Clover Fee Calculator
Calculate Clover POS processing fees for retail, restaurant, and service businesses. See exact costs for in-person, online, and invoice transactions.
Chip, tap, or swipe on Retail Growth ($84.95/mo) or Restaurant plans ($59.95-$89.95/mo)
Clover In-Person (Growth/Restaurant) Fee Calculator
Clover In-Person (Growth/Restaurant) Fee Structure:
- • Fixed fee: $0.10
- • Percentage fee: 2.3%
- • Minimum fee: $0.10
About Clover Processing Fees
Clover is one of the most popular POS (Point of Sale) systems in the US, powering retail stores, restaurants, salons, and service businesses. Owned by Fiserv (one of the world's largest payment processors), Clover combines hardware, software, and payment processing into a single ecosystem.
Here's the fee reality: Clover charges 2.3% + $0.10 for in-person transactions if you're on their Growth or Restaurant plans. If you're on the basic Essentials plan ($14.95/month), it's 2.6% + $0.10. For online orders, invoices, or keyed-in cards, the rate jumps to 3.5% + $0.10.
That's competitive—actually cheaper than Square for in-person transactions (Square charges 2.6% + $0.10). However, Clover adds monthly software fees ranging from $14.95 to $89.95 depending on which plan and features you need. Square offers a completely free plan, making it better for low-volume businesses.
The calculator above helps you figure out exactly what you'll pay per transaction. Choose your plan tier, enter your sale amount, and see the real cost before committing to Clover.
How Clover Fees Are Calculated
Clover uses flat-rate pricing, meaning you pay a fixed percentage plus a small fixed fee per transaction. The rate depends on your software plan and how the card is processed.
Clover Processing Rates:
In-Person Transactions:
- • Essentials Plan: 2.6% + $0.10
- • Retail Growth: 2.3% + $0.10
- • Counter Service Restaurant: 2.3% + $0.10
- • Table Service Restaurant: 2.3% + $0.10
Card-Not-Present:
- • Online Orders: 3.5% + $0.10
- • Email Invoices: 3.5% + $0.10
- • Virtual Terminal: 3.5% + $0.10
- • Keyed-In Cards: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly Software Fees:
- • Clover Payments (Free Plan): $0/month
- • Essentials: $14.95/month
- • Retail Growth: $84.95/month
- • Counter Service Restaurant: $59.95/month
- • Table Service Restaurant: $89.95/month
Real Example - Retail Store:
Customer buys $150 worth of products (card present, Retail Growth plan):
- • Sale amount: $150.00
- • Processing fee (2.3%): -$3.45
- • Fixed fee: -$0.10
- • You receive: $146.45
Total cost: $3.55 (2.37% of $150). Plus $84.95/month software fee.
Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About
Clover's advertised fees look great on paper. But here are the extras that can sneak up on you:
⚠️ Watch Out For:
💰 How to Avoid These Costs:
- ✓ Buy hardware outright if you have cash—saves $1,000+ over leasing
- ✓ Always buy from Clover.com, not random resellers or sales reps
- ✓ Read the contract carefully—look for early termination clauses
- ✓ Start with free/cheap apps—upgrade only when absolutely needed
- ✓ Negotiate if you process $50K+/month—custom rates are available
Clover: The Honest Pros & Cons
✓Advantages
- • Lowest in-person rates: 2.3% + $0.10 beats Square, PayPal, Shopify—save $150/month on $50K volume
- • All-in-one system: POS, payments, inventory, employee management—no need for 5 different tools
- • Professional hardware: Looks like a real business, not a smartphone on a stand
- • Backed by Fiserv: One of the world's largest processors—won't disappear overnight
- • Restaurant-ready: Table management, kitchen tickets, split checks built in
- • App marketplace: 300+ integrations for accounting, loyalty, marketing, payroll
- • Next-day deposits: Get paid fast (most banks)
✗Disadvantages
- • Expensive hardware: $800-$1,900 upfront or locked into 36-month lease
- • 36-month contract: You're stuck for 3 years—brutal if you want to switch
- • Monthly fees add up: $15-$90/month software + $10-$50 for apps = $100-$150/month
- • Online fees are high: 3.5% + $0.10 for e-commerce—Square charges 2.9% + $0.30
