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The Nevada Business Owner's Guide to Cutting Credit Card Fees, by Benjamin Olivares, Elite Merchant Solutions
I'm Benjamin Olivares. I run Elite Merchant Solutions in Las Vegas, and I sit down with small business owners every week to go through their processing statements. Most of them have never had anyone explain the statement in plain English. This guide is what I'd tell a friend before they sign anything.
1What you're really paying
Every card payment carries three costs:
Interchange. Set by Visa, Mastercard and the other networks and paid to the bank that issued the card. Rewards cards usually cost more than debit cards.
Assessments. Small network fees on top of interchange.
Processor markup. What your processor adds. This is the only part that changes from one provider to the next, and it's where most overpaying happens.
Quick math. If your business runs $20,000 a month in card sales and pays around 3% all in, that's about $600 a month, or $7,200 a year. For comparison, Square's published in-person rate is 2.6% plus 15 cents per payment on its free plan.
2Six lines to check on your statement
Effective rate. Total fees divided by total card sales. This one number tells you more than any quoted rate.
PCI non-compliance fee. Often charged every month because a simple questionnaire was never completed.
Monthly minimum. A charge when your fees fall below a set amount.
Statement, batch and "regulatory" fees. Small charges that add up over a year.
Equipment lease. Many leases run 48 months and can't be canceled. Owning or getting a free terminal is usually the better deal.
Early termination fee. Check this before you switch, so you know the real cost of leaving.
3Three legal ways to lower your cost
Option
How it works
Best for
Better traditional pricing
You keep one price for everyone and move to clearer pricing, such as interchange plus a fixed markup.
Businesses that don't want to change how prices are shown.
Cash discount
You post your regular price and give customers a discount for paying cash. Federal law allows discounts for cash.
Counter businesses with a mix of cash and card customers.
Dual pricing
Every item shows two prices: a cash price and a card price. The card price includes the processing cost, and the customer sees both before paying.
Shops, salons, auto repair, gyms and service businesses where card fees add up fast.
4Dual pricing and cash discount, done the right way
Do
Show both prices, or the cash discount, before the customer pays.
Post clear signs at the entrance and the register.
Make sure receipts show the right details.
Train staff to explain it in one sentence: "We offer a discount for cash."
Use a terminal built for dual pricing so the math is automatic.
Don't
Add a surprise fee at the end of the sale.
Charge more than your actual cost of accepting cards.
Add a surcharge to debit card payments. That is not allowed.
Copy another business's signs without checking they fit your setup.
Assume surcharging and dual pricing follow the same rules. They don't.
5Surcharging is different
A surcharge is a fee added only when a customer pays with a credit card. Nevada does not prohibit surcharging, but the card brands have strict rules. As of 2026, Visa caps credit card surcharges at 3% and never more than your actual cost of acceptance, surcharges can't be applied to debit cards, your processor must get written notice before you start, and the surcharge must be disclosed at the point of entry and on the receipt. Most small businesses find dual pricing simpler to run.
6Red flags before you sign anything
A rate that sounds too good, with no full fee schedule in writing.
A non-cancellable equipment lease.
Automatic renewal with a large early termination fee.
"Free" equipment with conditions nobody explained.
A salesperson who won't tell you who your actual processor is.
Nobody local you can call when something breaks on a Saturday.
Want a second set of eyes on your statement?
Send me your last processing statement and I'll walk through it with you line by line, in person or over the phone. If your setup is already a good deal, I'll tell you that too. Qualifying businesses that run dual pricing with us get a free credit card terminal. Se habla español.
This guide is general information as of October 2026, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Card brand rules and laws change, so confirm current requirements with your processor or attorney. Savings depend on your sales volume, card mix and current pricing and are not guaranteed. Free terminal offers apply to qualifying businesses and are subject to approval and the terms of your merchant agreement. Elite Merchant Solutions LLC is an independent sales agent, not a bank or a payment processor. Square, Visa and Mastercard are trademarks of their respective owners.