Benchmark-to-statement comparison
Separate the private-client prior-statement benchmark from an individual shop measurement and a national claim.
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| Figure | Population or source | Measurement period | Measured or assumed? | Appropriate use | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.54% | BlueFinch private prior-client statements | Benchmark scope as disclosed | Benchmark, not this shop measurement | Illustrative context | Not a national average or offer |
- Use one row for each benchmark, measured figure or scenario being compared.
- Record the source, period, evidence type and limitation for each figure before using the comparison.
- Review the actual business records separately. This worksheet does not connect to accounts or change your records.
BlueFinch’s 3.54% benchmark comes from private merchant statements of clients before they switched. It covers different card types and the processor fees assessed. But it’s not a national average, and it doesn’t measure your shop. Use it to see the scale of a scenario, then swap in figures from your verified statements. Make your business decision based on what you actually paid and the full terms on the table.
Use with this guide
merchant statement analyzer
Review the scope of merchant statement analyzer.
business health review
Review the scope of business health review.
What a 3.5% Card Processing Rate Costs an Auto Repair Shop
Three and a half percent may look small beside sales revenue. Compare it with the profit left for the owner to see its effect.
State the benchmark’s population honestly
A client benchmark describes the clients in that private review. It doesn’t automatically cover every U.S. small business, industry, or processor. Selection, transaction mix, and time period can shape the results. Don’t treat it like a public national study, or claim independent verification readers can’t inspect.
The merchant statement analyzer is the practical next step. It starts with your own volume and assessed charges, so keep the source period and original figures visible. If your measured rate falls below the benchmark, report it honestly. This comparison is about understanding your cost, not forcing your statement to match a marketing number.
Label illustrative arithmetic as illustrative
Applying 3.54% to an illustrative $50,000 in card volume gives $1,770. That demonstrates the benchmark math. It doesn’t prove your shop paid $1,770, establish a new offer, or guarantee that $1,770 is recoverable. The remaining charges on your account and the program’s actual scope matter when estimating a change.
Say your verified statement instead shows $1,500 in fees on $50,000 in settled card sales. That puts your effective rate at 3%. Use $1,500 as the observed cost for that period. Modeling a future month? Label your volume and fee assumptions separately. You can show a benchmark beside a measurement, as long as the labels make it clear which is which.
Compare profit effects without double subtraction
Processing costs usually already affect reported profit. In a separate illustrative scenario, a shop reports $10,000 in net profit after expenses that include $1,770 in processing costs. Comparing those costs with the reported profit gives a 17.7% relationship. Subtract $1,770 again and you double count the expense. Ask the bookkeeper how reported profit was calculated before describing a recovery scenario.
The SBA explains why financial records matter and how accounting methods differ. Use a consistent basis for the comparison. In your business health review, keep observed fees, reported profit and hypothetical changes separate. A 7% or 12% margin is an assumption unless your own records establish that margin. It does not show an average for all small businesses.
Sources for this section: SBA: manage your finances
Replace the benchmark when evidence is available
Once you’ve checked the statements, take the actual measured figures into the proposal review. Ask what the new arrangement covers and what charges stay. Compare the same volume, relevant transaction counts and payment mix. And don’t turn a headline 0% eligible credit-card rate into a promise that debit, monthly, gateway or other account charges disappear.
Use the benchmark for clearly labeled context, not to fill gaps in a supposedly complete statement review. If evidence is missing, say what’s missing and get it. Keep private benchmarks, personal measurements and scenarios clearly separate. That makes the owner’s decision stronger and keeps the savings conversation tied to the real business.
Keep a basic evidence register next to the comparison. Note the statement period, card volume, included fee total, calculation date and who checked the figures. If a later credit changes the fee total, save an updated calculation and explain why. That record shows why the rate changed, without making the earlier estimate look like deliberate misreporting.
Primary sources
BlueFinch last reviewed these sources on October 23, 2026. Check the linked sources for current requirements and product details.
Use this page for general business information. It is not legal, tax, or accounting advice.