If you're doing business internationally, currency conversion is likely one of your biggest hidden expenses. PayPal typically adds a 3-4% markup on the mid-market exchange rate for currency conversions.

This markup is often not explicitly stated as a 'fee' but is instead baked into the exchange rate offered to you. For a business processing $10,000 in international sales, this can mean losing $300 to $400 on top of the standard processing fees.

Stripe handles this differently, often offering more competitive rates or allowing you to maintain balances in multiple currencies to avoid unnecessary conversions.