Guide · Payments

Taking card and e-Transfer payments,
what it costs in 2026.

For a small service business in Ontario, getting paid usually means some mix of Interac e-Transfer, debit and credit cards. Each has a different cost and a different risk. This guide sets out the published rates from three processors, the rules for adding a credit card surcharge, and how to present all of it on your invoices and website, as of September 2026.

Published 2026-09-21 · Formory Group

The short answer.

Interac e-Transfer is usually the cheapest way to get paid by Canadian customers; the fee, if any, is set by your bank, and Interac describes its business payment requests as guaranteed funds with no chargebacks. Cards cost more but are expected. Flat-rate processors publish their prices: in-person credit cards run from 2.5 to 2.7 percent at Square, Stripe and Moneris, and online card payments from 2.8 to 2.9 percent plus 30 cents.

You may add a surcharge to credit card payments in Ontario, capped at 2.4 percent and at your actual cost, but not to debit or prepaid cards, and only after notifying the card networks and your processor. In Quebec, surcharging is not allowed.

Interac e-Transfer for business.

Interac's business page describes the pieces that matter to a small business. Autodeposit sends incoming transfers straight into your account with no security question. Request Money sends the customer a payment request, and Interac's business FAQ suggests putting the invoice number in the message so the request works as an invoice. Interac advertises business limits of up to $25,000 per transaction, subject to your bank.

Interac states that e-Transfer fees are set by financial institutions, not by Interac, so the cost depends on your business bank plan. Ask your bank which e-Transfer features your account includes; Interac notes that the experience varies by financial institution.

The trade-off is effort: the customer has to open their banking app and send the money, and not everyone will. That is the case for offering cards as well.

Card processing fees, as published.

Square, from its Canadian pricing page: 2.5 percent for credit cards in person; 2.8 percent plus 30 cents for online store, online checkout and invoice payments; 0.75 percent plus 7 cents for debit in person; 3.3 percent plus 15 cents for keyed-in cards and cards on file. An extra 1.5 percent applies to cards issued outside Canada.

Stripe, from its Canadian pricing page: 2.9 percent plus CA$0.30 for domestic cards online, plus 0.5 percent for manually entered cards and 0.8 percent for international cards. In person with Stripe Terminal: 2.7 percent plus 5 cents for most cards and 15 cents per Interac debit transaction.

Moneris, from its pricing page: flat-rate pricing of 2.65 percent plus 10 cents for credit cards in person and 2.85 percent plus 30 cents online or by phone, with Interac debit at $1.00 per online transaction. Moneris also offers interchange-plus pricing, where the cost depends on the cards you accept and your volume.

All three change their rates from time to time, and none of this includes hardware. Compare them on your own mix: if most customers tap a debit card at the door, the debit fee matters more than the credit rate.

Flat rate or interchange-plus.

A flat rate is one percentage for every credit card, whether the card costs the processor a little or a lot. Interchange-plus passes through the card network's cost for each card, plus a margin. Flat rates are easier to understand; interchange-plus can work out cheaper for some businesses but is harder to predict.

One reason to ask: the federal government announced that, from October 19, 2024, Visa and Mastercard would cut domestic consumer credit interchange for eligible small businesses by up to 27 percent, bringing in-store rates to a weighted average of 0.95 percent and cutting online rates by 10 basis points. According to the Department of Finance, eligibility is under $300,000 in annual Visa sales and under $175,000 in annual Mastercard sales. A flat rate does not move when interchange moves, so ask your processor how the change reaches you.

The surcharge rules.

Visa and Mastercard changed their rules on October 6, 2022, following a class action settlement, to let Canadian merchants surcharge credit cards. Mastercard's rules require notice to Mastercard and to your processor at least 30 days before you start, set a maximum surcharge of 2.4 percent, and limit it further to what you actually pay to accept the card. Visa's merchant FAQ sets the same 2.4 percent cap and says you notify through your acquirer. Neither network allows surcharges on debit or prepaid cards.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada's merchant guidance, last updated October 2025, names Quebec as the exception, where the province's Consumer Protection Act applies. As of September 2026 we found no Ontario law banning credit card surcharges. You must disclose the surcharge before the transaction is completed, at the store entrance and point of sale for in-person sales, and on the receipt. The customer must be able to cancel without penalty and pay another way.

On tax, the CRA's GST/HST info sheet GI-200 says a surcharge shown and charged separately from the price and from other fees is not subject to GST/HST. Show it as its own line.

Whether to surcharge at all is a business decision. Some customers will object, and a surcharge that is not disclosed where the price is shown runs into the same problem as any other hidden fee.

What to show on your website and invoices.

List the payment methods you accept on your contact or pricing page, and on every quote. If you charge a credit card surcharge, say so beside the price, with the percentage, not only at checkout. The Competition Act's drip pricing rule treats a price that cannot be paid because of a fixed mandatory fee as misleading; our guide on showing prices honestly explains how that rule works, and a surcharge that every card customer pays deserves the same care.

For invoices, include your e-Transfer address and the invoice number to reference, or send a Request Money directly. If you take deposits through an online booking or payment link, make sure the confirmation page and email say what was charged and what remains. For clinics, our guide to online booking in Ontario covers the privacy side.

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. For surcharge questions, ask your payment processor or the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

Sources.

What people ask us.

Can I charge a credit card fee in Ontario?

Yes, on credit cards only. Visa and Mastercard cap it at 2.4 percent and at your actual cost of acceptance, require advance notice, and require clear disclosure before the transaction. Surcharging is not allowed in Quebec.

Can I add a surcharge to debit card payments?

No. Visa and Mastercard prohibit surcharges on debit and prepaid cards.

How much does Interac e-Transfer cost a business?

Interac says fees are set by each financial institution, so it depends on your business bank account. Ask your bank which features and how many transfers your plan includes.

Is a credit card surcharge subject to HST?

According to CRA info sheet GI-200, not when it is shown and charged separately from the price and from all other fees.

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Taking card and e-Transfer payments,what it costs in 2026.