Helcim fees for salons, next to Payzium's published rate.

Helcim column: its published in-person, $0 to $50k per month band at Interchange + 0.40% + $0.08 [1]; in-person, $50k to $100k per month band at Interchange + 0.35% + $0.07 [8]; online, $0 to $50k per month band at Interchange + 0.50% + $0.25 [3]; online, $50k to $100k per month band at Interchange + 0.45% + $0.20 [11]. Payzium column: interchange and network assessments at cost, the published margin at the tier for that volume, the per-transaction fee and the monthly account fee. A positive difference means Helcim costs more.

Helcim's band is chosen by each row's monthly volume. Its margin and per-transaction fee are applied to every card transaction, credit and debit, which is how its published schedule reads; Helcim publishes no credit-only carve-out. Interchange passes through at the same rates the Payzium column uses.

Average ticket sets the competitor's per-transaction count. Payzium's per-transaction line is counted at the $50 sitewide ticket assumption the calculator uses.

The Payzium column is the calculator's engine, so the calculator's disclosure applies here as written:

Calculator output is an estimate. Final pricing depends on your actual card mix, current network rates effective on the date of your transactions, and any optional add-ons. The model assumes an average transaction value of $50. Visa and Mastercard revise their US interchange schedules twice a year; this calculator reflects schedules effective April 2026.

Salons and spas run on appointments, and that changes the shape of their card costs. Tickets are moderate, transactions are card-present at checkout, and tips are large relative to the service price, often added after the card has been authorized. Tip adjustments are the first thing to look at on any salon quote, because a plan that downgrades adjusted transactions charges the higher rate on the whole ticket, not only on the tip.

The second thing is no-show protection. Many salons take a card on file at booking and charge a cancellation fee when a client does not arrive. That charge is a card-not-present, keyed transaction and is priced at a higher interchange rate on every plan; a flat rate that quotes one number for in-person cards usually quotes a second, higher number for these. A salon that charges cancellation fees often should ask for both numbers before comparing anything else.

Third, booking software. Salon scheduling platforms commonly bundle processing at their own rate, and the convenience of one login can cost a percentage point or more over the year. A salon does not have to accept the bundled processor to keep the software; the two can be separated, and the comparison above assumes they are.

Interchange-plus pricing shows the tip, the cancellation charge and the in-person service as separate interchange lines with one published margin. The table above uses a typical salon ticket with tips included and a card-present share that assumes most payments happen at the front desk, with a smaller share keyed for deposits and cancellations.