Wipe Out Your
Credit Card Fees.
Compliantly. Completely.
Through compliant Dual Pricing and Cash Discount programs, we eliminate credit card processing fees for merchants — legally, permanently, and without disrupting operations.
20 years of payment processing expertise. Vendor-agnostic. Surcharge-compliant. Zero downtime migrations.
Serving Merchants Since 2008
Pilothouse has provided credit card processing solutions to thousands of merchants since 2008. The company has since broadened its core practice to include a suite of consulting services and strategic partnerships that enable Pilothouse to deliver forward-thinking, cutting-edge payment solutions to clients both in the U.S. and internationally — card-present and online.
The company's approach is hands-on and boutique in nature, always contemplating the best payment experience for the customer while delivering the most competitive fee structure in the industry for its clients. Every engagement is treated as a bespoke advisory relationship — not a commodity transaction.
Our Payment Services
Notable Clients
Among the many valued clients Pilothouse Payments has served:
No commitment required. We calculate your exact savings before you sign anything.
Exclusive Credit Card Processing Partner — NYS Restaurant Association
Pilothouse is proud to be named the "Exclusive Credit Card Processing Partner" by the New York State Restaurant Association (nysra.org), offering our services to thousands of their valued members across New York State.
What Is Dual Pricing?
Dual pricing is a compliant payment strategy where merchants display two prices at the point of sale — a cash price and a card price. The difference covers the cost of card acceptance, effectively transferring the processing fee to the card-paying customer and reducing the merchant's effective rate to near zero.
Dual Pricing
Two prices are displayed simultaneously — a lower cash price and a higher card price. The card price includes the processing fee, so the merchant absorbs nothing. Customers self-select their payment method with full transparency.
- Fully disclosed at point of sale
- Compliant with all card brand rules
- Ideal for retail, restaurant, and service businesses
- No cap on fee recovery amount
Cash Discount
The posted price reflects the card price. Customers who pay with cash receive a discount, reducing their total. The merchant's listed price always covers processing costs, eliminating out-of-pocket fees.
- Discount model — not a surcharge
- Simpler customer communication
- Compliant in all 50 states
- Preferred for ecommerce and subscription models
From Analysis to Zero Fees
A structured four-phase approach that takes you from your current processing costs to a fully compliant, near-zero fee environment.
Feasibility Assessment
We analyze 12–24 months of your processing statements to determine the exact dollar amount you can eliminate through a compliant dual pricing or cash discount program.
Compliance Architecture
We design a fully compliant surcharge framework aligned with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex card brand rules, plus all applicable state regulations—covering signage, disclosures, and receipt formatting.
System Implementation
Our team configures your POS, payment gateway, and processing stack to support dual pricing with zero downtime. We handle API integrations, hardware deployment, and staff training.
Migration & Go-Live
A phased cutover ensures business continuity. We monitor transaction data post-launch to confirm compliance and optimize performance, then hand off a fully operational zero-fee payment ecosystem.
What We Deliver
End-to-end advisory, implementation, and compliance services for merchants ready to eliminate processing fees permanently.
Dual Pricing Program Design
We engineer a compliant two-price model that presents a cash price and a card price at the point of sale. Customers who pay with cash receive the lower price; card users pay the standard price that covers processing costs—eliminating your fees entirely.
Cash Discount Implementation
For businesses that prefer a discount-based model, we implement a cash discount program where the listed price reflects the card price, and cash-paying customers receive a discount. Fully compliant with card network rules and state surcharge laws.
Surcharge Compliance Audit
We conduct a comprehensive compliance review of your current or planned surcharge program against all card brand mandates and state-specific regulations, delivering a remediation roadmap to eliminate legal and financial risk.
Payment System Migration
Seamless migration from your current processor to a dual-pricing-enabled platform. We manage the entire technical transition—gateway reconfiguration, POS hardware, API integrations—with zero downtime and no disruption to your operations.
Processing Statement Analysis
A forensic review of your interchange fees, assessment fees, and processor markups. We identify every dollar of unnecessary cost and model the exact savings achievable through fee elimination strategies.
Signage & Disclosure Packages
Card brand rules require specific disclosures at entry points, POS terminals, and on receipts. We provide compliant signage templates, digital disclosure overlays, and receipt formatting for every channel—retail, ecommerce, and recurring billing.
Surcharge Compliance Is Our Specialty
Non-compliant surcharge programs expose merchants to card brand fines, chargebacks, and potential loss of merchant account privileges. We have spent 20 years mastering the rules so our clients never face these risks.
Card Brand Registration
Surcharge programs must be registered with Visa and Mastercard a minimum of 30 days before implementation. We manage the registration process on your behalf.
State Surcharge Laws
Several states restrict or prohibit credit card surcharges. We map your operations to applicable state laws and design programs that are compliant in every jurisdiction where you operate.
