[01]_SCALER PAY
AUTO REPAIRAn Auto Shop Processing $60,000/Month in Cards Loses $19,800/Year to Processing Fees. Scaler Pay Brings That to Zero.
Auto shops are a high-ticket business: average repair ticket $300–$500. At 2.75%, that's $8.25–$13.75 per ticket going to Visa. At 50 tickets/month: up to $687/month. At $60k/month in cards: $1,650/month, $19,800/year. That number is larger than most auto shop equipment leases.
[02]_THE HIGH-TICKET ANGLE
Why a 3% Service Fee Feels Different on a $400 Repair Than on a $12 Coffee.
- 01Context is everything. A customer who just approved a $400 brake job and $200 oil change is not going to walk over a $24 service fee ($600 × 4%). The service fee is barely noticeable in context of a $600 total repair bill.
- 02Compare to a $12 coffee. A $0.48 fee on a $12 coffee creates proportional friction because the service fee is 4% of a small, frequent, discretionary purchase. Auto repair is the opposite: high-ticket, non-discretionary, and already mentally expensive before the fee.
- 03Auto is the least fee-sensitive vertical in this program. Customers who chose this shop and approved the repair are not going to leave over $12–$24. The decision was made when they signed the work order. The service fee at checkout is a non-event for the vast majority of customers.
[03]_ANNUAL SAVINGS
The Annual Savings Math at $30k, $60k, and $100k/Month.
| MONTHLY VOLUME | TYPICAL FEES (2.75%) | SCALER PAY MONTHLY | ANNUAL SAVINGS |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000/mo | $825/mo | $0 | $9,900/yr |
| $60,000/mo | $1,650/mo | $0 | $19,800/yr |
| $100,000/mo | $2,750/mo | $0 | $33,000/yr |
[04]_COMPARISON
Scaler Pay vs. PaymentNerds, Square, Shopmonkey, and Tekmetric.
| SCALER PAY | PAYMENTNERDS | SQUARE | SHOPMONKEY | TEKMETRIC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing Cost (at $60k) | $0 | $900 (est. 1.5%) | $1,560 | $1,500 (est.) | $1,500 (est.) |
| Rate | Cash discount — $0 to merchant | Interchange-plus ~1.5% | 2.6% + $0.10/swipe | 2.5%+ (varies) | 2.5%+ (varies) |
| Monthly Fee | Flat program fee | Varies | $0 | $49–$199/mo | $149–$349/mo |
| Shop Software Integration | Standalone terminal — works alongside any | Yes (varies) | Limited | Shopmonkey native | Tekmetric native |
| Next-Day Funding | Yes | Yes | Yes (fee applies) | Next business day | Next business day |
| Contract | Month-to-month | Varies | Month-to-month | Monthly | Monthly |
[05]_COMPLIANCE
How to Run a Compliant Cash Discount Program at Your Auto Shop.
- 01Signage (all provided). Front-door sign disclosing cash vs. card pricing, service counter sign, and on-invoice disclosure. All compliant signage ships with your terminal package — you do not need to source or design anything.
- 02Terminal flow. Technician enters total → terminal displays service fee as a line item → customer sees card price and cash price → customer approves → receipt shows both. Clean, transparent, and compliant in every state.
- 03Shop management software compatibility. Mitchell1, Tekmetric, Shopmonkey, and AutoFluent users: use the standalone PAX terminal alongside your existing software for payment processing only. Your shop software handles work orders, estimates, parts, and reporting — unchanged.
[06]_FAQ
Questions, answered.
Yes. Cash discount programs are legal in all 50 states, including New York. New York's GBL §518 requires dual-price display — which is exactly how Scaler Pay's program works. The terminal shows both the cash price and the card price before the customer confirms. Compliant signage is included with your terminal package.
At 4% service fee: a $300 repair is $312 by card ($12 fee) or $300 cash. A $500 repair is $520 by card ($20 fee) or $500 cash. On repairs that size, the service fee is a minor line item — customers who just approved a $300–$500 repair do not balk at $12–$20. Auto is among the least fee-sensitive verticals in payment processing.
Yes, with a standalone Scaler Pay terminal alongside your existing software. Mitchell1, Tekmetric, Shopmonkey, and AutoFluent users use the Scaler Pay PAX terminal for the payment step only — your shop software handles estimates, invoices, work orders, and reporting as before. No integration or replacement of your existing system is required.
Auto repair is the least fee-sensitive vertical in this program. A customer who just approved a $400 brake job and $200 oil change is not going to walk over an $18 service fee. The relative size of the fee to the ticket is tiny. Most shops report minimal pushback — particularly after the first 2 weeks when signage is in place and the process is routine.
Most auto shops are live within 3 business days of approval. Fill out the application, we call you within one business day, your terminal ships pre-configured, and you're processing. No downtime — the terminal is standalone and doesn't require changes to your existing software.
Scaler Pay provides pre-configured PAX countertop terminals for your service desk. Tap, chip, swipe, and contactless support. Terminals ship ready to process — no configuration required on your end. For mobile or lot-side payments, discuss your specific setup on your onboarding call.
[07]_APPLY
How Much Is Your Shop Paying in Processing Fees?
Apply in 2 minutes. Terminal ships in 3 days. Also see: auto repair cash discount program and best merchant services for small business.
Payment processing services provided through licensed processing partners. Approval subject to review. Cash discount programs are permitted in all 50 states when disclosed at point of sale.