Business Credit Card Statistics
Last updated: June 2026 · 5 sourced statistics
Credit cards are the working-capital tool of first resort for many small businesses — and an expensive cost center for the merchants who accept them. US merchants pay well over $150 billion a year in processing fees, while more than half of small employer firms lean on cards for financing or payments. Sources: Nilson Report, Federal Reserve, and the Fed's Small Business Credit Survey.
Key takeaways
- US merchants paid more than $170 billion in card processing fees in 2023 (Nilson Report).
- More than half of small employer firms use credit cards regularly (Fed Small Business Credit Survey).
- Card payments dominate US consumer transactions — 157 billion payments in the Fed's last study period.
At a glance
Every figure on this page in one table, each linked to its named source. Scroll down for the full context behind each number.
| Figure | What it measures | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $170B+ | US merchants paid more than $170 billion in card processing fees in 2023, per the Nilson Report. | Nilson Report | 2024 |
| 50%+ | More than half of small employer firms report using credit cards regularly for purchases or financing, per the Federal Reserve Banks' Small Business Credit Survey. | Fed Small Business Credit Survey | 2024 |
| 157B | Card payments reached 157 billion transactions in the Federal Reserve's most recent payments study period — by far the most-used noncash method in the US. | Federal Reserve Payments Study | 2022 |
| 1.5–3.5% | Typical card interchange plus processing runs roughly 1.5%–3.5% per transaction depending on card type and channel — a direct margin cost for invoice payments taken by card. | Industry interchange schedules (Visa/Mastercard) | 2024 |
| Growing | Commercial and virtual card programs are among the fastest-growing slices of B2B payments as AP teams chase rebates and fraud controls (McKinsey Global Payments Report). | McKinsey Global Payments Report | 2024 |
The statistics
US merchants paid more than $170 billion in card processing fees in 2023, per the Nilson Report.
Source:Nilson Report2024
More than half of small employer firms report using credit cards regularly for purchases or financing, per the Federal Reserve Banks' Small Business Credit Survey.
Source:Fed Small Business Credit Survey2024
Card payments reached 157 billion transactions in the Federal Reserve's most recent payments study period — by far the most-used noncash method in the US.
Source:Federal Reserve Payments Study2022
Typical card interchange plus processing runs roughly 1.5%–3.5% per transaction depending on card type and channel — a direct margin cost for invoice payments taken by card.
Commercial and virtual card programs are among the fastest-growing slices of B2B payments as AP teams chase rebates and fraud controls (McKinsey Global Payments Report).
Source:McKinsey Global Payments Report2024
When these numbers don't apply
Aggregate statistics hide a lot. Read these caveats before quoting a figure as if it describes your specific situation.
- Processing-fee totals are industry-wide; an individual invoice paid by card typically costs 1.5-3.5%, varying by card type and channel.
- Fed Small Business Credit Survey covers employer firms — sole proprietors and nonemployer businesses use cards at different rates.
- Card transaction counts include consumer purchases; B2B card use is a smaller, faster-growing subset.
How we compiled this data
Compiled June 2026 from the Nilson Report, Federal Reserve payments research, the Fed's Small Business Credit Survey, public interchange documentation, and McKinsey's Global Payments Report.
We hand-collected each figure from its original publisher rather than recycling secondary round-ups, cross-checked the headline numbers against the source documents in June 2026, and link every statistic to the report it came from so you can verify it yourself. Where a publisher issues annual updates, we cite the report edition and flag the year inline.
Frequently asked questions
How much do card processing fees cost businesses?
US merchants collectively paid over $170 billion in 2023 (Nilson Report). For an individual invoice paid by card, expect roughly 1.5%–3.5% in fees.
Do small businesses rely on credit cards?
Yes — Fed Small Business Credit Survey data consistently shows more than half of small employer firms using credit cards for purchases or short-term financing.
Should I accept card payments on invoices?
Usually yes for speed — cards remove payment friction and cut days-sales-outstanding, which often outweighs the 2–3% fee on smaller invoices. Many businesses pass fees through where legal.
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