Typical Range
Retail & Boutique Shops typically pay 2.3%–3.0% effective rate
Family clothing (5651), miscellaneous apparel (5699), retail stores not elsewhere classified (5999)
Retail & Boutique Shops processing profile
| Typical effective rate | 2.3% – 3.0% on interchange-plus pricing |
|---|---|
| Relevant MCC codes | 5651, 5699, 5999 |
| Card mix | Balanced credit/debit mix; e-commerce add-on volume typically carries a higher card-not-present rate than in-store |
| Typical ticket size | $25–$90 typical — retail margins are often thin enough that processing cost is one of the larger controllable line items |
Where retail & boutique shops margin leaks out
- ·In-store and online sales are often on two different processing setups with two different rates, making a true blended cost hard to see without adding them manually
- ·Return and refund processing sometimes carries its own fee structure that doesn't show up until you look closely
- ·Seasonal retailers (holiday-heavy volume) can be poorly served by contracts with monthly minimums that punish slow months
- ·POS system bundles (hardware + payments) frequently lock in a specific processor at above-market rates as part of the hardware deal
Junk fees to check for on your statement
- ·E-commerce gateway fee stacked on top of processing
- ·PCI non-compliance fee
- ·Monthly minimum fee
- ·Statement fee
- ·Chargeback fee higher than issuer-standard
Common questions
What do retail & boutique shops typically pay for credit card processing?
On interchange-plus pricing, retail & boutique shops typically run a 2.3%–3.0% effective rate, depending on card mix and ticket size. Balanced credit/debit mix; e-commerce add-on volume typically carries a higher card-not-present rate than in-store
What junk fees should retail & boutique shops watch for on their statement?
Common ones in this vertical include E-commerce gateway fee stacked on top of processing, PCI non-compliance fee, Monthly minimum fee, Statement fee, and Chargeback fee higher than issuer-standard. None of these are required by card networks — they're processor-added.
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More fee guides
Rate ranges reflect typical interchange-plus pricing based on industry-standard interchange categories for this business type. Your actual rate depends on your specific card mix, ticket size, and processor. This is not a quote or guarantee — use the calculator above for a figure specific to your business.