- • Reseller nightmare: Buy from wrong vendor, get ripped off with 3.5% rates
- • Customer support varies: Quality depends on whether you bought direct or through reseller
- • US/Canada only: No international expansion options
Clover vs Square vs Toast: The Real Comparison
Let's cut through the marketing noise. Here's how Clover actually compares to its biggest competitors:
| Feature | Clover | Square | Toast |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Person Rate | 2.3% + $0.10 | 2.6% + $0.10 | 2.49% + $0.15 |
| Online Rate | 3.5% + $0.10 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 3.5% + $0.15 |
| Monthly Fee | $15-$90 | $0 (free plan) | $0-$165 |
| Hardware Cost | $799-$1,899 | $49-$799 | $0-$799 |
| Contract | 36 months | None | Varies |
Choose Clover If:
- ✓ Processing $20K+/month in-person
- ✓ Need advanced inventory management
- ✓ Want all-in-one hardware/software
- ✓ Can afford upfront costs
- ✓ Plan to stay for 3+ years
Choose Square If:
- ✓ Just starting ($0-20K/month)
- ✓ Want zero monthly fees
- ✓ Need flexibility to switch
- ✓ Low upfront investment
- ✓ Simple plug-and-play
Choose Toast If:
- ✓ Running a restaurant
- ✓ Need online ordering
- ✓ Restaurant-specific features
- ✓ Table management
- ✓ Kitchen display systems
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Clover charge for credit card processing?
Clover charges 2.3% + $0.10 for in-person transactions on Growth and Restaurant plans, or 2.6% + $0.10 on the Essentials plan. Card-not-present transactions (online, invoices, keyed-in) cost 3.5% + $0.10. Monthly software fees range from $0 to $89.95.
Is Clover POS cheaper than Square?
Clover in-person fees (2.3% + $0.10) are 0.3% lower than Square (2.6% + $0.10). For businesses processing $50,000/month, that's $150/month in savings. However, Clover charges monthly software fees while Square offers a free plan. High-volume businesses save with Clover; low-volume businesses save with Square.
Does Clover have monthly fees?
Yes, most Clover plans have monthly software fees: Essentials ($14.95), Retail Growth ($84.95), Counter Service Restaurant ($59.95), and Table Service Restaurant ($89.95). There is also a free Clover Payments plan with limited features.
What is the difference between Clover Essentials and Retail Growth?
Essentials ($14.95/month) has basic inventory and employee tools with 2.6% + $0.10 processing fees. Retail Growth ($84.95/month) includes advanced inventory, e-commerce integration, and lower 2.3% + $0.10 processing fees. The 0.3% savings on fees can offset the higher monthly cost for businesses processing $25K+/month.
Can I cancel my Clover contract early?
Clover typically requires a 36-month contract commitment. Early termination is possible but comes with cancellation fees ranging from $250-$500 depending on your reseller and how much time remains on your contract. If you're leasing hardware, you may also owe the remaining lease payments. Always read the contract carefully before signing and ask about early termination clauses.
Should I buy or lease Clover hardware?
Buying hardware outright is cheaper long-term. A Clover Station Duo costs $1,899 upfront or $84/month for 36 months ($3,024 total)—you save $1,125 by buying. However, leasing spreads the cost and may include free hardware upgrades. Buy if you have cash and plan to stay long-term; lease if you want to preserve cash flow and test Clover first.
Is Clover worth it for restaurants?
For full-service restaurants, yes—Clover's Table Service plan ($89.95/month) includes tableside ordering, kitchen display integration, and split check functionality. For quick-service restaurants, Clover's Counter Service plan ($59.95/month) works well if most sales are in-person. However, if you do high-volume online orders, Toast may be cheaper (better online rates: 2.5% vs Clover's 3.5%). Compare total costs based on your in-person vs online sales mix.
Last Updated: November 2025 | Clover fees vary by plan and reseller. Always verify current rates on the official Clover website or with your merchant services provider.