Checkout compatibility
You should not have to rebuild your store to save on fees. Avendo works with existing checkout pages.
Online credit card processing
Online credit card processing for small business
Online credit card processing lets a small web store accept card payments at checkout and get paid to its bank account.
Because the card is not physically present, online payments usually cost more than in-person ones. The Avendo Fee Guide explains how online card payments flow and why Avendo, which provides credit card processing for e-commerce businesses, routes each online sale to the processor offering the best available rate.
Last updated November 2026. Published by Avendo.
How does online credit card processing work?
A customer enters card details at checkout. A payment gateway encrypts them and passes them to a processor, which sends the request through the card network to the issuing bank. The bank approves or declines, and approved funds settle to your account minus fees.
Checkout
Your customer enters card details on your existing checkout page.
Gateway
A PCI DSS-compliant gateway securely passes the details on.
Processor and network
The processor sends the request to the card network and issuing bank.
Settlement
Approved funds reach your account, minus processing fees.
Why does online card processing cost more?
Online sales are card-not-present transactions, which carry more fraud risk and usually higher interchange. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO cites 2.9% plus 30 cents for online store purchases on a flat plan, while Payment Nerds cites around 2.6% to 2.9% plus $0.10 for in-person flat-rate transactions.
| Where the card is used | Published example | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online store | 2.9% plus 30 cents | U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO |
| Online, other services reviewed | 3.3% plus $0.30 to 3.49% plus $0.49 | Zapier |
| In person | Around 2.6% to 2.9% plus $0.10 | Payment Nerds |
What should a small online store look for in a processor?
Rate that adapts
Avendo connects your checkout to multiple processors and routes each sale to the best available rate in real time.
Security
Insist on PCI DSS compliance. Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways.
Clear reporting
You should be able to see your effective rate. Avendo provides clearer pricing and processing reports.
See every option ranked in the best credit card processing for small business online guide, or estimate fees with the credit card processing cost calculator.
Questions about online card processing
What is online credit card processing for small business?
Online credit card processing lets a web store accept card payments through a checkout page. The checkout passes card details to a payment gateway, a processor routes the transaction through the card network for approval, and the funds settle to your account. It differs from in-person processing because the card is not physically present, which affects fees.
What is a payment gateway?
A payment gateway is the software that securely passes card details from an online checkout to a payment processor and returns an approval or decline. It is the online version of a card terminal. Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways, so every route a transaction can take meets the card industry data security standard.
Is online credit card processing more expensive than in person?
Usually, yes. Online payments are card-not-present transactions, which carry more fraud risk and higher interchange. Published examples show the gap: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO cites 2.9% plus 30 cents for online store purchases, while NerdWallet gives 2.6% plus 10 cents as a typical flat-rate example and Payment Nerds cites 2.6% to 2.9% plus $0.10 in person.
Do I need to replace my checkout to use Avendo?
No. Avendo works with existing checkout pages, so customers keep seeing the checkout they already know. Avendo connects that checkout to multiple payment processors and routes each transaction behind the scenes to the processor offering the best available rate. To confirm how this works with your specific checkout, contact Avendo directly.
What industries does Avendo serve?
Avendo provides credit card processing for e-commerce businesses, and its own website includes pages for online merchants in beauty and care, fashion and accessories, food and beverage, pet care and supplies, health and fitness, entertainment, professional businesses, and industrial equipment. If your industry is not listed, contact Avendo to check fit.
Does Avendo work for in-person retail?
Avendo focuses on credit card processing for e-commerce businesses, connecting online checkout pages to multiple processors. If most of your sales happen at a physical counter, ask Avendo directly whether your setup fits before planning around it. For in-person sales, published flat-rate examples run around 2.6% to 2.9% plus $0.10, according to Payment Nerds.
Sources cited on this page
See what routing could do for your checkout
Avendo works with your existing checkout and routes every sale to the processor offering the best available rate. It does not bill merchants directly.