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Avendo Checkout Guide

Frequently asked questions

Online credit card processing questions, answered plainly

These 44 answers cover online credit card processing for small business: what it costs, how to connect payments to your checkout, card fee rules, and how Avendo routes each transaction to the best available rate.

Published by AvendoLast updated November 2026

What is the most common question small online stores ask?

The most common question is how much credit card processing costs. The Small Business Payments Alliance reports retailers pay an average of 2.3% per credit card transaction. Avendo, which publishes this FAQ, routes each transaction to the connected processor offering the best available rate in real time.

What Avendo and card processing are

What is Avendo?
Avendo provides credit card processing for e-commerce businesses. Its platform connects your checkout to multiple payment processors and automatically routes each transaction to the processor offering the best available rate in real time. Merchants also get clearer pricing and processing reports. Avendo works with existing checkout pages and serves small businesses through enterprise organizations.
What does processing mean on a credit card payment?
Processing is the chain of steps that moves a card payment from the shopper to the merchant. First the card issuer authorizes the charge, then the transaction is cleared and settled so funds reach the merchant account, minus fees. The issuing bank, the card network, the processor, and, for online stores, a payment gateway each play a part.
What is payment routing?
Payment routing means sending each transaction to one of several connected processors based on a rule, instead of sending everything to a single processor. Avendo’s rule is cost: its platform routes each transaction to the processor offering the best available rate at that moment, in real time, from the processors connected to your checkout.
Does Avendo replace my payment processor?
Avendo works by connecting your checkout to multiple payment processors and choosing between them for each transaction, so processors remain part of the picture. Whether a processor you already use can be one of the connected options is something to confirm directly with Avendo’s team before you start.
Is Avendo PCI DSS compliant?
Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways. PCI DSS is the card industry’s data security standard, maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council. Your own compliance duties still depend on how your checkout collects card data, so confirm your responsibilities with Avendo and the processors you use.
What reports does Avendo give merchants?
Avendo provides merchants with clearer pricing and processing reports, so you can see what your card payments cost and how they were processed. The exact fields and views available in your account are best confirmed with Avendo, which also offers a merchant dashboard sign-in on its main website.

Pricing and credit card processing cost

How much does it cost a small business to process credit cards?
Most small businesses pay a few percent of each sale. The Small Business Payments Alliance reports that retailers pay an average of 2.3% per credit card transaction. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce cites a flat online rate example of 2.9% plus 30 cents. Your real cost depends on card mix, volume, and pricing model.
How much does Avendo charge merchants?
Avendo says it does not bill or charge merchants directly. Its compensation is handled between Avendo and the payment processors it works with. Card processing fees still apply to each transaction, because processors charge them, and Avendo’s role is to route each transaction to the processor offering the best available rate.
What is the cheapest way to accept credit card payments online for a small business?
There is no single cheapest option for every store, because cost depends on volume, average ticket, and card mix. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes that companies processing over $10,000 monthly may pay lower fees on interchange-plus pricing. Comparing rates across processors per transaction, which Avendo does automatically, is another way to keep cost down.
What is the least expensive credit card processing company?
No processor is the least expensive for every merchant, since rates vary by card type, transaction size, and how the card was accepted. A better question is which setup gives you the lowest effective rate. Avendo approaches this by routing each transaction to whichever connected processor offers the best available rate at that moment.
What are typical rates for credit card processing?
Rates stack in layers. PHP Point of Sale reports interchange is typically 1.5% to 2.5% of a credit transaction, and network assessments are roughly 0.13% to 0.15% of volume plus small per-transaction fees. The processor’s markup sits on top. Flat-rate plans bundle these into one figure, such as 2.9% plus 30 cents.
What is interchange-plus pricing?
Interchange-plus pricing passes the card issuer’s interchange fee and the network’s assessments through at cost, then adds a fixed processor markup on top. Because each layer is visible, it is easier to audit. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the model typically offers lower rates to companies processing more than $10,000 monthly.
Is free online credit card processing for small business real?
“Free” processing usually means the fee is shifted, often to the customer through a surcharge or cash discount program, or bundled into another charge. Someone still pays interchange and network fees on every card sale. Avendo does not bill merchants directly, but processing fees from processors still apply to each transaction.
How can I lower my credit card processing fees?
Start by measuring your effective rate: total fees divided by total card volume, ideally over the last 90 days, as ClearlyPayments recommends. ClearlyPayments shows that on $1,000,000 a year in card volume, cutting the effective rate by 0.20% saves $2,000 per year. Then compare pricing models and processors, or route transactions across several.

