A typical card rate of 2.9% plus 30 cents sounds harmless. On one order, it is. The trouble starts when you compare it with what the order actually earns you, not what it sells for.

What the fee takes from one order

Take a $45 order, a common average for smaller WooCommerce stores.

Order total$45.00
2.9% of $45.00$1.31
Fixed fee$0.30
Fee on this order$1.61, or 3.6%

That's already above the headline rate, because the fixed 30 cents weighs more on smaller orders. On a $15 order, the same fee structure takes 4.9%.

Measure it against margin, not revenue

If your gross margin is 30%, that $45 order leaves $13.50 before fees. The $1.61 fee takes 11.9% of it. Across 2,000 orders a year, fees add up to about $3,210, and almost none of it shows up in a sales report.

What you can do about it

  • Record the real fee on every order. A fixed plus percentage rule per gateway means reports use what you actually pay.
  • Look hard at small orders. Once you see the numbers, a minimum order value or a small-order fee can make sense.
  • Compare gateways on your own order mix. A lower percentage with a higher fixed fee can cost more if most orders are small.
Track this automatically with Profitrics

See real net profit on every order after product cost, gateway fees, shipping and your business expenses.

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