Payments glossary

What is Interchange-plus pricing?

A transparent pricing model that passes through the card network interchange fee plus a fixed processor markup.

Definition

Interchange-plus (also called cost-plus or pass-through) pricing bills merchants the actual interchange set by Visa, Mastercard, and other networks, plus a fixed and disclosed processor markup, for example interchange + 0.20% + $0.10.

Because interchange varies by card type (debit, rewards, corporate) and channel (card-present, online), interchange-plus merchants pay less on cheap cards and are never overcharged by a blended rate designed around the most expensive ones.

Example

A $100 online purchase on a standard Visa debit card carries roughly 0.05% + $0.22 in interchange. On interchange-plus at 0.20% + $0.10 you pay about $0.57 total. The same sale on a 2.9% + $0.30 flat-rate plan costs $3.20.

How HL Hunt handles it

HL Hunt offers interchange-plus on every plan with no monthly minimums, and the Insights Agent flags transactions downgraded to higher interchange so you can fix the data and qualify for lower rates.

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Frequently asked questions

Is interchange-plus always cheaper than flat rate?

For most merchants processing more than a few thousand dollars per month, yes. Flat-rate pricing is simpler but typically costs 20-40% more at volume.

What is a typical interchange-plus markup?

Competitive markups range from 0.10% + $0.05 for very large merchants to 0.30% + $0.15 for small businesses. HL Hunt publishes its markup on the pricing page.

Can I switch from flat-rate to interchange-plus?

Yes. HL Hunt migrates your customer vault and tokens from your current provider at no cost so you can switch without re-collecting cards.

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