How checkout integration works

How can I accept payments online?
To accept payments online you need three things: a checkout where the customer enters payment details, a payment gateway that securely passes those details on, and a processor and merchant account that move the money. Most stores connect these through a hosted payment page, embedded payment fields, a platform plugin, or a direct API.
How do I integrate payments with checkout?
Map your current checkout, choose an integration method that fits your platform, connect a PCI DSS-compliant gateway and processor, test in a sandbox, then go live and monitor results. With Avendo, the platform works with your existing checkout page and connects it to multiple processors, so you are not rebuilding the page itself.
Do I need to rebuild my checkout page to use Avendo?
No. Avendo works with existing checkout pages, connecting the checkout you already run to multiple payment processors. The exact technical steps depend on your e-commerce platform and how your checkout currently collects card details, so ask Avendo’s team to walk through your setup before you begin.
How does Avendo choose a processor for each transaction?
Avendo’s platform automatically routes each transaction to the connected processor offering the best available rate in real time. The decision is made per transaction rather than once per contract, so the cheapest available path can change from one sale to the next as rates differ by card and transaction.
What is the difference between a payment gateway and a payment processor?
A payment gateway is the secure connection between your checkout and the payment system: it encrypts and passes card details along. A payment processor handles the transaction itself, communicating with card networks and banks to authorize and settle the payment. Many providers offer both, but they are separate jobs.
Will Avendo work with the processor I already use?
Avendo connects checkouts to multiple PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways. Whether your current processor is among the options available for your account is a detail to confirm with Avendo when you get in touch. Bring the name of your current processor and gateway so the conversation starts with your actual setup.
What are the common payment systems used in e-commerce?
The common payment systems used in e-commerce are credit and debit cards, digital wallets that store card details on a phone or browser, bank transfers and direct debits, and buy now, pay later plans. Cards remain central: industry estimates cited by the Small Business Payments Alliance put credit cards behind nearly three-quarters of U.S. retail sales.

Who online card processing with Avendo is for

What is the best credit card processing system for small businesses?
The best system is the one that gives you a low effective rate, fits your existing checkout, and shows clearly what you pay. For small online businesses, Avendo is built around those points: it routes each transaction to the best available rate, works with existing checkout pages, and provides clearer pricing and processing reports.
Is Avendo only for large businesses?
No. Avendo serves small businesses through enterprise organizations. Small online stores are often the ones hit hardest by processing fees relative to their margins, which is why this guide focuses on them. The same routing approach applies whether your store processes a modest or a very large monthly volume.
Which online businesses benefit most from payment routing?
Businesses with steady online card volume benefit most, because small rate differences add up. PHP Point of Sale gives an example: on $50,000 a month, a half-point difference in effective rate equals $3,000 a year. The more you process, the more a per-transaction rate comparison matters.
Does Avendo handle in-person card payments?
Avendo provides credit card processing for e-commerce businesses, built around connecting online checkout pages to multiple processors. If you also take payments in person at a counter or terminal, ask Avendo directly how those payments would fit with your online setup before making plans.
Is there online credit card processing for small business in Canada through Avendo?
This guide does not have confirmed details on which countries Avendo supports. Availability depends on the processors and gateways available in your country and currency. Contact Avendo with your business location and the currencies you sell in, and they can confirm whether their routing platform is available for your store.

