swipe

Small businesses are grappling with rising healthcare costs, high swipe fees, and the growth of the subscription economy.

Small businesses in the U.S. are facing big challenges. Health insurance costs keep rising. Premiums for firms with fewer than 50 employees went from $20,236 in 2019 to $25,167 in 2024 (https://www.kff.org/report-section/ehbs-2024-section-1-cost-of-health-insurance/). The average family premium was $7,529 in 2023 (https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/dec/trends-employer-health-insurance-costs-2014-2023). Deductibles are high too, averaging $5,074 a year per employee (https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/dec/trends-employer-health-insurance-costs-2014-2023). Credit card fees …

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PayPal’s giving 5% back on gas from June 22 to July 12. No hoops. No activation. Just swipe and save.

The pump’s been punishing wallets for months. Now, for once, there’s a break—and it’s not coming from Washington. It’s coming from PayPal. Starting June 22 and running through July 12, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard is offering 5% cash back on gas purchases, no activation required. No codes. No fine print. Just swipe and go. This …

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Visa and Mastercard’s swipe fees cost families $900 annually—Senate eyes reform.

Visa and Mastercard have a duopoly on the card swipe fees charged to consumers. It costs the average family about $900 per year in fees, way higher than Europe. The Credit Card Competition Act is moving thru Senate hearings. This would introduce more competition into the market to bring down these hidden fees. https://twitter.com/BasedSierra117/status/1858908379898368373

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