Credit card processing and merchant services in Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield kept growing after 2020. The Census Bureau estimated 422,165 residents in July 2025, up 4.4% from its 2020 base of 404,362, and every new shop, clinic or contractor in town needs a tax rate and a way to take cards.

Start with the tax. CDTFA lists the city at 8.25% in its rates effective October 1, 2026. Unincorporated Kern County is at 7.25%, which is California's statewide base with nothing added. So the city limit is worth a full point. Bill a $3,000 job inside the city at the county rate and you're $30 short on tax you still owe; bill a customer outside the city at 8.25% and they've paid $30 too much.

Then the processing contract. It's easy to sign the first contract you're offered and never look at it again, so read it closely the first time. Before you sign, find out how the pricing works (flat rate, tiered or interchange-plus) and whether there's a term with an early termination fee. Our guide to hidden fees lists the charges to ask about, and interchange-plus vs flat rate explains the trade-off. We don't use long-term contracts or charge cancellation fees.

Card fee rules are statewide, and our California page lays them out: a surcharge ban that's still in the Civil Code but that the Attorney General generally doesn't apply to merchants situated like the Italian Colors plaintiffs, network caps that hold any surcharge to your cost, and SB 478 for card-only businesses.

For contractors and service businesses that bill after the work is done, our virtual terminal handles invoices and payment links. If you already take cards, a free statement review shows what they cost you.