Source: https://bluefinchadvisors.com/blog/processing-proposal-fee-bridge-after-statement-analysis Payment resources for owner-run local businesses # Turn a statement analysis into a complete processing comparison Bridge current assessed fees to proposed account costs with written assumptions. Keep eligible credit-card charges, remaining fees and setup work separate. Updated 2026-10-24 | 3 minute read | By [BlueFinch Advisors]() ## Current-to-proposed processing bridge Use a current-to-proposed cost bridge that separates measured history, written terms and assumptions. No signup. Enter reference codes, add records and download a CSV. Entries stay in the browser tab. Filled fields do not establish completion, approval or compliance. | Cost component | Current verified amount | Proposed written treatment | Volume or count assumption | Remaining uncertainty | Evidence owner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly account charge | $40 illustrative | Obtain written fee schedule | One account | Not yet confirmed | Advisor | - Use one row for each item described in the article. - Record the source, unresolved difference and next action before marking an item complete. - Review the actual business records separately. This worksheet does not connect to accounts or change your records. [Download the fictional example (CSV)]() ![Hands signing a document on a desk.]() [Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki]() on [Unsplash](). Stock photography. [Photo license](). A statement analysis shows what the business paid. A proposal shows what an arrangement could cost under specific terms. Don’t compare headline rates and call it done. Use the same payment volume and relevant counts. Identify which fees change, and keep the charges that stay. Then the owner can follow the comparison line by line, with the assumptions out in the open, not buried in a savings total. ## Use with this guide ### [merchant statement analyzer]() Review the scope of merchant statement analyzer. ### [BlueFinch advisor service]() Review the scope of BlueFinch advisor service. ### [Choosing an auto repair payment processor: a buying scorecard]() Choose an auto repair payment processor using written costs, refund access, support and integration evidence. Export the shop requirement scorecard. Check your own costs: [calculate your effective processing rate]() or [upload a merchant statement for analysis](). ## Lock the current-period evidence first Check the statement period, settled card sales, and distinct assessed fees in the [merchant statement analyzer](). Keep annual and unusual charges in view. If you review several months, say whether the figures show individual rates, a simple average, or a pooled rate based on total fees and volume. Don’t change your current baseline after seeing the proposal just to make the savings look better. Record related costs that may fall outside the merchant statement, like a separate gateway or equipment arrangement, if they belong in the comparison. But keep that broader cost view separate from the defined processor-assessed effective rate. A complete business decision may need both. Make sure the labels tell the owner what each total includes. ## Map each proposed change to written terms For every current component, pin down the proposed treatment and supporting agreement. Some costs may disappear, some may change, and others may remain. A 0% eligible merchant credit-card rate doesn’t settle debit, monthly fees, gateway services, disputes, or other account-specific charges. Ask directly about each one. Don’t treat a missing marketing line as a zero. The [BlueFinch advisor service]() is the human contact for discussing proposed processing arrangements and setup requirements. Ask which integrations, payment methods, and tools are included for your actual business. A demo or draft quote isn’t underwriting approval. Confirm the full offer and responsibilities before changing how your shop collects customer payments. ## Use a transparent arithmetic example Start with the illustrative numbers for a current period: $1,700 in verified processing-related costs for this comparison. The proposed scenario keeps $150 in relevant costs and adds a $50 recurring service charge. That makes the modeled reduction $1,500, before other changes or one-time costs. It isn’t $1,700 just because one eligible rate drops to zero. If setup costs $300 in this hypothetical example, the first period’s benefit won’t match later recurring benefits. Keep one-time and ongoing figures separate. The SBA’s cost-benefit guidance supports comparing costs and benefits over a stated horizon. Don’t annualize a first month with unusual setup, credits, or volume and call it a guaranteed year. Sources for this section: [SBA: manage your finances]() ## Verify the result after activation If the business proceeds, compare the first full statements and relevant operating records with the written expectations. Check remaining charges, payment mix, and timing differences. A lower deposit total alone does not show whether the arrangement worked. Refunds and settlement timing can affect cash. Stripe’s reconciliation guidance shows why component-level evidence matters. Keep the proposal bridge as the review checklist, not as a promise to force the actual result into the proposal. Investigate differences with the advisor and appropriate accounting reviewer. Record explanations and corrections in the source workflow. The owner should understand what changed, what was actually saved and what still needs attention. Use real evidence from after the change, not the original forecast. Before you sign, assign each unresolved proposal question to an owner. Put an unanswered integration requirement or unclear recurring charge in the decision record. Don’t assume onboarding will sort them out after the switch. Sources for this section: [Stripe: payout reconciliation report]() ## Primary sources BlueFinch last reviewed these sources on October 23, 2026. Check the linked sources for current requirements and product details. - [SBA: manage your finances]() - [Stripe: payout reconciliation report]() Use this page for general business information. It is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. ## Related resources - [Read the written offer behind a 0% processing headline]() - [Check the first statement after a 0% processing switch]() [AI site overview](https://bluefinchadvisors.com/llms.txt) · [Full Toolbox details](https://bluefinchadvisors.com/llms-full.txt)