Costs are rising everywhere: the one payment line you can actually control
Compayr Editorial · · 5 min
For a lot of owners, running a business in 2026 feels relentless. As one hospitality operator, Joe Rechichi, put it to the Guardian: 'the whole world has changed and it's not clear what it takes now to be a successful business' [1]. Most of the pressure is outside any one owner's control — but the cost of accepting cards is one line you can actually look at.
The picture
The numbers are sobering. Business failures jumped to over 11,000 in 2023-24 and nearly 15,000 in 2024-25 — roughly 70% higher than pre-pandemic levels, with small firms making up more than eight in ten insolvencies [1]. Nearly nine in ten small businesses report rising costs, and about one in eight cafes and restaurants closed in the past year [1].
'Pressure is coming from everywhere and all at once,' said Helen Owens, who runs Brisbane's Tigerlamb hair salons [1].
Most costs are fixed. This one isn't.
Rent, utilities, wages and compliance are largely set by forces outside your control. The cost of accepting cards is different: it varies a lot between providers and plans, it is rarely reviewed, and — with the 1 October 2026 surcharge ban moving that cost onto the business — it is about to matter more.
That does not make it a fix for a struggling business, and switching providers is not a silver bullet. But it is a line worth understanding rather than leaving on autopilot.
How to look at it
- Work out your effective rate: your card fees divided by your card turnover, from your statement.
- Check whether least-cost routing is enabled for contactless debit.
- Compare that rate against other providers at your own volume and card mix.
Understand your cost of acceptance — compare the providers we track by estimated card acceptance cost, with rental and hardware shown separately. Compare now →
Related: how much it costs to accept cards.
General information only, based on the sources cited — not financial advice. Comparing costs does not guarantee a saving; confirm any figures with your provider.
References
- [1] The Guardian Australia, "Joe is used to the uncertainty of running a small business. But since Covid, 'the whole world has changed'", 1 September 2026.
- [2] CreditorWatch and Australian Industry Group, as cited in [1].
See what you'd really pay. Compare the major providers we track at your turnover
Compare nowRates and provider details are indicative, last verified November 2026. Verify with providers. Compayr may earn a referral fee when a merchant switches via our comparison.
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