Scaler Technologies_
    [01]_SCALER PAY
    SMALL BUSINESS

    The Cheapest Credit Card Processing for a Small Business Is $0/Month — But It's Not on Any "Cheapest" List

    Every "cheapest CC processing" list defines "cheapest" as the lowest rate per transaction. They are optimizing within a fee structure — not escaping it. Helcim at 1.4% on $30k/month = $420/month = $5,040/year. That is not cheap. It is cheaper-than-Square. $0 is in a different category entirely.

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    [02]_TWO DEFINITIONS

    Two Definitions of "Cheapest" — And Why They Lead to Very Different Answers.

    • ALowest rate per transaction. Helcim 1.4%, PaymentDepot, interchange-plus options. Every 'cheapest CC processing' list optimizes here. At $30k/month: $420/month. Still paying thousands per year.
    • B$0 in transaction costs total. Cash discount. The cardholder pays the service fee. The merchant's monthly processing cost is $0. This option does not appear on any list because there's no affiliate commission on it.

    All the "cheapest" lists define cheapest as Definition A. They are optimizing within a fee structure. Scaler Pay is Definition B: outside the fee structure entirely.

    [03]_PRICING MODELS

    The Four Main Pricing Models and Their Real Monthly Cost at $20,000/Month Volume.

    PRICING MODELMONTHLY COST (AT $20K)ANNUAL COST
    Flat Rate (Square 2.6%)$520/mo$6,240/yr
    Interchange-Plus (Helcim avg 1.4%)$280/mo$3,360/yr
    Tiered (legacy processors avg 2.1%)$420/mo$5,040/yr
    Cash Discount (Scaler Pay)$0/mo$0/yr
    [04]_INTERCHANGE-PLUS

    Why Interchange-Plus Is Better Than Flat Rate — But Still Not Zero.

    Interchange-plus makes your fees auditable. You see the real interchange cost (what Visa/Mastercard charge) separately from your processor's markup. On average, a small business with mixed consumer cards lands at 1.3–1.7% blended with interchange-plus — better than Square's 2.6% flat rate.

    Helcim is the most transparent option in this category: no monthly fee, interchange-plus pricing, and volume discounts. At $30k/month they come out to roughly $420/month.

    Better than flat rate — still paying $420/month. Still not $0. Interchange-plus optimizes within the fee structure. Cash discount exits it.

    [05]_CASH DISCOUNT COST

    What a Cash Discount Program Actually Costs Your Business Per Month.

    • 01Transaction fees: $0. The 4% service fee is paid by cardholders who choose to pay by card. Merchants who pay cash pay the cash price. Net processing cost to the business: $0.
    • 02Monthly account fee: $0. No monthly account fee, no per-transaction fee, no statement fee, no batch fee. There is a flat program fee — disclosed upfront — not a percentage of your sales.
    • 03Setup fee: $0. Terminals ship pre-configured. No installation fee, no programming fee. Your terminal arrives ready to process.
    [06]_VOLUME GUIDANCE

    Which Option Makes Sense at Different Volume Thresholds.

    MONTHLY VOLUMERECOMMENDATIONREASON
    Under $5k/moSquare or StripeSimpler setup, lower complexity. Setup cost outweighs savings.
    $5k–$15k/moEither (depends on margins)Interchange-plus or cash discount both make sense. Evaluate your average ticket.
    $15k+/moCash discount — clearlyAnnual savings exceed setup friction by 3–10x. The economics are unambiguous.
    [07]_FAQ

    Questions, answered.

    It's clearest above $15,000/month in card volume. Below $5,000/month, Square's simplicity and no-contract setup may outweigh the complexity of a cash discount program. Between $5,000–$15,000/month, it depends on your margins, average ticket, and customer mix. Above $15,000/month, the economics are unambiguous — $0/month in processing costs vs. $390–$780/month with Square or Stripe.

    Flat rate (Square 2.6%) means you pay the same percentage regardless of what card your customer uses — whether they pay with a basic Visa (low interchange) or an Amex Platinum (high interchange). Interchange-plus means you pay the actual interchange rate for each card type, plus a fixed processor markup. On average, interchange-plus comes out to 1.3–1.7% blended for a small business, making it cheaper than flat rate at any meaningful volume.

    'No monthly fee' means no flat monthly account charge — which Square and Stripe use to make their pricing look simpler and cheaper. You still pay 2.6–2.9% on every transaction. A business processing $20,000/month 'with no monthly fee' pays $520–$580/month. That's not no-fee — it's no-subscription-fee.

    Above $15,000/month, the annual savings exceed $4,500 vs. Square — which outweighs any setup friction or program fee by 3–10x. At $30,000/month, you're saving $780/month vs. Square. At $50,000/month: $1,300/month. The higher your volume, the more definitively cash discount wins.

    There is a flat program fee (not a percentage of sales). Your per-transaction processing cost is $0. There is no setup fee, no per-swipe fee, no statement fee, no batch fee. The program fee is disclosed upfront before you enroll.

    They are different structures. Cash discount: you post two prices — a lower cash price and a standard card price. Customers who pay cash receive the discount. Surcharge: one posted price, plus an added fee for card users. Cash discount is legal in all 50 states. Surcharging is banned in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine and carries more card network compliance requirements. Cash discount is the more broadly compliant option.
    [08]_APPLY

    How Much Are You Currently Paying to Process Cards?

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    Payment processing services provided through licensed processing partners. Approval subject to review. Cash discount programs are permitted in all 50 states when disclosed at point of sale.