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QuickBooks Credit Card Fees can be a significant cost for businesses, especially small ones. The fees can range from 1.5% to 3.5% of the transaction amount, depending on the type of credit card and the payment processor used.
These fees can add up quickly, especially for businesses that process a high volume of credit card transactions. For example, a business that processes $10,000 in credit card transactions in a month with a 2.5% fee would pay $250 in fees.
Businesses can also incur additional fees for services like payment processing, statement fees, and foreign transaction fees. These fees can range from $5 to $30 per month, depending on the service provider.
To minimize these fees, businesses can consider using a payment processor that offers lower rates and fewer fees.
How to Record Credit Card Fees
To record credit card fees accurately in QuickBooks, it's essential to create a separate expense account specifically for credit card processing fees. This ensures these fees are not lumped together with other expenses, allowing for precise financial documentation.
Regularly reconciling your credit card statements with your QuickBooks records is crucial to identify any discrepancies and maintain the accuracy of your financial reporting. You can start by accessing the expense tab and selecting the option to add a new expense.
Input the date of the charge, the vendor name (usually the credit card processor), and the total amount charged. Next, categorize the expense under bank fees or another relevant category to accurately attribute the cost to the appropriate account.
To streamline the process, you can set up a rule within QuickBooks for the automatic recording and application of credit card fees to customer transactions. This eliminates the need for manual intervention and ensures that all applicable charges are consistently applied to transactions.
By recording credit card processing fees as expenses or bills in QuickBooks, you ensure their accurate representation and allocation within the financial records. This systematic approach enhances the overall transparency of financial operations and promotes adherence to accounting standards.
Understanding QuickBooks Credit Card Fees
QuickBooks charges transaction fees that vary depending on how payments are processed. These fees can be a percentage of the transaction amount or a flat fee per transaction.
For online payments made using cards by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo, a fee of 2.99% will be charged. This fee is applied to the transaction amount, so if you process a payment of $100, you'll be charged $2.99.
Here's a breakdown of the fees for different payment methods:
Keep in mind that these fees are subject to change, and it's essential to review your QuickBooks account regularly to ensure you're aware of any updates to the fees.
Reasons for Charges
QuickBooks charges transaction fees that vary depending on how payments are processed. These fees are typically charged by payment processors or acquiring banks and are necessary for several reasons.
QuickBooks charges a fee of 2.99% for online payments made using cards by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo. For in-person payments using a card reader with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, there is a 2.5% fee.
The fee for payments processed by manually entering a customer’s card information is 3.5%. You'll pay only 1% for AHC payments, with a maximum of $10 per transaction.
QuickBooks calculates its rates for payment processing based on a combination of transaction-specific factors, merchant characteristics, and market dynamics to provide competitive rates for businesses using payment processing services.
Here's a breakdown of the fees associated with QuickBooks Payments:
- Instant Deposit: 1% fee on the amount you choose for bank account deposit in up to 30 minutes plus per ACH / electronic bank payment and per-transaction fees plus any miscellaneous fees including chargeback, rejection, etc.
- PCI service on non-monthly fee plans: $9.95 per month (for credit card processing security). Monthly fee plans include PCI service.
It's essential to clearly communicate these fees to your customers, both verbally and in writing, to maintain transparency and avoid any misunderstandings. By defining the service item in detail, businesses can provide clear and accessible information to their customers regarding the credit card fees.
Gmail Plug-In
Gmail Plug-In transaction fees are the same as QuickBooks Online for swiped debit card and credit card transactions, keyed transactions, and invoice payment transactions.
The per-transaction fees for Gmail Plug-In are the same as QuickBooks Online for both the $0/month and $20/month plans.
The per ACH transaction fee for Gmail Plug-In is $1.50 for both the $0/month and $20/month plans.
PayPal, Apple Pay, ACH, and PIN debit transaction fees are not applicable for Gmail Plug-In transactions.
Managing Credit Card Fees in QuickBooks
Managing credit card fees in QuickBooks is a straightforward process that requires attention to detail. To start, you need to set up a separate expense account specifically for credit card processing fees.
Accurately categorizing credit card processing fees is crucial for precise financial documentation and reporting. By creating a separate account, you can easily monitor and analyze the impact of credit card processing fees on your overall financial health.
To include payments-related transaction fees in your business budget, you should estimate your average number of transactions per month and the average transaction size in dollars or other currency. These totals and the monthly Payments plan you choose will vary widely by business type and size.
QuickBooks charges a 2.9% rate for invoiced cards and $0.25 per transaction. Card reader transactions have a lower fee because QuickBooks can instantly verify cardholder info, with a rate of 2.4% for card swiped and a 3.4% rate for card keyed transactions, both with a $0.25 fee per transaction.
To automate the addition of credit card fees in QuickBooks, you need to establish a designated account to facilitate the seamless application of these charges to customer transactions. This account should be set up to accurately track and record the credit card processing fees.
You can add credit card fees to an invoice by selecting the option to add additional charges and inputting the fee amount. It's essential to provide a clear description of the fee and its purpose to maintain transparency and trust with your customers.
Here's a summary of the payment-related transaction fees in QuickBooks:
By following these steps and accurately managing credit card fees in QuickBooks, you can ensure transparent communication with your customers and maintain accurate financial records.
Tracking and Reporting Credit Card Fees
Tracking and reporting credit card fees is essential for maintaining a clear picture of your business's financial performance. Separating processing fees allows for precise financial reporting, enabling you to calculate net revenue and expenses accurately.
This level of accuracy is crucial for making informed business decisions. By tracking processing fees, you can better budget for them and analyze their impact on your overall financial health.
