ClearRate Payments · Reference Guide

Merchant Services & Payment Processing Guide

This guide explains how merchant services work, how payment processing costs are calculated, and how businesses evaluate pricing models, effective rates, and operational considerations.

Core reference pages

Comparison & decision guides

How to use this guide

These pages are written as neutral reference material. They are designed to help business owners understand statements, pricing structures, and tradeoffs before choosing or reviewing a payment processing setup.

For practical evaluation, many businesses review recent processing statements and calculate effective rate rather than relying on advertised percentages alone.