How to Read Your Tattoo Shop's Credit Card Processing Statement
How to Read Your Tattoo Shop's Credit Card Processing Statement
The short answer: add up every fee on the statement, divide by your total card sales for the month, and you have your effective rate. That one number tells you what card payments really cost your shop. Most tattoo shops land somewhere between 2.5% and 4%, depending on the pricing model and the mix of cards clients use.
Statements are hard to read because they list dozens of small charges under different names. This guide goes through the sections in the order you'll see them, works through a real-world example, and ends with the questions to ask before you sign anything new.
The five sections on almost every statement
| Section | What it shows | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Total card sales, refunds, chargebacks, total fees, net deposit | Write down total sales and total fees. You need both. |
| Deposits | Each day's batch and what landed in your bank | Batches should match your terminal's daily totals. |
| Card type breakdown | Sales by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, debit | Rewards and business cards cost more to accept than debit. |
| Fee detail | Interchange, network assessments, processor markup | Where the money actually goes. See below. |
| Account fees | Monthly, PCI, statement, terminal, batch fees | Fixed costs that hit even in a slow month. |
The three layers inside every card fee
Interchange goes to the bank that issued the client's card. It's set by Visa and Mastercard, it's the biggest piece, and it varies by card type. A basic debit card costs far less than a premium travel rewards card. No processor can change interchange.
Network assessments go to the card brands themselves. They're small, usually around a tenth of a percent of volume, and they're also the same no matter who processes for you.
Processor markup is what your processor charges on top. This is the only part that's negotiable, and it shows up in different ways depending on the pricing model:
- Flat rate: one percentage on every sale (for example 2.6% + 15¢). Simple to read, but interchange and markup are blended, so you can't see the split.
- Interchange-plus: the real interchange cost, plus a fixed markup you can see on every line. Harder to read, easiest to audit.
- Tiered: sales sorted into "qualified," "mid-qualified" and "non-qualified" buckets. Most cards end up in the more expensive buckets, so check this one closely.
- Dual pricing: the shop posts a cash price and a card price. The difference covers processing, so the shop keeps its full cash price on card sales.
Worked example: a shop doing $40,000 a month on cards
| Line on the statement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total card sales | $40,000 |
| Interchange (all card types) | $760 |
| Network assessments | $56 |
| Processor markup (0.5% + 10¢ on 160 sales) | $216 |
| Monthly, PCI and statement fees | $45 |
| Total fees | $1,077 |
| Effective rate ($1,077 ÷ $40,000) | 2.69% |
Run the same math on your own statement. If you can't find total fees in the summary, add up the fee detail and account fees yourself. Do it for three months in a row so one unusual month doesn't throw you off.
Lines tattoo shops should look at twice
- Keyed-in or "card not present" sales. Typing a card number in costs more than tapping or inserting it, and it carries more chargeback risk. If deposits are keyed in over the phone, a booking link that charges the deposit online is usually cleaner. See online tattoo deposits.
- Chargeback fees. A flat fee per dispute, win or lose. Clear deposit and refund policies signed at booking prevent most of them.
- PCI non-compliance fees. Often charged monthly because a yearly questionnaire wasn't filled out. It usually takes about 15 minutes to fix.
- Terminal lease. Leases can run for years and cost more than buying the terminal outright. Check the end date.
- Early termination fee. Check your agreement before you switch so you know what applies.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What pricing model is this, and what's my markup over interchange?
- What monthly or yearly account fees apply, and is there a contract?
- Who owns the terminal, and what happens to it if I leave?
- How fast do card sales land in my bank account?
- How are tips and deposits handled on the terminal?
How dual pricing changes the statement
With dual pricing for tattoo shops, every service has a posted cash price and a card price, and both print on the receipt. A $300 tattoo stays $300 in cash, and the card price at 3.5% is $310.50. The client picks how to pay. The shop keeps its full cash price either way, so the effective-rate math above mostly stops mattering.
Revify adds one more line: Monthly Cash-back of up to 0.75% of card sales, based on the card price you choose. It's a deposit to the shop, not a fee. Here's how Monthly Cash-back works. Dual pricing has to follow card-network rules and some state rules, and Revify sets up signage, receipts and the terminal so it does.
The bottom line
Total fees divided by total card sales is your effective rate. Check it for three months, look twice at keyed-in sales, chargebacks and account fees, and ask the five questions above before you sign anything.
