5 Steps How to Reduce Merchant Interchange Fees and Accept Crypto Payments (Easy Guide for Small Business)

Interchange fees are bleeding your business dry.

Every swipe. Every tap. Every transaction. Card networks take their cut. Your processor takes their cut. And you're left wondering where your margins went.

Small businesses lose 2-4% on every credit card transaction. That's not a fee. That's a tax on doing business.

But here's the good news. You can fight back. And you don't need to hire expensive consultants or accountants to do it.

This guide breaks down exactly how to slash those merchant interchange fees: and introduces you to the future of payments: crypto. Specifically, how Larecoin makes accepting digital currency stupid simple for small business owners who want to keep more of what they earn.

Let's get into it.

Step 1: Switch to Interchange-Plus Pricing

Most small businesses start with flat-rate processors. Square. PayPal. Stripe.

Simple? Yes. Cheap? Not really.

Flat-rate pricing hides the true cost of your transactions. You pay the same 2.9% whether someone uses a basic debit card or a fancy rewards credit card.

Interchange-plus pricing changes the game.

Here's how it works:

• Interchange fee (set by card networks: non-negotiable)

• Processor markup (this is where you negotiate)

• You see exactly what you're paying

If your business processes more than $10,000 per month, interchange-plus typically saves thousands annually. That's money back in your pocket. No tricks.

The transparency matters. When you can see the breakdown, you can optimize. You know which cards cost more. You know where to focus your efforts.

Step 2: Promote ACH and Debit Card Payments

Not all payment methods hit your bottom line equally.

ACH payments (direct bank transfers) don't carry interchange fees. They cost a fraction of credit card transactions. For high-dollar invoices? This is a no-brainer.

Debit cards cost less than credit cards. Especially compared to rewards cards or commercial cards that jack up interchange rates.

Here's how to shift customer behavior:

• Checkout messaging: Display a note encouraging debit or bank transfer

• Small discounts: Offer 1-2% off for ACH payments

• Invoice options: Make bank transfer the default on B2B invoices

Simple tweaks. Real savings.

But let's be honest. ACH and debit only go so far. Customers love their credit cards. They want rewards. They want convenience.

That's where crypto enters the picture.

Step 3: Negotiate Rates or Switch Processors Entirely

You have more power than you think.

Processors compete for your business. If you're processing decent volume, they'll negotiate. Ask for:

• Lower markup rates

• Volume discounts

• Reduced monthly fees

• Better chargeback terms

Pro tip: Get written quotes from at least three processors. Compare line by line. Use competitor offers as leverage.

Most processors like Square or PayPal won't negotiate unless you're doing $250,000+ annually. But smaller payment companies hungry for business? They'll deal.

Here's the uncomfortable truth though. Even with the best rates, you're still paying card networks. Still playing by their rules.

What if you could bypass the entire system?

Step 4: Accept Crypto Payments with Larecoin

This is where everything changes.

Crypto payments eliminate interchange fees entirely. No Visa. No Mastercard. No middlemen taking their cut.

Direct. Peer-to-peer. Decentralized.

But not all crypto payment solutions are created equal.

NOWPayments and CoinPayments: The Old Guard

These platforms helped merchants dip their toes into crypto. They deserve credit for that.

But they come with baggage:

• Custodial wallets: They hold your funds. Not you.

• Hidden conversion fees: Auto-converting to fiat? That costs extra.

• Limited merchant tools: Basic payment buttons. No innovation.

• Dependency: You're still relying on a centralized third party.

Sound familiar? It should. That's just credit card processing with extra steps.

Larecoin: Built for Merchant Freedom

Larecoin flips the script entirely.

Self-custody means your crypto goes directly to your wallet. No middlemen holding your funds. No permission needed to access your money. True financial independence.

LUSD stablecoin eliminates volatility concerns. Accept payments knowing exactly what they're worth. No waking up to find your revenue dropped 15% overnight.

NFT receipts revolutionize record-keeping. Every transaction generates a verifiable, immutable receipt on the blockchain. Say goodbye to chargeback fraud. Say hello to bulletproof documentation.

Gas-only transfers keep costs microscopic. On Solana's network, transaction fees are fractions of a cent. Compare that to 2.5% interchange fees on a $500 sale.

The math isn't close.

Step 5: Leverage NFT Receipts and Self-Custody for Maximum Savings

Let's talk about the hidden costs of traditional payments that nobody mentions.

Chargeback Fraud Is Eating Your Profits

"Friendly fraud" costs merchants $125 billion annually. That's customers claiming they never received products they definitely received. Or disputing legitimate charges because it's easier than processing a return.

Credit card companies almost always side with the customer. You lose the product, the revenue, AND get hit with a chargeback fee.

NFT receipts solve this.

Every Larecoin transaction creates an immutable record. Time-stamped. Verified. Permanently stored on the blockchain.

Customer claims they didn't buy something? Pull up the NFT receipt. Transaction verified. Dispute closed.

This isn't just about saving on interchange fees. It's about protecting revenue you've already earned.

Self-Custody: Your Money, Your Rules

With traditional processors, your funds sit in their accounts. Sometimes for days. Sometimes they freeze your account for "suspicious activity." Sometimes they just disappear.

Horror stories fill Reddit and Twitter.

Self-custody changes everything:

• Instant access: Funds hit your wallet immediately

• No holds: Nobody can freeze your crypto

• No permission: Withdraw whenever you want

• No dependencies: The network doesn't care who you are

This is what merchant freedom actually looks like.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Let's run a quick scenario.

Traditional credit card processing on $50,000 monthly revenue:

• Interchange + processor fees: ~2.6% = $1,300/month

• Chargeback losses (conservative 1%): $500/month

• Annual cost: $21,600

Larecoin on the same volume:

• Gas fees (Solana): ~$5/month

• Chargeback losses: $0 (NFT receipts)

• Annual cost: $60

That's over $21,500 saved annually. For a small business, that's an employee. That's inventory. That's marketing budget.

The gap only widens as you scale.

Getting Started Is Easier Than You Think

You don't need to be a crypto expert. You don't need technical knowledge.

Here's your action plan:

1. Set up a Solana wallet: Takes 5 minutes

2. Connect to Larecoin: Visit larecoin.com for integration guides

3. Generate payment QR codes: Display at checkout

4. Accept LUSD or LARE: Funds go directly to your wallet

5. Track with NFT receipts: Automatic documentation for every sale

Start small. Test with loyal customers. Scale from there.

The Future Is Decentralized

Interchange fees aren't going away. Card networks have no incentive to lower them. Processors have no incentive to reduce their markup.

The traditional payment system is designed to extract value from merchants. That's the feature, not the bug.

Crypto payments: specifically Larecoin's self-custody, NFT receipt, and stablecoin ecosystem: offer a genuine alternative. Not a workaround. Not a band-aid. A complete rethinking of how value moves between customers and businesses.

Merchant freedom isn't a slogan. It's a technical reality.

The tools exist. The infrastructure is ready. The only question is whether you're ready to stop paying the interchange tax and start keeping what you earn.

Your move.

Ready to explore decentralized payments? Check out the Larecoin forum for the latest updates and connect with other merchants making the switch.