TBL Ep.24 | How Credit Card Processing Fees Quietly Drain Profit | Justin Feist

Credit card processing fees can look like a normal operating expense. Until someone actually checks the numbers. In this episode of The Bottom Line, Steve Thompson sits down with Justin Feist, President of Auto Dealer Payments, to discuss credit card processing, merchant fees, rate creep, contracts, terminal leases, dealership expenses, and why businesses need to understand what they are really paying for every transaction. The conversation gets into the parts of payment processing that often go unnoticed: effective rates, terminal leases, auto-renewals, rate increases, statement reviews, contract terms, reconciliation, support issues, and the hidden costs that can quietly affect profitability. In this conversation, we cover: • Why credit card processing fees should not be treated as “set it and forget it” • How a $200 terminal can turn into a much larger expense through leasing • Why businesses need to understand their effective rate • How small rate increases can become the new baseline • Why auto-renewals and contract terms matter • How payment technology can affect staff time and cash flow • Why one statement may be enough to uncover savings opportunities • How better support and reconciliation can reduce operational headaches • Why businesses should review vendor costs before they become accepted expenses Whether you own a dealership, manage operations, oversee accounting, or are responsible for protecting profitability, this conversation is a practical reminder that familiar expenses are not always optimized expenses. The invoice may look normal. The cost may still deserve a closer look. 🎙️ About the Guest: Justin Feist is the President of Auto Dealer Payments. With a background in automotive, dealerships, and OEM consulting, Justin helps automotive businesses better understand credit card processing, reduce unnecessary fees, improve payment technology, and simplify support. ABOUT THE SHOW: The Bottom Line is powered by Integrity Cost Consulting. Hosted by Steve Thompson, we cut through the noise to bring C-Suite leaders actionable advice on protecting and growing their bottom line. 🔗 CONNECT WITH US: Website: https://integritycostconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: /   / steve-thompson-a770762   LinkedIn: /   / justinmfeist   📌 Subscribe for more conversations on profitability, operations, expense visibility, leadership, and protecting the bottom line. #CreditCardProcessing #MerchantServices #DealershipOperations #CostControl #Profitability #ExpenseVisibility #TheBottomLine