The Dough Guides

Payment processing, decoded.

The library most processors don't want you reading. Surcharging, dual pricing, interchange, statement audits — written in plain English for Canadian business owners, not finance majors.

Start here

The guide every Canadian merchant should read first

Pricing models

How Canadian processors actually charge you

3 guides
Compliance & legal

The rules nobody walks you through

3 guides
Compliance

PCI Compliance for Canadian Small Businesses

What PCI actually requires, what the PCI fee on your statement pays for, and the 90% of compliance work your processor handles for you automatically.

Pillar guide~9 minComing soon
Coming soon →
Compliance

The Canadian Guide to Chargebacks

How chargebacks actually work, the documentation that wins disputes, and why some processors quietly side with the cardholder over you.

Pillar guide~12 minComing soon
Coming soon →
Compliance

Visa & Mastercard 2026 Rule Changes

The new 2.4% surcharge cap, what changed in disclosure requirements, and what merchants need to do now to stay compliant.

News + analysis~7 minComing soon
Coming soon →
How-to

Step-by-step playbooks

2 guides
How-to

How to Switch Payment Processors Without Disrupting Your Business

The 2–3 day playbook. What stays the same (your bank, your bookkeeping), what changes (your terminal), and how to keep money moving the whole way through.

Pillar guide~8 minComing soon
Coming soon →
How-to

How to Read Your Merchant Statement

Line by line walkthrough of a real Canadian merchant statement. Spot the hidden fees, decode the tier coding, calculate your true effective rate.

Pillar guide~12 minLive now
Read the guide →
Fees & savings

Where the money actually goes

2 guides
Fees

The Hidden Fees in Every Merchant Statement

PCI fees, batch fees, network access fees, "non-qualified" tier upcharges, monthly minimum shortfalls. The line items most owners never decode.

Pillar guide~9 minComing soon
Coming soon →
Terminals

Free Terminal Programs in Canada: How They Actually Work

The honest explanation. Why "free" terminals come with multi-year contracts, when the math actually pencils out, and when you should pay upfront instead.

Pillar guide~7 minComing soon
Coming soon →
How to use this library

Three ways to actually get value out of these guides

Reading is fine. Acting on what you read is better. Here's the playbook.

1

Start with your statement

Read the merchant statement guide first. You can't fix what you can't see — and most owners can't see what they're paying.

2

Pick your pricing model

Surcharging, dual pricing, IC+, or flat. The three pricing model guides walk you through which one keeps the most dough in your pocket.

3

Send us your numbers

Or skip the reading entirely. Send your last statement and we'll do the math for you — no commitment, custom quote within 24 hours.

Want the answer faster? Send your statement.

The fastest way to learn what's on your statement is to put it in front of a real human. No commitment, no spam, custom quote within 24 hours.

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