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About the Author
Kevin
Kevin is a payment processing consultant at Brookside Payments. He reads merchant statements for a living, which is exactly as glamorous as it sounds. He writes about what processors do, what they hide, and what happens when a merchant finally asks the right question. Based in Florida, most of his work happens over the phone and across the kitchen tables of business owners who just want a straight answer.
Published Articles
Fees & Interchange · April 17, 2026
What You Actually Pay in ACH Processing Fees
Fees & Interchange Most merchants believe ACH is free. Or close to it. The assumption makes sense — ACH moves…
Industry Insights · April 17, 2026
Arjun Opened His Statement on a Tuesday. His Rate Had Jumped 40 Basis Points Overnight.
Industry Insights Arjun called me on a Tuesday morning in March. He runs a CBD and hemp retail shop in…
Human Nature · April 16, 2026
Mike Said He Didn’t Want to Charge His Clients. Then He Saw the Annual Number.
Mike runs a pest control company in Portland. Twelve years in business. Good reputation. Steady residential book, a handful of…
Industry Insights · April 16, 2026
Mei Had a $11,400 Weekend. Stripe Had Other Plans.
Industry Insights Mei had been running her Portland pawn shop on Stripe for almost three years without a single Stripe…
Industry Insights · April 15, 2026
Your Processor Is Holding Your Funds. Here Is What Is Actually Happening.
A payment processor holding funds is one of the most disruptive things that can happen to a merchant — and…
Fees & Interchange · April 14, 2026
What Is a Statement Fee — And Why You’re Paying It Every Month Whether You Look at the Statement or Not
Fees & Interchange A statement fee shows up on your merchant processing statement every month without fail. It is one…
Industry Insights · April 14, 2026
Carlos Had a $22,000 Order. WorldPay Had a Different Idea About When He’d See the Money.
Industry Insights Merchants searching for WorldPay alternatives are usually not rate shopping. They’ve already filed WorldPay complaints or spent hours…
Industry Insights · April 13, 2026
Priya’s Busiest Saturday of the Year. Square Had Other Plans.
Industry Insights Square payment problems don’t announce themselves. They show up on a Saturday afternoon in November, when the store…
Business Growth · April 13, 2026
Barbara Was Optimizing the Wrong Year.
Business Growth Reverse engineering goals is not a productivity hack. It is a different way of thinking about what a…
Fees & Interchange · April 12, 2026
What Is a Monthly Minimum Fee on a Processing Statement?
Fees & Interchange Most merchants see a monthly minimum fee on their processing statement and assume it is a penalty…