Surcharge Cap (4%)
Card brand rules cap surcharges at the merchant's cost of acceptance or 4%, whichever is lower. Our programs are engineered to stay within this threshold while maximizing fee recovery.
Entry & POS Signage
Physical and digital disclosure at the point of entry and point of sale is mandatory. We provide professionally designed, card-brand-compliant signage templates for all environments.
Receipt Line Items
Surcharge amounts must appear as a distinct line item on every receipt. We configure your POS and gateway to produce compliant receipt formatting automatically.
Debit Card Exclusion
Surcharges cannot be applied to debit card transactions, even when processed as credit. Our implementation includes the technical logic to correctly identify and exclude debit transactions.
Every System. Every Channel.
Vendor-agnostic expertise across the full payment technology stack. If you process payments through it, we can optimize it.
POS Systems
Clover, Toast, Square, PAX, Verifone, Ingenico, and custom integrations
Payment Gateways
Authorize.net, NMI, Stripe, Braintree, Cybersource, and 50+ others
ACH & EFT
Same-day ACH, next-day settlement, and EFT optimization for B2B transactions
Card Brands
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express—all major card networks
Mobile & Contactless
Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap-to-pay, and mobile POS environments
Recurring Billing
Subscription platforms, dunning management, and Level II/III data optimization
Concerns We Address
Every merchant considering dual pricing has the same questions. Here is how 20 years of implementation experience answers them.
Q.Will customers push back?
With proper signage and transparent disclosure, the vast majority of customers accept dual pricing without friction. Our 20 years of implementation experience shows that churn rates are negligible when programs are designed and communicated correctly.
Q.Is this legal in my state?
Surcharging is legal in most U.S. states. A handful of states have restrictions, and we map your specific business operations to applicable laws before designing your program—ensuring full legal compliance.
Q.What if my processor doesn't support it?
Most modern processors support dual pricing. If yours does not, we manage a seamless migration to a compatible platform with zero downtime, preserving your transaction history and merchant account standing.
Q.How much will I actually save?
The average merchant processing $500K/month in card volume saves $12,500–$18,000 annually. We calculate your exact savings during the feasibility study before you commit to any program.
20 Years of Payment Processing Expertise
We have been in the payment processing industry since before most modern gateways existed. We have seen every processor, every platform, and every compliance challenge. That depth of experience is what allows us to design programs that work — and that last.
Traditional Processing vs.
Pilothouse Payments
See exactly how much merchants at your volume can eliminate. Figures based on an industry-average blended rate of 2.5–3.5%.
| Monthly Volume | Traditional Processing2.5–3.5% blended rate | Pilothouse PaymentsDual Pricing / Cash Discount | Monthly Savings | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$50,000 | $1,250–$1,750 per month | ~$0 effective cost | $1,250–$1,750 per month | $15,000–$21,000 per year |
$100,000 | $2,500–$3,500 per month | ~$0 effective cost | $2,500–$3,500 per month | $30,000–$42,000 per year |
$250,000 | $6,250–$8,750 per month | ~$0 effective cost | $6,250–$8,750 per month | $75,000–$105,000 per year |
$500,000Featured | $12,500–$17,500 per month | ~$0 effective cost | $12,500–$17,500 per month | $150,000–$210,000 per year |
$1,000,000 | $25,000–$35,000 per month | ~$0 effective cost | $25,000–$35,000 per month | $300,000–$420,000 per year |
No setup fees. No implementation charges. You only benefit.
Card processing costs passed to card-paying customers via compliant dual pricing.
Every dollar of processing cost eliminated through a legally compliant program.
Dual Pricing in Action
See how a Manhattan-based parking portfolio eliminated $1.38M in annual processing fees — and unlocked $27.6M in real estate equity.
Your Garage Is Leaving Money on the Table
For parking asset owner-operators: every dollar paid in processing fees reduces your Net Operating Income — and your lender, appraiser, and future buyer all price your property on NOI. This presentation shows how a compliant Cash Discount program restores your NOI and permanently increases your property's appraised value.
per $5M Asset
No Hardware Swap
Cost After Program
Manhattan Parking Portfolio: $27.6M Equity Expansion
A multi-generational commercial parking operator with 55+ prime Manhattan locations was incurring $1.38M annually in credit card processing fees on $46M+ in card volume. Pilothouse Payments designed a three-phase Dual Pricing migration — Monthly Parker Portal, POS integration, and management deal productization — forecasting full fee elimination and a $27.6M increase in portfolio equity.
Eliminated
Expansion
Locations
In commercial real estate, every $1 of NOI expansion is valued at a multiplier derived from the Cap Rate. At a 5% cap rate, eliminating $1.38M in processing fees converts a passive cost of doing business into a $27.6M asset — available for refinancing, acquisitions, or owner distributions.