When you’re an Orange County janitorial service, the bidding process in one of the most crucial moments of communication for your company: it’s when you get to externalize your internal processes and wow clients with your best hand. It’s also a great learning opportunity for how your company approaches the competition. It’s a constant tug-of-war between the price the client wants to pay, and the overall quality they demand, and it’s your efficiency as a company that is in charge of making the magic happen. But where does efficiency come from?
If you ask most people who prepare bid proposals, odds are they will admit that price is central in their mind. They first think what price will need to be quoted in order to win the bid, and quality takes a back seat. When you, instead, think efficiency first, you view each area, and each task as an opportunity for efficiency, and here, using the right tools make a difference by increasing the cleaner’s possibilities.
There is usually a connection between the more efficient (faster) methods of cleaning, and quality, assuming, of course, that the factory recommendations are followed. When a tool works better, a job is done better, and it’s often done faster, too.
On the other hand, cost is always a central concern, and when there is the need to upgrade to newer, more efficient equipment, there is a cost associated with the change. It’s this cost of upgrade that leads some janitorial companies & businesses to save on upfront costs, even though there are additional costs experienced in longer cleaning times, and reduced overall quality. Some examples are backpack-style vacuums (in contrast to canister-style floor vacuums) and “bucketless” flat mops (in contrast to the old-fashioned string mops). For both, the trade-off of added cost of adoption is eclipsed many times over by the savings that come from cleaning a space with the most efficient tool out there.
Finally, the ability to simplify can be a huge cost savings. Multi-purpose cleaners that can replace multiple products is a way to simultaneously save money on monthly cleaning materials, save the time it takes to transition from cleaner to cleaner as the team moves around, and lastly, save the environment, as often less of the right product is needed to do the same exact job that previously took many cleaning products to accomplish.
This is why, when assessing a cleaning job for a bid, it’s a better idea to start from the perspective of opportunities for efficiency. In addition to tools, proper training plays an immense part in guaranteeing the most efficient cleaning service from your Orange County janitorial service. For bids, then, put cost aside, and let the most efficient bid win.
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A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.
No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.
Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.
Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.
Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.
No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.
Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.
Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.
Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.
If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.
This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.
If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.
Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.
Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.
Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.
Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.
Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.
In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.
If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.
Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.
Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.
Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.
By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.