Interchange is the wholesale per-transaction fee the cardholder's bank charges your processor. It runs 1.5–2.5% on most peptide transactions and is the same at every processor — what differs is the markup on top. Switching from flat-rate to interchange-plus typically saves peptide merchants 0.6–1.1% effective rate.
How interchange works
Every Visa/Mastercard transaction has a published rate set by the network, depending on card type, transaction type, MCC, and whether 3DS was used. A typical card-not-present rewards Visa runs 2.10% + $0.10. The same card swiped in person runs 1.65% + $0.10. Interchange is non-negotiable.
Where the rest of your fee goes
| Layer | Typical | Negotiable? |
|---|---|---|
| Interchange | 1.65–2.50% | No |
| Card network fee | 0.13–0.15% | No |
| Processor markup | 0.20–1.50% | Yes |
| Per-transaction fee | $0.05–0.25 | Yes |
The negotiable part is the markup — that is where flat-rate (Stripe, Square) and interchange-plus pricing diverge.
Interchange-plus vs. flat-rate
- Flat-rate (Stripe 2.9% + $0.30): same regardless of card. Processor pockets the spread.
- Interchange-plus (specialist 0.40% + $0.10): processor passes through interchange and adds a fixed markup. Effective ~2.4%.
On $50K monthly peptide volume, flat-rate costs $1,450/mo; interchange-plus costs ~$1,200. Annual savings: $3,000.
How peptide merchants legitimately lower interchange
- Pass Level 2 data on B2B transactions (corporate cards qualify lower)
- Enable 3D Secure 2.0 — shifts liability and unlocks lower CNP rates
- Settle within 24 hours — late-settlement cards downgrade
- Tokenise recurring billing with proper MIT flagging
Frequently asked questions
Why does my flat-rate processor not show interchange separately?
Because they keep the difference. The 2.9% Stripe charges bundles interchange (~2.0%), networks (~0.13%), and Stripe's markup (~0.77%).
Is interchange-plus always cheaper?
Above $20K monthly, yes. Below that, monthly fees can outweigh savings.
Does interchange change?
Visa and Mastercard publish updates in April and October. Most processors absorb the change quietly.
See interchange-plus credit card processing for full pricing on a peptide account.
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