Stripe’s “2.9% + 30¢” Is a Lie
Episode description
Think Stripe’s fees are just 2.9% + 30¢? Think again. In this video, Maria Sparagis (payment processing expert and owner of DirectPayNet) breaks down Stripe processing fees, reveals their hidden charges, and shows you exactly how to read your Stripe balance report so you can uncover the real cost of doing business.
We’ll cover:
- Stripe transaction fees explained
- How to find Stripe’s additional fees
- Understanding foreign transaction & currency fees
- Dispute & chargeback costs
- Stripe fees vs. your actual processing cost
- How to protect your account from holds and reserves
If you want to know the true cost of Stripe and how to spot unnecessary fees, this guide is for you.
Takeaway tip: Download your monthly Stripe Balance Report in PDF and check every single fee line—knowledge is power when negotiating rates or switching providers.
0:00 Why your Stripe fees are higher than advertised
0:57 The balance report you NEED to download
2:13 High-risk merchant & out-of-region fees
3:39 Foreign exchange & risk reserves explained
5:29 Payout differences & surprise debits
7:32 Why 2.9% + 30¢ is misleading
8:28 How to track Stripe fees monthly
Need a merchant account? Get in touch! ➡️ directpaynet.com/contact-us