Fees hide in structure, not just the rate card.

Blended / MDR-style

Packages cost into a simpler percentage and/or fixed fee. Forecasting is easier. Transparency is lower. You may overpay on cheaper card types and under-see interchange and scheme components. Fine for some stages; often incomplete once volume and card mix get large.

IC++

Interchange plus plus passes through interchange and scheme / processing fees, plus a separately negotiated acquirer markup. Effective rate moves with card mix. The negotiable piece is usually the markup and commercial extras (FX, minimums, PCI, etc.), not interchange itself.

How to compare offers

Compare all-in cost on your mix: brands, debit/credit, domestic vs cross-border, auth vs settle, refunds, chargebacks, FX, reserves, gateway fees. Ask what is pass-through vs markup, how reserves and holds work, mid-contract change rights, and volume tiers. Structure and renegotiation often beat shopping a prettier headline. MCC and business model belong in the same conversation.

No guarantees

We do not publish invented benchmarks or guaranteed fees or approvals. Outcomes depend on vertical, corridors, risk profile, contracts, and live performance.

What we do / What we don't

Do: Unpack commercial structure; improve terms when they serve outcomes; prove on volume.

Don't: Guarantee lower fees or invent savings percentages.