The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes 2411: What Your CPA Wishes You Knew About Payment Processing
Dec 29, 2025
Chris Sands, CPA and co-founder of Crown Card Services, dives into the hidden costs of credit card processing fees in dental practices. He reveals how 'price creep' and unregulated rates can significantly erode profit margins. Listeners learn about the impact of rewards cards, bundling traps, and the importance of transparent reporting. Chris shares success stories of cost reductions, compliance tips, and customer service advantages that can elevate a practice's value. It's a treasure trove of actionable insights for dental professionals!
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Origin Story: Fees Spotted In CPA Work
- Chris Sands noticed merchant fees creeping up by reviewing CPA clients' P&Ls after COVID and tax seasons.
- He founded Crown Card Services to stop silent rate increases and poor service that he observed across thousands of dental clients.
Price Creep Follows Tax Seasons
- The merchant processing industry practices regular 'price creep' with silent rate increases every April and October.
- Chris warns this timing aligns with tax seasons and contributes to long-term unnoticed fee growth.
Card Mix Drives Your Net Rate
- Credit card cost drivers include card mix (rewards vs non-rewards) and card networks like American Express charging more.
- Total practice fees typically range 2–3% with outliers up to 6%, so reducing percentage is high-impact.