This page discloses the fees that apply when childcare centers accept tuition and other payments through the ChildWise platform. Payment processing is provided through our payments partner, Finix Payments, Inc. and its banking partners (“Finix”).
Card Processing
Card payments (credit and debit) are priced on an interchange cost-plus basis, starting at 2.9% per transaction. Interchange cost-plus means your center pays the actual wholesale cost set by the card networks (interchange), plus a fixed markup — rather than a single blended rate that can hide the underlying cost.
Exact card processing rates are customized for each center based on factors such as card mix and processing volume, and are specified in each center’s merchant agreement. Your center’s precise rates are always available in your merchant agreement and within the ChildWise platform.
ACH / Pay-by-Bank
ACH (pay-by-bank) transactions are charged a flat fee of $1.00 per transaction, regardless of the payment amount. There is no percentage-based fee on ACH payments.
How Payment Processing Works
Payment processing within ChildWise is provided through our payments partner, Finix. To accept payments, each center completes Finix’s merchant onboarding and underwriting process and enters into a merchant agreement with Finix. Settlement timing, payouts, refunds, chargebacks, and disputes are governed by that merchant agreement.
Passing Card Fees to Parents
Centers may optionally choose, within ChildWise, to pass card processing fees through to parents and guardians at checkout. Where enabled, the applicable fee is disclosed to the payer before payment is completed. Centers are responsible for ensuring that any fee pass-through complies with applicable law and card network rules.
Questions
If you have questions about payment processing fees, please contact us: