Had to pick a payment processor for a small event last month

It was between a flat 2.9% fee with a known provider or a local bank's service with a monthly minimum but lower rates. I went with the flat fee option for the event in Austin, expecting about 200 transactions. Honestly, it was simpler, but the fees added up to nearly $400. For a one-off, was that the right call, or should I have dealt with the bank's setup? What would you have done?

3 comments

3 Comments

drew_coleman71mo ago

Went with a flat fee for a pop-up last year and it saved me so much stress. I mean, dealing with a bank's monthly minimums for a one-time thing just seems like extra hassle you don't need. For a single event, paying for simplicity is usually worth it.

martinez.anna15d ago

Jumped on the flat fee train for a pop up last year too and honestly my brain just can't handle any more spreadsheets and fine print! I swear I spend more time worrying about monthly minimums than actually selling stuff. The flat fee was like paying for peace of mind, and knowing I didn't have to check my bank account obsessively for three months was a total game changer. Plus I'm pretty sure I saved on antacids too!

rodriguez.jordan1mo ago

Honestly, that flat fee was probably the right move... even with the cost. For a one-off event, the bank's monthly minimum would have been a real pain. You'd have to watch it for months after just to avoid more fees. Did a craft fair once and went the simple route too... the time saved not dealing with extra bank stuff was worth the extra few bucks.