Cashfree Payments has announced a complete waiver of payment gateway fees for new businesses signing up on its platform, offering 0% charges on the first ₹20 lakh of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) until March 31, 2027. The AI-native payments company said the initiative is aimed at supporting early-stage businesses and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands ahead of the festive shopping season, when many small businesses generate a significant share of their annual revenue. Under the offer, eligible merchants will pay no payment gateway fees on their first ₹20 lakh in sales. The company said new businesses can also complete onboarding within minutes, receive next-day settlements instead of the conventional two-day cycle, and access dedicated account managers throughout the festive period.
AkashSinha, Co-founder and CEO of Cashfree Payments, said nearly 40% of an average SMB or D2C business’s annual sales are recorded during the festive season. He added that around 90% of new sellers signing up before the festive period generate GMV below ₹20 lakh, making the fee waiver relevant for a majority of new merchants and allowing them to invest more in inventory, marketing and logistics.
Kolkata’s rapidly growing digital commerce ecosystem, driven by SMEs, homegrown brands and online retailers, is expected to benefit from the initiative. With festive demand traditionally remaining strong in eastern India, the waiver could help local businesses reduce transaction costs, improve cash flow and strengthen their online sales capabilities during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.