Raj Patel
Lead Reviewer & Analyst
Former Stripe Lead, PCI-DSS Certified
Raj Patel is a fintech engineer who spent four years at Stripe building payment integrations for enterprise clients before moving into independent consulting. He has audited payment stacks for over 60 merchants, diagnosing hidden interchange costs, settlement delays, and security gaps. Raj writes from a technical perspective that bridges what merchants experience on the surface and what actually happens at the API layer.
Articles by Raj Patel(10)
PCI Compliance Guide for Small Business: What You Actually Need to Do
PCI compliance for small businesses explained: which SAQ type applies to you, what quarterly scans cost, and whether that monthly PCI compliance fee is worth paying.
POS Systems Compared: Square vs Clover vs Toast vs Lightspeed 2026
Square vs Clover vs Toast vs Lightspeed POS compared in 2026: pricing, hardware, best use cases, and which system fits your business type and budget.
How to Accept International Payments as a Small Business
How to accept international payments as a small business: comparing Stripe, PayPal, Wise, and Payoneer for cross-border sales, fees, currency handling, and compliance.
High-Risk Merchant Accounts: What They Are and What Businesses Need One
What high-risk merchant accounts are, which businesses need one, the top high-risk processors, and what to expect with rates, reserves, and settlement holds.
Best Payment Processors for Restaurants 2026: From Food Trucks to Fine Dining
The best payment processors for restaurants in 2026: Toast, Square, Clover, and Lightspeed compared by features, pricing, and restaurant type — from food trucks to fine dining.
What Is a Chargeback and How Do You Fight One Successfully?
A complete guide to chargebacks: what triggers them, the timeline for responding, how to build a winning evidence packet, and when to fight versus accept a loss.
Interchange-Plus vs Flat-Rate Pricing: Which Saves You More Money?
Interchange-plus vs flat-rate payment processing pricing compared with real dollar examples. Learn when each model saves you money and why tiered pricing is always the worst option.
Square vs Stripe vs PayPal: Which Payment Processor Is Right for You?
Square, Stripe, and PayPal compared side-by-side: which is best for in-person retail, online businesses, and developers. Includes a decision framework by business type.
How Much Does Payment Processing Actually Cost? The Real Fee Breakdown
Real payment processing fee breakdown: flat-rate vs interchange-plus costs, what Stripe, Square, and PayPal actually charge, and hidden fees most merchants miss.
Complete Guide to Payment Processing for Small Business 2026
A complete breakdown of how payment processing works for small businesses: the 4 parties involved, how money flows from swipe to settlement, the three fee layers, and key decisions every merchant faces.