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Avendo

Guide

Online credit card processing for small business

Online credit card processing for small business lets a web store accept card payments at checkout, and Avendo routes each online payment to the processor with the best available rate in real time.

Avendo works with the checkout page your store already uses. It connects that checkout to multiple PCI DSS-compliant processors and gateways, chooses the best available rate for every transaction, and gives you clearer pricing and processing reports. Avendo does not bill merchants directly; its compensation is handled with the processors.

Last updated: November 2026

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What is the best online credit card processing for small business?

The best online credit card processing for small business is the one that keeps card-not-present fees down without forcing you to rebuild your checkout.

Avendo fits small online stores that already have a checkout and want each sale priced against several processors instead of one. It is less of a fit if you need card readers for in-person sales, because Avendo focuses on e-commerce. If you sell both ways, an all-in-one provider may cover the counter while Avendo is worth discussing for the online side.

How online card payments move from checkout to your bank

  1. Step 1: The customer pays at your checkout

    They enter card details on the same checkout page your store already uses.

  2. Step 2: A gateway captures the details securely

    Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS-compliant gateways and processors, the card industry’s data security standard.

  3. Step 3: Avendo picks the processor

    The platform automatically routes the transaction to the processor offering the best available rate in real time.

  4. Step 4: The card issuer approves or declines

    The processor sends the request through the card network to the customer’s bank for a decision.

  5. Step 5: Funds settle and the report updates

    Money settles to your account and the transaction appears in Avendo’s pricing and processing reports.

Why does online processing usually cost more?

Market example2.9% + 30¢
Online store purchase cost in a flat-rate example cited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO.

Online payments usually cost more because the card is not physically present, which carries more fraud risk for the card issuer.

That risk shows up in interchange, the portion of each fee paid to the card issuer, and in the flat rates many providers charge online. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO (opens in a new tab) gives one example where purchases through an online store cost 2.9% plus 30 cents, no matter what. The same source notes that companies processing over $10,000 monthly, or negotiating interchange-plus pricing, may pay lower processing fees.

Avendo's answer to the online cost problem is comparison on every sale. Because the platform is connected to multiple processors, a transaction that would be expensive on one can be routed to another offering a better rate at that moment.

Credit card processing for small business online: what to check

A short checklist for online stores

  • Checkout fit. Can you keep your current checkout page? Avendo works with existing checkout pages.
  • Pricing model. Is every sale priced the same way, or compared across processors?
  • Security. Are the processors and gateways PCI DSS-compliant? Avendo uses only PCI DSS-compliant partners.
  • Reporting. Can you see what each transaction cost? Avendo provides clearer pricing and processing reports.
  • Billing. Who invoices you? Avendo does not bill or charge merchants directly.

For the bigger picture on small business card acceptance, read the pillar guide to credit card processing for small business, or check what credit card processing costs.

Common questions

Short answers from the full credit card processing FAQ.

How does online credit card processing for small business work?
The customer enters card details at your online checkout, a payment gateway securely passes them to a processor, the processor gets approval from the card issuer through the card network, and funds settle to your account. With Avendo, the checkout connects to several processors, and each transaction is routed to the one offering the best available rate in real time. More in the FAQ
Is online credit card processing more expensive than in person?
Often, yes. Online payments are card-not-present transactions, which generally carry more fraud risk and therefore higher interchange costs than in-person card payments. Flat online rates reflect this; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO cites 2.9% plus 30 cents as an online store example. Comparing processors for each transaction is one way to keep online costs in check. More in the FAQ
What is the cheapest way to accept credit card payments online for a small business?
For an online store, the lowest cost usually comes from matching the right pricing model to your volume and comparing processors. Flat rates, such as the 2.9% plus 30 cents example cited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO, are simple but fixed. Avendo connects your existing checkout to multiple processors and routes each sale to the best available rate in real time. More in the FAQ
What is the best online credit card processing for small business?
The best option keeps your total cost low while fitting your checkout and reporting needs. For small online stores, Avendo avoids tying you to one fixed processor: it connects your checkout to multiple PCI DSS-compliant processors, routes each sale to the best available rate in real time, and provides clearer pricing and processing reports. More in the FAQ
Do I need to rebuild my checkout to use Avendo?
No. Avendo works with existing checkout pages. It connects your current checkout to multiple payment processors and routes each transaction behind the scenes, so customers keep seeing the checkout they already know. The Avendo team confirms the technical details for your specific checkout during onboarding. More in the FAQ
Will my customers notice anything different at checkout?
Your customers keep using your existing checkout page, because Avendo works with existing checkouts. Routing each transaction to the processor with the best available rate happens in the background. From the shopper’s side, paying looks the same as before, which helps avoid confusion at the moment of purchase. More in the FAQ
Does Avendo work for in-person or retail store payments?
Avendo provides credit card processing for e-commerce businesses, and its platform connects to online checkout pages. If your business sells only in person, a point-of-sale provider is the more direct fit. If you also sell online, contact Avendo to discuss how routing would apply to your online checkout. More in the FAQ

Selling online? Start with a conversation.

Share your checkout platform and current processor with Avendo, and ask how real-time routing would apply to your online sales.

Contact Avendo