Covering Payment Gateway Fees with SiR Charge

Accepting credit-card payments can be expensive. Do you want to absorb those gateway fees… or pass them on to your members?

SiR Charge for iMIS gives you full control: optional or required fee, per-method rates, custom messaging, accounting codes, and even a little branding flair.

Prerequisites

  • You must have administrative rights to your iMIS back-office.
  • SiR Charge installed and licensed.
  • A GL account ready for recording fee revenue.

1. Optional vs. Required Fee

First, decide whether members can opt out—or if covering fees is mandatory. Transparency is key: let them choose, or bake the cost in.

2. Define the Fee Item Name

Does “Convenience Fee” really fit your organization’s tone? Rename it to “Processing Support,” “Payment Assist,” or whatever resonates with your brand.

3. Customize the Request Message

How you ask matters. “Would you like to cover our payment gateway fees?” can be rephrased to highlight mission, impact, or savings.

4. Assign a Unique GL Account

Think ahead—tracking these fees separately ensures clean financial reporting. Map your fee item to a dedicated GL code now, before the first transaction posts.

5. Per-Method Fee Amounts

Visa and Amex cost you different rates. SiR Charge lets you set custom amounts per payment method—no more one-size-fits-all surprises later.

6. Enable on All Online Purchases

Ready to go live? The fee can attach to any iMIS web store, event registration, donation form, or commerce transaction—automatically.

7. Add a Custom Icon

A picture is worth a thousand words. Upload a small badge (e.g., your logo or a “no-surprise” icon) next to the fee line item to reassure payers.

Next Steps & Best Practices

  • Test your checkout flow in sandbox before going live.
  • Communicate the change to your members via email or site banner.
  • Monitor fee revenue separately—compare to gateway reports.
  • Revisit your fee strategy quarterly to stay aligned with card-network rates.

Ready to pass costs on—or absorb them gracefully? SiR Charge makes it seamless.