escalates deeper technical problems to a 24/7 support team while staying in the loop.
How to decide
If you would like that comparison done for you, send me a statement. You get a written side-by-side on your actual numbers, and if your current setup is already a good deal, I will tell you to keep it.
- Calculate your current effective rate (total fees รท total card sales).
- Price the same month of sales under each option, including monthly and hardware costs.
- Count the cost of switching: new equipment, staff training, and downtime.
- Switch only if the yearly savings are clearly worth it.