The short answer
A comparable quote uses the same card sales, card mix, chargeable transaction count, number of terminals and VAT basis. Add percentage fees, pence charges and fixed costs, checking how any minimum applies. Then compare the contract, settlement and integration requirements as well as the calculated price.
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USE THE SAME MONTH FOR BOTH QUOTES
Compare two payment quotes
The starting figures are invented examples. Replace them with two written quotes. Figures stay in this tab. Choose “Discuss these figures” to review and include them with an enquiry.
ILLUSTRATIVE RESULTS
| Cost for the same trading month | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage charges | £200.00 | £275.00 |
| Request charges | £75.00 | £0.00 |
| Minimum-charge top-up | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Other monthly costs | £20.00 | £5.00 |
| Total per month | £295.00 | £280.00 |
| 12 months of recurring costs | £3,540.00 | £3,360.00 |
| Year one including setup | £3,540.00 | £3,360.00 |
| Effective recurring rate | 1.18% | 1.12% |
Quote B is £15.00 lower per month in this model. Compare year-one costs separately if setup fees differ.
Use one consistent VAT basis. This is a simplified comparison: no exit costs, promotional changes, reserves, refunds or chargebacks are included unless you account for them in the inputs. If your minimum covers different charges, or rates cannot be blended reliably, use a provider-prepared comparison.
Download the free quote checklist for costs and contract terms to confirm in writing.
In this guide
What to request before you compare
Ask each provider to quote for the same business activity, locations and payment methods. Give a representative month of card turnover, the number of transactions and an honest breakdown of domestic consumer, business, international and remote payments. Approximate information can produce a starting estimate, but its assumptions should remain visible.
Request the pricing summary or online quotation available from the provider, alongside the complete fee schedule and contract. Global Payments publishes a quotation layout that separates card categories, request fees and other monthly charges. A single percentage from a sales conversation is insufficient for this exercise.
If you need to take card payments over the phone, request the virtual-terminal or MOTO pricing separately from the in-person rates. Payment-link pricing may also differ.
How the calculator handles the numbers
The calculator multiplies monthly card sales by the blended processing percentage, then adds chargeable requests multiplied by the pence fee. If their sum is below the minimum you enter, it adds only the shortfall. Fixed costs are added afterwards. That minimum-charge model must match your own agreement.
A blended rate should represent the card mix in your quote. For a simple illustration, 80% of card turnover at 0.7% and 20% at 1.2% produces 0.8% before separate pence charges: 0.8 × 0.7% + 0.2 × 1.2%. This uses shares of payment value, not shares of transaction count. Do not substitute the cheapest debit-card rate for the whole mix.
Why a lower headline rate can lose
With the illustrative starting values, Quote A charges 0.8% of £25,000 (£200), 3p on 2,500 requests (£75), and £20 in fixed costs: £295 a month. Quote B charges 1.1% (£275) and £5 fixed: £280. Neither has a minimum top-up or setup charge in this example.
Quote A has the lower percentage, but Quote B is £15 lower for that assumed month. Change the volume, request count or fixed charges and the outcome can change. These invented quotes illustrate the arithmetic; they are not available offers or evidence that your current provider is expensive.
Compare the commitment beyond year one
Year one in this calculator means twelve identical months plus the setup costs you enter. It is not necessarily your minimum contract commitment. A longer rental term, changing rates, an introductory discount or a paid integration needs a separate full-term calculation.
Ask whether each fee is per terminal, location, account or business. Include annual service charges on a consistent monthly basis for recurring comparisons, while checking when the cash payment is actually due. A chargeback, reserve or refund adjustment is not an ordinary monthly fee and should be analysed separately.
When a personal review is useful
Bring the reason for looking: a branch opening, a contract deadline, recurring reconciliation problems or a cost you cannot explain. The useful outcome is a proposal whose operational fit and full cost are clear.
Awais can discuss solutions offered through his takepayments / Global Payments role. This calculator can compare numbers from any two written quotes, but Cardsmachines does not source offers from the whole market. You can use the tool without submitting contact details, then request a review if useful.
Your comparison checklist
| Check in both quotes | What you need in writing |
|---|---|
| Card categories | Applicable rates and the card mix used in the calculation |
| Pence fees | Which events are billed, including any declines or pre-authorisations |
| Fixed costs | All devices, locations, annual fees and minimum-charge basis |
| Contract | Each supplier, minimum term, notice method and exit costs |
| Operations | Exact EPOS compatibility, settlement, support and replacement process |
Common questions
Can I compare quotes with different authorisation rules?
Only after putting the chargeable events on an appropriate basis. The calculator uses one shared request count. If one provider bills different events, calculate those costs separately or request a tailored comparison.
Does the cheaper calculated quote mean I should switch?
No. Check approval, service, integration, the full contract and switching costs. A small monthly difference may not justify the transition.
Can I use this without giving you my statement?
Yes. Type summary figures directly into the calculator. No statement upload or contact details are required.
Sources and method
Public sources checked on 7 September 2026. Offers can change; your individual proposal and signed terms determine what applies.
Global Payments: quotation structure and minimum-charge definition Global Payments: pricing terminology and request chargesWorked examples are illustrative mathematics, not provider quotes or promised savings. Read our editorial approach.
Apply this to your business
Discuss your setup and the full costs with Awais. No statement needed to enquire.