Merchant Credit Card Fees Passed to Consumers

Whether the retailer raises prices to meet fees or tacks on a surcharge, you could end up paying more when you swipe that card.

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You may have noticed that your purchases have cost a little more than they used to. Inflation is a significant factor, but credit card fees might be another. Merchants pay a percentage of the purchase price transacted by a credit card to the card issuer. 

According to a recent J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Merchant Services Satisfaction Study, 34 percent of small businesses add a surcharge when a customer pays with a card. But what are these fees, and in what ways do they impact you?

Credit Card-Processing Costs

According to Capital One Shopping Research, in 2024, credit card transactions totaled an estimated 56.2 billion, for an average of 153.9 million per day.