If you own a business & you accept credit cards, THIS IS A MUST READ!!
America Small Business Special Report: America is no longer land of the Free it's the land of the FEE
This is An Absolute GAME CHANGER
Inspired by an article on how to read your credit card processing bill—we uncovered the lies, the fraud, the straight-up overcharging baked into this whole system. We dive deep into merchant service fees, call out every shady trick, and yeah—we’ve got the fix.
One of the most hated bills that hits your desk every month? That merchant processing statement. Feels like a tax—Without government backing or a vote by the people on how much it should be. There are no rules, laws or regulations to protect businesses creating an environment where processing companies can charge whatever they want . Ironically a few States have laws restricting how we can recoup those costs as business owners.
Matt Roj’s piece—”How to Read Your Merchant Processing Statement (With Examples),” Feb 7, 2025—nails it. They quote you “as low as 1.5%,”When you sign up, but when the real numbers hit, you’re paying at least 3%, if you aren’t careful the effective rate could be more than wants on the bill. In the article they used a company with $100K monthly sales? At first, it appeared the effective rate was 3.6% or $3,600 in fees—but upon further review they were really being charged more like $7,200. Using deception & tricks they were getting almost double the effective rate automatically withdrawn, before the monthly statements were sent out. Money’s already gone what can you do
MONTHLY SALES | MONTHLY FEES (3-4%)
$25K → $750-$1,000
$50K → $1,500-$2,000
$100K → $3,000-$4,000
And that’s the “clean” version. The article shows how they hide junk fees, inflate rates, make you play detective just to spot the theft. Even if you catch it—good luck getting it back.
Here's what most owners miss: this isn't your “cost of doing business"
“They” (whoever they are probably the card processing companies) have us hood winked, bamboozled us into thinking it’s the owner’s of the business receiving the payments responsibility. Of course! why wouldn’t it no be? (A comment like this is follow by Sarcasm – The businesses Get no part of the 3-4% fees , do not share in the 30% interest collected, and are at the mercy of Each company to find out what they will be charged, for the incentives that causes people to use their card. Debit card are supposed to be charged differently than credit cards, they often are not. The bottom line it’s the customers choice on how they will pay, so why would the business be “obligated” to cover the cost. The best way to remedy the situation is build that Fee into the Prices that you Post and give people that pay cash a discount. Problem solved.
Think of it this Way:
If a business accepts cash only , you are not required to pay the ATM fees when someone pulls cash. Somehow credit card companies convinced everyone that business owners are on the hook for interchange & fraud costs. The processing companies recoup the cash-back, miles and all the other incentives by quietly jacking us on the back-end.
We’ve been lied to, deceived, and robbed for decades. It doesn’t have to be this way..
Flipping an Expense into Income
I know—because I did it. I owned a restaurant doing $100K a month. For eight and a half years—102 months—I paid over $3,000 every single month. That adds up: $306,000 straight out of my pocket. Felt like bleeding out.
Then one day a guy walks in: “I can Eliminate, you Mr business owner, from having to pay these credit card processing fees again. Instead of the merchants paying that monthly fee the charges are spread to the actual card users each transaction. I have my serious doubts, But there were no contracts that didn’t cost me anything and I could cancel at any time. I switched to a cash discount program—legal, compliant, no surcharges. Happy to report it went better than advertised. My concerns regarding the possible effect the change would have on our current Customers? Was it a non-issue as well as getting a new POS? Installed one morning—didn’t even notice. Seamless.
Net result : The last year and a half before I sold? Saved over $60,000. Bill went from $3,000+ to under $100. Turned a black hole into cash I actually kept.
There Is a Better Way: The Cash Discount Program
We offer the same thing—100% legal, fully compliant in California (cash discounts yes, surcharges no). Small fee passed transparently to card users—3-4% baked into the card price. Cash? You get the discount. Just like gas stations been doing for years also called ” dual pricing” Result: fees vanish. That 3-4% stays in your pocket.
What “Seamless” Looks Like
- We handle it all: equipment, software, signage, training, compliance.
- Zero out-of-pocket for most—no long-term contract. Cancel anytime.
- We don’t sell gear or charge setup. We get paid only when you’re saving.
It’s not hype—it’s real. I lived it. Between taxes, regs, everything else—this is the rare win. Say no to subsidizing Visa’s rewards
Compelling Reasons to make the change
- You’re not responsible for their costs—never were.
- They’ve overcharged you for years.
- You’ve paid for perks that hook customers into cards.
- There’s a simple, legal fix, Costs Very Little, No contract, & Can cancel at any time.
- We make Nothing on The Equipment And our deal with the Processor, doesn”t begin until after you Start saving $$.
Common Pushback
- “I feel bad leaving my processor.” They never told you this existed. Move on.
- “I’m cash-heavy already.” Then why pay when they swipe?
- “Customers will hate it.” We give you scripts, signs, training—most get it. “Cash price vs. card price—your call.” They help small businesses.
Ready?
Read Matt’s article. See the scam yourself. Then text or call—tell us ‘You are ready to start the cash discount program”, You can send a current statement, We will see how bad they are sticking it you. We can help
I’ve been in this game thirty years. Got tired of being robbed. Now I help others stop it.
Say “No more merchant credit card processing fees.”
Let’s do this—together