Royal Gorge Advisors

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Find out what card processing actually costs you.

For contractors, auto repair shops and local merchants. Share a recent statement and we’ll explain the charges, calculate your effective rate and tell you plainly whether a change is worth making.

Request a statement review How dual pricing works
The Royal Gorge Bridge spanning the canyon above the Arkansas River at sunrise, Cañon City, Colorado
The number that matters

Your effective rate.

Statements list dozens of line items: interchange, assessments, batch fees, PCI fees. The clearest single measure of what you pay is total fees divided by total card sales. Many owners have never calculated theirs.

Illustrative example · one month
Card sales processed
$85,000
Total processing fees
$3,060
Effective rate
3.6%

At that pace, about $36,700 a year. These figures are hypothetical; your review uses your actual statements.

Services & equipment

Built around how you get paid.

Statement review

A line-by-line read of your current statement, your effective rate, and the fees worth questioning. No cost and no obligation.

Pricing programs

Traditional pricing such as interchange-plus, or a dual-pricing program, depending on which fits your customers and how they pay.

Getting paid in the field

Mobile card readers, tap-to-pay and invoice payment links, so technicians can collect on the job. Options vary by processor.

Onboarding and switch-over

Application, equipment and staff training, with the change timed around your busy season to keep disruption to a minimum.

The review

From statement to a straight answer.

  1. Share a statement

    Through a secure upload link, plus a short call about how you take payments today.

  2. See your numbers

    Usually within a week: your effective rate, what you’re paying for, and what realistic alternatives would cost.

  3. Decide

    Keep what you have, renegotiate or switch. If you switch, we coordinate setup with the processor and remain your point of contact.

Common questions

Before you send anything.

Will switching processors always save money?

No. Results depend on your card volume, average ticket, card mix and what you pay today. Some businesses already have a competitive arrangement, and we’ll tell you so. We review the numbers before recommending any change.

Is dual pricing allowed?

Dual pricing is permitted in many situations when it is set up and disclosed correctly, but requirements vary by state and card network and can change. We work with the processor to configure signage, price display and receipts to the program’s requirements. For questions about your specific situation, check with your attorney or accountant.

How do customers respond?

Some will ask. Many are already familiar with cash and card prices from gas stations and other local businesses. Clear signage and a short, consistent explanation from your staff go a long way, and we’ll help you prepare it.

Can I keep my current equipment or software?

Sometimes. It depends on the terminal, your point-of-sale or field-service software, and the processor. We check compatibility before recommending anything.

Are there contracts or equipment costs?

Terms vary by processor, program and merchant approval. We’ll walk you through the equipment, pricing, contract length and cancellation terms in the processor’s agreement before you decide.

What do you need to get started?

One recent monthly processing statement (two or three is better) and a quick description of how you take payments: at the counter, on the job site, by invoice or online. Please don’t email statements; we’ll send a secure upload link.

Payment processing is provided by third-party processors and their sponsor banks. Program availability, pricing and equipment depend on the processor and on merchant approval. Savings are not guaranteed and depend on your volume, card mix and current costs. Royal Gorge Advisors is compensated by the processor when a merchant account is opened.