How Centaurus Offers 0% Credit Card Processing Fees — The Truth Behind the Numbers. This is not clickbait, but here are the facts!
At Centaurus, we proudly advertise 0% credit card processing fees — but let’s be transparent: it’s not a true zero. What we actually offer is as low as 0.50% or even less, often just 0.06% above the interchange rate. So what does that really mean?
What Are Interchange Rates?
Interchange rates are set by the card brands (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) and paid to the card-issuing bank. These are non-negotiable base fees that every merchant must pay, regardless of their payment processor.
Most small businesses don’t realize that a large chunk of their transactions — especially for “mom and pop” retail stores — are debit cards, and interchange fees for debit cards are often under 1%.
Here’s a breakdown of current average interchange rates:
| Card Type | Current Interchange Rate |
|---|---|
| Visa Debit CPS | 0.80% + $0.15 |
| Visa Debit CPS Regulated | 0.05% + $0.22 |
| MasterCard Debit | 1.05% + $0.22 |
| MasterCard Debit Regulated | 0.05% + $0.22 |
| Visa Credit CPS Retail | 1.51% + $0.10 |
| MasterCard Credit Consumer (Merit III Core) | 1.65% + $0.10 |
Flat-Rate Providers vs Centaurus
Most flat-rate payment processors (think Stripe, Square, PayPal) charge over 3% on every transaction, no matter if it’s a debit or premium credit card. That means you’re often paying more than 3x the true cost of the transaction.
At Centaurus, we pass interchange rates directly to you, then add only a small margin — often under 0.50%, and in some cases as low as 0.06%. That means you pay closer to the real cost, and your average fees often come in below 1%.
The Bottom Line
With Centaurus, you’re not getting a misleading flat rate or inflated processing fees — you’re getting true transparency, interchange-plus pricing, and the lowest possible rates that keep your money in your business.
Ready to stop overpaying and start saving?
Contact us today to find out how much you could save by switching to Centaurus.