Unmonitored fees can have a significant impact on your profits, especially if you're processing a large volume of transactions. This can add up quickly and eat into your profits over time.
QuickBooks offers tools that help you automatically track and categorize these fees, making it easier to manage. With these tools, you can stay on top of your fees and make adjustments as needed to maintain a healthy bottom line.
Pricing and Plans
QuickBooks offers various pricing plans to suit different business needs. QuickBooks Money plans start at $0/month, with QuickBooks Simple Start costing between $15-$30/month, and QuickBooks Plus ranging from $45-$90/month. These plans combine payment management with accounting features.
The base subscription fee for QuickBooks Money plans varies, but you won't pay a monthly fee if you opt for the $0/month plan. However, be aware that transaction fees still apply.
QuickBooks Payments has different pricing plans depending on the services you need. The cost of using QuickBooks Payments includes a base subscription fee and transaction fees that vary based on the payment method and type of transaction.
Here's a breakdown of the transaction fees for the $0/month plan:
If you're using the 30-day free trial, you'll still be charged transaction fees. Keep in mind that QuickBooks Point of Sale may be subject to a minimum monthly transaction fee, which is not specified in the provided pricing information.
Add-on services like Instant Deposit come with an additional 1% fee on the amount you choose for bank account deposit in up to 30 minutes, plus per ACH/electronic bank payment and per-transaction fees.
Intuit Merchant Services
Intuit Merchant Services offer a range of payment processing options for businesses, with fees varying depending on the merchant's business type, processing volume, and credit history.
Merchant profiles with higher sales volumes or lower risk profiles may qualify for lower rates. Businesses with lower credit histories may face higher fees.
To save money on Intuit Merchant Services fees, shop around for the best payment processing service. Compare different services to find the one that offers the lowest fees for your business.
Different payment processing services have different fees, so it's essential to compare them. You can save money by using the right payment methods, such as PayPal Express Checkout or ACH Direct.
QuickBooks Payments offers flexible solutions for accepting payments online and on-site. This includes ACH transfers, eChecks, and mobile payments.
Here are some accepted payment methods beyond credit cards:
- ACH Transfers: Lower fees at 1%, making this a cost-effective option for large payments.
- eChecks: Another lower-cost option compared to credit cards, often at 1%.
- Mobile Payments: Accept payments through mobile apps like Apple Pay or Google Pay, typically with fees around 2.5% to 2.99%.
You'll also want to be aware of miscellaneous fees, such as chargeback fees, ACH/electronic bank reject fees, and returned check fees. These fees can add up quickly, so it's essential to understand what you're responsible for paying under the Intuit Merchant Agreement.
Best Practices and Considerations
To minimize QuickBooks credit card fees, consider implementing best practices and considerations.
Encourage customers to use ACH payments, as this can significantly reduce fees.
Negotiate rates with your payment processor if your transaction volume is high, which can lead to lower fees overall.
Ensure that most transactions are swiped rather than keyed in, as this can also lower fees.
Lowering Costs
Analyzing the costs of payment processing can help businesses evaluate the efficiency of payment methods.
Businesses can directly analyze the costs of payment processing and assess the efficiency of payment methods.
Cost optimization is a key area to identify, as it can significantly impact profitability.
Encouraging customers to use ACH payments is a simple way to reduce fees.
Negotiating rates with your payment processor can also lead to lower fees, especially if your transaction volume is high.
Most transactions should be swiped rather than keyed in to minimize fees.
Pros and Cons
When choosing a payment method, it's essential to consider the pros and cons. Credit cards are convenient, but they come with higher fees, typically between 2.5% and 3.5%.
ACH transfers, on the other hand, have low fees at 1%, but they take longer to process, usually 2-5 business days.
eChecks also have low fees, similar to ACH transfers, but they're less common.
Mobile payments are convenient, with fees similar to credit cards, ranging from 2.5% to 2.99%.
Consider the following payment options and their associated fees:
Ultimately, the choice of payment method depends on your specific needs and priorities.
Comparison and Analysis
Analyzing QuickBooks credit card fees requires a deep dive into the costs involved. Directly analyzing the costs of payment processing is a must for businesses to assess efficiency and evaluate the impact of processing fees on profitability.
Businesses can reduce fees by encouraging customers to use ACH payments, negotiating rates if their transaction volume is high, or ensuring that most transactions are swiped rather than keyed in.
To make an informed decision, it's essential to compare QuickBooks Payments to other popular payment processors. This comparison will help you identify the best option for your business.
Here's a brief comparison of some popular payment processors:
Considering the fees and features of each processor, you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to categorize credit card fees in QuickBooks Online?
To categorize credit card fees in QuickBooks Online, select the "Expense" option and choose an appropriate category from the dropdown menu under the "Category" field. This will help you accurately track and manage your credit card expenses.
How do I add a 3% fee in QuickBooks?
To add a 3% fee in QuickBooks, go to the "Lists" menu and create a new "Other Charge" item named "Credit Card Surcharge" with a rate of 3%. Set up the item to automatically apply the fee to your transactions.
How much does QuickBooks charge for a transaction?
QuickBooks charges a variable percentage of 1-3.5% per transaction, in addition to flat rates for plans and features. Learn more about QuickBooks fees and pricing to understand when and how these charges apply.
Sources
- https://www.process.st/how-to/record-credit-card-processing-fees-in-quickbooks-online/
- https://synder.com/blog/how-much-does-quickbooks-charge-for-credit-card-payments/
- https://www.cardchamp.com/blog/quickbooks-fees
- https://www.fylehq.com/blog/quickbooks-payments-fees
- https://tipalti.com/blog/quickbooks-fees/
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