Grand Rapids, MI

Credit card processing and merchant services in Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids grew to 201,183 residents by July 2025, and every taxable sale in the city carries the same 6% Michigan rate as a sale anywhere else in the state.

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Grand Rapids is still adding people: 201,183 residents as of July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau, up 1.2% from its April 2020 base. That's about 2,300 more people within city limits.

Sales tax is the easy part of serving them. Michigan's rate is 6%, and the Department of Treasury says the state doesn't allow cities or other local units to impose a sales or use tax. A taxable order delivered across town and one shipped to the far end of the state carry the same 6%, so an online checkout or delivery app needs one Michigan rate, not a lookup table.

Where Grand Rapids businesses have real choices is in how they get paid. A contractor or cleaning service that bills after the job can send invoices and payment links from the virtual terminal and put maintenance plans on recurring billing. A crew that collects on site can use mobile payments, with tap to pay or a mobile card reader. Our home services page and our guide to card processing for contractors go further.

The Michigan Attorney General says no state law restricts credit or debit card surcharges, but the card networks' rules still do: no surcharge on debit or prepaid cards, and a cap of 3% on Visa and 4% on Mastercard for credit. A cash discount is the other way to handle card costs, and our guide to dual pricing vs. surcharging compares the two. Sources are on the Michigan page.

We price Grand Rapids accounts on interchange-plus, with no long-term contract and a dedicated rep. A free statement review shows what your keyed-in and on-site payments are costing you today.

Common questions

Does Grand Rapids have a city sales tax?

No. Michigan's Department of Treasury says the state doesn't allow cities or other local units to impose a sales or use tax. Grand Rapids businesses charge the 6% state rate on taxable sales, the same rate that applies anywhere in Michigan.

How can a Grand Rapids contractor take card payments after a job?

Send an invoice or a payment link from the virtual terminal, or key in a card the customer reads to you over the phone. For repeat work such as seasonal maintenance, recurring billing charges the card on file on a schedule; our recurring billing guide explains how card-on-file payments work.

What sales tax goes on an online order shipped within Michigan?

6% on taxable items, wherever in Michigan the order arrives, because no Michigan city or local unit can add its own sales tax. Orders shipped to other states follow those states' rules, so keep that in mind when you set up your online payments checkout.

Should a Grand Rapids business surcharge or offer a cash discount?

It depends on how your customers pay. A surcharge applies to credit cards only, up to your cost and the networks' 3% Visa and 4% Mastercard caps, with notice before the sale. A cash discount lowers the price for cash and leaves the card price on every card, debit included. Our cash discount program guide explains how that works.

Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice

This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.

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