Checks are out. Convenience is in.
If you're running a small business and still asking customers to write checks—or worse, charging extra fees for credit cards—you may be costing yourself more than the 2.9% you're trying to save.
At Ivingo Creative, we work with small businesses across Maryland and beyond, and this issue comes up constantly. Here's the truth: people want ease, trust, and speed. Credit cards deliver all three. Here's why you should embrace card payments, stop passing fees to your customers, and learn how to bake the cost into your pricing model.
The Problem With Passing on the Fee
When you charge a credit card fee (usually 2.9%–3.5%), it sends the wrong message. It creates friction in the transaction and makes customers feel penalized for wanting convenience. In some industries, it’s even legally restricted.
More importantly: it erodes trust.
You're not just selling a product or service—you’re selling an experience. A $3 fee on a $100 purchase tells your customer you don’t understand the cost of doing business in a digital world.
Why Accepting Credit Cards is a Win
- Speed up payments: No more waiting on checks to arrive or clear.
- Increase conversion: People are more likely to commit when they can pay instantly.
- Boost professionalism: Accepting cards signals legitimacy and modernity.
- Improve cash flow: Immediate or next-day deposits = better business operations.
Do the Math: Don't Pass the Fee–Price For It
Let’s say your service costs $100 and your payment processor charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
To still walk away with $100 after the fee, you need to price accordingly:
Adjusted Price = (Target Amount + Fixed Fee) / (1 - Percentage Fee)
= ($100 + 0.30) / (1 - 0.029)
= $100.30 / 0.971 ≈ $103.30
Now here’s the crucial part:
This is not something you tack on.
It’s not a surcharge. It’s not a line item. It’s not up for discussion.
It’s the cost of doing modern business, and it should be embedded in your pricing from the beginning—just like utilities, rent, or software subscriptions.
You don't itemize your electric bill on an invoice. You shouldn’t itemize a card processing fee either.
This approach preserves the customer experience and keeps your brand feeling trustworthy, not transactional. Convenience is part of what you're selling. So charge accordingly—and confidently.
Build It Into the Foundation
Just like a well-designed home, your payment process should be built on ease and confidence. Accepting credit cards—and removing the burden from your customer—strengthens your brand's foundation.
We believe strategy should feel like home. And in today’s world, a frictionless payment system is just good housekeeping.
