Costs are rising everywhere: the one payment line you can actually control
Compayr Research · · 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: total card fees divided by total 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 July 2026 — verify with providers. Compayr may earn a referral fee when a merchant switches via our comparison.
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