The #1 Way Dentists Can Save Thousands on Credit Card Fees
- Mandy Madeline
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
As a dental practice owner, you work hard to provide excellent patient care while managing overhead costs. But did you know that one of the biggest hidden expenses eating into your revenue is credit card processing fees?
Many dental offices lose thousands of dollars annually due to high transaction fees, unclear pricing structures, and outdated payment systems. The good news? There’s a way to cut costs without sacrificing patient convenience.
Understanding the True Cost of Credit Card Processing
Most dental offices accept credit and debit card payments because they’re convenient for patients. However, many don’t realize that processing fees can range from 2% to 5% per transaction, and these small percentages quickly add up.
Where Are These Fees Coming From?
Interchange Fees – charged by card networks like Visa, Mastercard, and AmEx.
Processor Markups – The cut your payment processor takes per transaction.
Hidden Fees – Monthly service charges, PCI compliance fees, and other add-ons.
A practice collecting $1 million annually in card payments could be paying anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 in processing fees alone! That’s money you could be reinvesting in your practice.
How to Reduce Your Payment Processing Fees
1. Consider a Surcharge Program
Many dental offices have started implementing surcharging, which allows them to pass the processing fee to patients who choose to pay with a credit card. This means you keep 100% of your revenue while still offering the convenience of card payments.
Example: If a patient pays a $500 bill using a credit card, instead of absorbing a 3% fee ($15), your system automatically adds it to their total, allowing you to collect the full amount.
Important Considerations:
Surcharging is 100% legal in most states, but there are some regulations to follow.
Must be clearly disclosed to patients.
Doesn’t apply to debit card transactions.
Pay Proudly Health offers a fully compliant surcharging solution that integrates seamlessly with dental offices.
2. Automate Recurring Payments for Membership & Treatment Plans
Another way to cut down processing costs is by encouraging automated recurring payments for membership programs and treatment plans.
This helps:
Reduce the number of individual card transactions (fewer fees overall).
Improve cash flow with predictable, recurring revenue.
Increase patient retention by keeping them enrolled in long-term care.
With Pay Proudly Health’s automated billing system, you can set up patient payment plans effortlessly while keeping transaction fees low.
3. Choose a Payment Processor Built for Dental Practices
Not all payment processors are created equal! Most big-name providers charge high flat-rate fees that aren’t optimized for dental offices. Instead, working with a processor that understands the dental industry can help you:
Get lower transaction rates tailored for healthcare businesses.
Eliminate hidden fees that eat into your revenue.
Offer flexible payment options without increasing your costs.
How Much Can Your Practice Save?
At Pay Proudly Health, we specialize in reducing credit card fees for dental offices. On average, our clients save 40-80% on processing costs, adding thousands back to their bottom line.
Want to see how much YOU could save? Schedule a FREE Payment Processing Audit – We’ll analyze your current rates and show you exactly where you can cut costs.
Final Thoughts: Reducing credit card fees is one of the easiest ways to boost your dental practice’s profits without raising prices for patients. By switching to a dental-friendly payment processor, implementing surcharging, and automating payments, you can keep more of what you earn.
Let’s take the next step together!
What’s your biggest frustration with credit card processing? Drop a comment below!
Comments