Stripe is for software companies. You have a counter.
Stripe is a phenomenal developer platform, and if you're building an app, use it. If you're running a shop, cafe or service business, you're paying a developer-platform premium for payments that mostly happen in person.
Compare against my real numbersWhere Stripe shines
Developer tooling
The best payment APIs in the industry, full stop. Custom software belongs on Stripe.
Online-first features
Subscriptions, marketplaces and global payments for internet businesses.
Where the broker wins
In-person rates for in-person sales
Card-present transactions cost the networks less, and a proper merchant account prices them that way. Stripe's flagship rate treats most volume like e-commerce.
Counter hardware that belongs there
Real terminals and POS systems installed locally, not a reader bolted onto a laptop.
Programs Stripe doesn't run
Dual pricing and surcharging configured compliantly at the counter, which is where your fees actually disappear.
Someone to call
Stripe support is email-first and developer-oriented. Ours is a person in Federal Way.
Building software? Stripe. Running a business with a door? Get in-person pricing for in-person volume.
Fair questions
We use Stripe online and a register in-store. Is that wrong?
It's common and fixable: keep Stripe where it shines if you like, and put the counter volume on card-present pricing. We'll show the split math.
Can you match Stripe's online capabilities?
For standard online selling, yes, through proper gateways at negotiated cost. For custom software platforms, Stripe is genuinely the right tool and we'll say so.
Is Stripe's pricing negotiable?
At enterprise volume, somewhat. For typical local business volume, you take the listed rate. Merchant accounts are negotiable at exactly the volumes Stripe isn't.
How disruptive is moving the in-store side?
A terminal swap and an afternoon. Your online stack doesn't have to change at all.