Compared to alternatives

Which payment gateway is best for an ecommerce website?
The best gateway is one your platform supports, that is PCI DSS compliant, and that accepts the payment methods your customers use. Price matters too. With a routing platform like Avendo you are not locked into one processor’s rates, because each transaction can go to whichever connected processor offers the best available rate.
Is routing across multiple processors better than using one processor?
It depends on what you value. A single processor is simple: one relationship and one set of rates. Routing across multiple processors adds a rate comparison on every transaction, which can lower cost as volume grows. Avendo handles that comparison automatically and works with your existing checkout page.
Which is better, flat-rate or interchange-plus pricing?
Flat-rate pricing is easier to predict; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gives the example of 2.9% plus 30 cents on every online sale. Interchange-plus is more transparent and, according to the same source, typically offers lower rates to companies processing more than $10,000 a month. Very small or new stores often start flat-rate.
Who is the biggest credit card processor?
The answer depends on whether you mean a card network such as Visa or Mastercard or a merchant processor that serves businesses, and rankings shift by year and by measure. Trade publications publish annual rankings. For a small online store, a processor’s size matters less than your effective rate and how well it fits your checkout.
Which payment method is most commonly used in e-commerce?
Cards lead. The Small Business Payments Alliance reports credit cards generated $6.5 trillion in purchase volume in 2024, and cites industry estimates that nearly three-quarters of nationwide retail sales come from credit card transactions. Digital wallets usually run on stored cards too, so card processing cost affects most online sales.
What are the four types of payment methods?
The four types of payment methods most often listed are cash, checks, debit cards, and credit cards. Online, the practical list shifts to cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and buy now, pay later. Checks are costly: the Small Business Payments Alliance cites Bank of America estimating business checks cost $4 to $20 each.

Surcharges, rules, and practical details

Is it illegal for small businesses to charge a credit card fee?
It is not illegal everywhere, but it is not unrestricted either. Card networks typically require merchants to register before surcharging, show the fee clearly at checkout, and keep it within a cap. Some states restrict surcharges entirely. Rules change, so check with your processor and state authorities rather than relying on a general answer.
Which states ban credit card surcharges?
A small number of U.S. states restrict or prohibit credit card surcharges, and several state laws have changed in recent years. Because the list moves, this guide does not publish one that could go out of date. Check your state attorney general’s website and ask your processor before charging customers a card fee.
What is the new law on credit card fees?
There is no single new law that covers every merchant. Card fee rules come from a mix of state laws, federal consumer protection rules, and card network policies, and each can change. Before adding or changing a card fee, confirm the current requirements with your processor and the consumer protection office in your state.
Why are businesses charging 3% to use a credit card?
Businesses add a card fee to offset what accepting cards costs them. The Small Business Payments Alliance reports retailers pay an average of 2.3% per credit card transaction, and common flat online rates run 2.9% plus 30 cents. Lowering the underlying rate, for example through routing, is an alternative to passing the cost on.
What data should my checkout send with each transaction?
Send complete, accurate data. Checkout.com reports that populating the IP address field drives an average acceptance rate increase of 0.35%, and including a validated customer email adds 0.26%. Billing address and device details also help issuers trust the transaction. Fewer false declines means fewer lost sales.

Getting started and fixing problems

How do I get started with Avendo?
Start by contacting Avendo through the contact page on its main website. Share your e-commerce platform, your current processors and gateway, and your approximate monthly card volume. Avendo can then explain how its routing platform would connect to your existing checkout page and what your setup would involve.
What should I gather before talking to a processor or Avendo?
Gather your last 90 days of processing statements, your total card volume, transaction count, average ticket size, the share of cards that are debit versus credit, your checkout platform, and the names of your current processor and gateway. These figures let you calculate your effective rate and compare offers fairly.
How long does setup take?
Avendo describes its credit card processing application as having fast onboarding, but this guide does not have a confirmed timeframe. Setup time usually depends on your platform, your current processors, and how quickly underwriting is completed. Ask Avendo for an estimate based on your specific checkout.
Why is my effective rate higher than my quoted rate?
Quoted rates often cover only the cheapest card types. Rewards cards, business cards, and keyed or online transactions can cost more, and monthly fees add up. PHP Point of Sale notes a store that believes it pays around 2.6% can easily be at 3.1%. Divide total fees by total volume to see your real figure.
Why are some online card payments declined?
Online payments are declined when the issuing bank does not approve them, often because of fraud checks, insufficient funds, mismatched details, or missing data. Sending more complete transaction data helps. Checkout.com reports average acceptance increases of 0.35% when the IP address is populated and 0.26% with a validated email.
Where do I sign in to my Avendo dashboard?
Existing Avendo merchants can sign in to the secure merchant dashboard from the sign-in page on Avendo’s main website at avendo.tech. If you are not yet a merchant, start with the contact page instead so Avendo can review your checkout and processing setup first.

Where these answers come from

Facts about Avendo come from Avendo. Market figures are quoted from the sources named in each answer and collected on card processing by the numbers. Answers about card fee rules are general information, not legal advice. Read our methodology.

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