Cashfree Payments Announces 0% Payment Gateway Fees for New Businesses Till March 2027

Cashfree Payments has announced a major initiative waiving payment gateway fees for all new businesses signing up on its platform, offering 0% fees on the first ₹20 lakh of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) until March 31, 2027. Designed specifically for early-stage and growing sellers operating on their own online channels, the offer aims to provide a robust financial cushion ahead of the critical festive season.

Strategic Timing and Margin Relief:
Highlighting the timing of the initiative, Cashfree Co-founder and CEO Akash Sinha noted that average SMBs and D2C brands generate roughly 40% of their annual sales during the festive months. Because seasonal discounts and marketing overheads often compress profit margins, removing payment gateway fees during this peak window provides businesses with vital cash flow to reinvest into inventory, advertising, and logistics. Furthermore, data indicates that 90% of new sellers signing up ahead of the season record a GMV under ₹20 lakh, meaning the offer effectively covers their entire festive run.

Accelerated Onboarding and Dedicated Support:
In addition to the financial fee waiver, the program delivers several key operational advantages for newly onboarded merchants:

Rapid Go-Live: Sellers can complete onboarding and go live within minutes of signing up, bypassing the traditional multi-day industry norm.

Next-Day Settlements: Merchants benefit from a next-day settlement cycle instead of the standard two-day window, significantly boosting liquidity for rapid restocking and ad spend during peak sales.

Dedicated Account Management: Every participating merchant is assigned a dedicated account manager from the moment of signup to ensure continuous operational support throughout the busy festive window.