feestips
The 7 Hidden Payment Processing Fees Quietly Draining Your Revenue
Most merchants focus on interchange rates but miss the dozens of ancillary fees that quietly add up.
May 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Payments · Technology · Strategy
Better margins.Better systems.A partner behind both.
The right economics. The right technology. A team that stays involved when you need them.
Free auditU.S.-based supportPOS agnosticDirect access to Brad
Trusted Technology. Proven Results.
How Earnside Is Built
One relationship. Three disciplines.
Most processors stop at the rate. Earnside starts there.
01
Audit & Economics
We examine your effective rate, processor markup and fee structure line by line, and benchmark it against what fair actually looks like for your volume and card mix.
02
Technology & Logistics
POS selection, hardware, implementation, integrations, funding and support — the infrastructure that makes payments work at the counter, not just on paper.
03
Strategy & Service
An ongoing relationship, not a one-time transaction. Continued optimization, operational recommendations, and a team that looks beyond payments when it matters.
We don't just install hardware.
We install confidence.
Confidence in your economics
You understand what you're paying, down to the line item.
Confidence in your technology
Your system actually fits how your business operates.
Confidence in your support
You know exactly who to call when something goes wrong.
Results
What clients keep.
$23K
saved annually in processing fees
“Earnside provided a complimentary audit that provided significant savings for our business. The relationship has only strengthened due to their excellent support and service.”
Olga L · Multi-Location Smoke Shop Chain
$43K
saved annually in processing fees
“Advised and installed our POS and Cash Discount Programs. They made the process easy and improved our margins while helping our customers save money. We view Earnside as a partner in our business.”
Andrew H · National Bagel Store Company
$28K
saved annually in processing fees
“We have worked with Brad for years. He coordinates all aspects of payments for our dozens of locations. He is available 24/7 for us which helps us run our business more efficiently without interruption.”
Lance H · Multi-location Garage Operator
Brad Sommer · Co-Founder
Financial judgment behind every recommendation.
“Send me your statement. I'll show you what I see.”
Brad's background spans law and Wall Street before payments — the same financial discipline now applied to reading a merchant statement and knowing exactly where the numbers don't add up. Earnside starts with a conversation, not a product pitch, and stays involved through the switch, installation, training and everything after.
Direct accessReal reviewOngoing support
Talk With Brad
$43K
saved annually
Client Spotlight
Why Clover was right for Bagel Boss.
“Advised and installed our POS and Cash Discount Programs. They made the process easy and improved our margins while helping our customers save money. We view Earnside as a partner in our business.”
Andrew H · National Bagel Store Company
Read the Case Study →Point of Sale
We don't work for a POS. We work for you.
Clover when Clover is right. Something more advanced when your operation needs it. The recommendation starts with how you run the business, not a platform quota.
CloverEarnside's go-to — plug-and-play, personalized serviceSquareStrong retail fit, now available for new accounts
Micros SimphonyEnterprise & high-volume hospitality
GeniusSpecialty & advanced workflows
Infrastructure
Personal service.
Enterprise-scale infrastructure.
Earnside's processing runs on Echelon — a personalized approach to payments, not a call center. For systems like Clover, Echelon works alongside Earnside directly on service, not just in the background.
Echelon.
[APPROVED ECHELON SCALE METRIC NEEDED] — Echelon's own site does not yet publish a specific processing-volume figure, so none is claimed here.
Free Audit
Start with the numbers.
Send a recent statement. We review the economics, benchmark your rate, and tell you plainly whether there's a real opportunity — no obligation either way.
- Your true effective rate
- How much is processor markup vs. interchange
- A benchmark against fair market pricing
- A clear, specific next move
Industries
Built around how you operate.
Different businesses need different hardware, workflows and economics. Start with your world.
Margin Math™
Small numbers change big businesses.
Take the fraction of a cent buried in a transaction and show what it becomes across a real day, month and year.
Illustrative campaign examples. Actual savings depend on merchant volume, pricing and current processing structure.
negotiationstrategy
How to Negotiate Lower Payment Processing Rates (Even if You're Not a Fortune 500)
Processors assume you won't ask. Here's exactly what to say—and what data to bring to the conversation.
May 15, 2026 · 8 min read
educationinterchange
Interchange Explained: Why Your Effective Rate Is Always Higher Than You Think
Understanding the difference between interchange-plus pricing and tiered pricing—and which one actually benefits you.
May 5, 2026 · 7 min read
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Send a recent processing statement. We review every fee, benchmark your effective rate, and walk you through exactly what you're paying and where there's room to improve — usually within a couple of days.
Let's look at your business.
Start with a complimentary conversation covering processing, technology and your current payment setup — no pressure to switch anything.