Square got your restaurant started. It was easy — download the app, plug in the reader, start accepting cards. No application, no contract, no headache.
But now you're doing $40K, $60K, $80K a month, and that 2.6% + 10¢ per swipe is starting to hurt.
Let's Do the Math
A DC restaurant processing $60,000/month with 2,000 transactions:
On Square: $60,000 × 2.6% + 2,000 × $0.10 = $1,760/month ($21,120/year)
On interchange-plus: ~$1,250–$1,400/month depending on your card mix ($15,000–$16,800/year)
That's roughly $4,000–$6,000/year you're paying for the convenience of Square's simplicity. At some point, that stops being worth it.
What You Keep With Square
Square is genuinely good at some things. Easy setup. Clean reports. Free POS software. If you're doing under $15K/month, the simplicity might be worth the premium.
When It's Time to Switch
Once you're consistently processing $20K+/month, interchange-plus almost always saves money. The more you process, the bigger the gap. And you don't have to give up good technology — modern interchange-plus processors have clean dashboards and fast deposits too.
At PAYHERO, we make the switch easy. No contracts, no equipment to buy if you're already using compatible terminals, and we handle the transition. Most restaurants are live within 48 hours.
Want to see the exact savings for your restaurant? Upload your Square statement here.