3-Month Effective Processing Rate Trend Analyzer
A single statement can be distorted by an annual fee, a chargeback, a seasonal sales dip, or an unusual card mix. This worksheet combines matching sales and fee totals from up to three months and calculates a sales-weighted rate instead of averaging the monthly percentages.
Three-month effective-rate worksheet
Enter matching sales and fee totals for up to three statements. The weighted rate uses combined sales, so a low-volume month does not distort the overall result.
| Period | Settled card sales | Statement fees | Separate fees | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$ | $ | $ | — | |
$ | $ | $ | — | |
$ | $ | $ | — |
Why the result is sales-weighted
Suppose one month has $10,000 in sales at 3.20% and another has $40,000 at 2.60%. A simple average gives both months equal influence even though the second month processed four times as much. This tool first adds the entered fees and sales, then divides the combined fees by combined sales.
What to enter for each month
- Settled card sales for the same dates covered by the statement—not total business revenue.
- All processing fees reported for that period, including interchange, assessments, markup, transaction fees, and recurring account charges.
- A separately billed gateway, equipment, or compliance fee only when it is not already included in the statement-fee total.
How to investigate a rate change
Start with the highest-rate month, but do not assume the processor raised prices. Compare the fee summary with the other statements and look for a lower sales denominator, annual or one-time charges, chargebacks, a higher share of keyed or online transactions, or a different mix of premium and commercial cards. Then check the processor agreement and any rate-change notice.
What this tool cannot determine
The worksheet does not know which individual interchange category applied, whether a transaction qualified for a particular network program, or whether a competing quote would reproduce your real card mix. It organizes the numbers you enter; it does not label a rate as universally good or bad.
Need the single-statement calculation first? Use the main effective-rate calculator. To reconcile fee categories, open the statement fee breakdown worksheet. For definitions and examples, read the complete effective-rate guide.