This page explains KOMOJU’s SMB pricing program.
Q1. What is the SMB pricing program?
The SMB pricing program is a special, subsidized processing rate for eligible small and medium-sized businesses, intended to make card acceptance more affordable.
Q2. Which payment methods are covered?
SMB pricing applies to:
- Visa / Mastercard
- JCB / AMEX / Discover / Diners
Q3. What are the SMB processing rates?
The SMB processing rate is as follows:
- All credit cards: 2.4%
Q4. What are the standard (non-SMB) rates for comparison?
The standard rates are:
- Visa / Mastercard: 2.88%
- JCB / AMEX / Discover / Diners: 3.2%
Q5. Is there a monthly fee or terminal cost for SMB pricing?
No, to start with, the plan states:
- Flat fee: 0
- Terminal price: 0
Q6. Who can apply?
A merchant generally needs to meet all of the following:
- Has not previously accepted in-person (offline) card payments in the past.
- Meets the government definition of an SMB (Small and Medium Enterprise Agency).
- Is not a chain store or part of a large corporate group, and is not publicly listed (and related restrictions).
- Is not in certain excluded industries (see next section).
For details, please refer to the Terms and Conditions.
Q7. Which industries are not eligible?
Examples of excluded industries include:
- Tobacco shops
- Department stores
- Travel agencies
- Lodging/accommodation facilities (hotels, inns, guesthouses, etc.)
- Transportation
- Real estate
- Some B2B transaction categories
Q8. Can existing KOMOJU merchants apply?
Only the businesses which are new to credit card payment processing are eligible for SMB pricing.
Q9. How do merchants apply?
- Read the terms and confirm eligibility by self-declaration.
- Submit an SMB program application.
- Wait for approval.
Q10. Does a merchant need approval for both Visa/Mastercard and JCB?
Yes. If only JCB is used, the merchant will not be eligible for SMB Support Program pricing.
Q11. When will a merchant lose SMB eligibility (and what happens)?
If a merchant later exceeds the program thresholds, they can lose eligibility:
- If transaction volume over the preceding 12 months exceeds ¥20 million for Visa or ¥10 million for Mastercard, the merchant no longer qualifies.
In that case, the standard rate applies starting from the second month after the review.
Example: reviewed in January → standard rate takes effect in March.
Q12. Will the rate change happen exactly at midnight on the 1st?
Not necessarily. Because the change is manual, it will be handled during business hours. It can be applied anytime on the effective date (for example, sometime on the 1st), not strictly at 12:00 AM.
Q13. Can merchants apply even if they only want Tap to Pay?
Yes, a merchant can use either Tap to Pay or terminals, or both.
Q14. What if an application is declined?
If a merchant is found not eligible during review, the application can be declined and the merchant stays on standard pricing.