October 13, 2025
The Secret Business Model Behind Visa and Mastercard
The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial FreedomAbout this episode
In this episode, Andrew and Dave delve into the intricate business models of Visa and MasterCard. They discuss the performance and history of these companies, emphasizing Visa's American-centric focus compared to MasterCard's international reach. The conversation covers the concept of a duopoly and how both companies have become dominant players through strong network effects. They analyze the revenue streams of Visa, including service revenues, data processing, international transactions, and value-added services, and discuss the growth potential of these segments. The episode also compares Visa and MasterCard with competitors like American Express and Discover, highlighting the differences in their business models. Key risks such as regulation, real-time payments, and platform power are examined. The episode concludes by exploring the future of the industry and the potential for further innovation in payment systems. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:30 Why Care About Visa and MasterCard? 00:50 History and Overview of Visa and MasterCard 04:00 Understanding the Business Model 13:53 Revenue Streams of Visa 24:50 Comparing Visa and MasterCard 25:52 Competitors: American Express and Discover 30:59 Risks and Future Outlook 39:58 Conclusion and Additional Resources Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening. Today’s show is sponsored by: Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. Squeeze the most out of your Summer with Liquid I.V. Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to LIQUID-IV DOT COM and get 20% off your first order with code INVESTING at checkout. Leesa has a lineup of beautifully crafted mattresses tailored to how you sleep – without the luxury price tag. Go to Leesa.com , promo code INVESTING for 25% off mattresses PLUS an extra $50 off. Go to tesbros.com and use code POD15 for 15% off your first order. For our EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY , and your chance to win a DIY PPF Full Body Wrap kit tailored to your ride, simply go to this link: https://station.page/tesbros/contest/theinvestingfor Have questions? Send them to newsletter@einvestingforbeginners.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Tunein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices