We talk a lot at Rose x Trowel about the balance between the creative strategy and the operational foundation for small businesses. Usually, we are applying that philosophy to your business. Today, we’re talking about ours. As we enter our second decade of business, we recently did a deep dive into our own operational costs. One of the biggest, quietest drains on our resources? Payment processing fees. Standard payment processors take a significant percentage out of every retainer, project, and billable hour. We realized that there had to be a better way to handle the business end of business.
We care deeply about keeping our operating costs lean. Why? Because the less overhead we carry, the more competitive we can keep our pricing and the more value we can pack into our services for you. That is why Rose x Trowel is officially moving our payment processing to Helcim.
Why we chose Helcim as our payment processor
We didn’t just pick the first alternative we found. After reviewing several options, we determined Helcim was the right fit for our small business needs. We chose Helcim because:
- It’s Small-Business Friendly: They use a transparent Interchange Plus pricing model that actually lowers our rates as our volume grows, rather than charging a flat, inflated fee.
- WooCommerce Integration: While we would like to see further development on this functionality, being able to reduce payment processing fees as we expand our ecommerce operations and having a single processor to reconcile will both help to save money and save time on admin work.
- It Protects Our Pricing: Saving thousands on the backend means we don't have to pass inflated administrative costs onto our clients.
What This Means For You (Action Required)
If you are an active client, we need you to migrate your payment method to the new platform. We will be issuing all upcoming invoices through Helcim. Here is what you need to know:
- The Migration: When you receive your next invoice you will be prompted to enter your payment details into our new, secure Helcim checkout. You'll have the option to pay using ACH at no cost or by credit card for a nominal surcharge.
- The Benefit: Once you make the switch, Helcim provides a clean, dedicated billing portal. Moving forward, all of your billing information will be housed in one easy-to-access place. No more digging through your inbox to find last month's receipt for your accountant.
Need an alternative payment method?
Some of our clients have their own bill payment systems that they prefer. If you'd like to onboard us as a vendor into your payment processor, simply email support@roseandtrowel.com, and our team will work to get you whatever information you need on your side.
A Note for Fellow Founders
If you are a fellow small business owner, agency founder, or WooCommerce shop operator reading this and wincing at your own Stripe or Square fees, we highly recommend taking a look at Helcim.
We love sharing the tools that make our business run better. If you want to see how much you could save, you can check them out here:
Explore Helcim for Your Business
(Transparency note: This is a referral link. If you decide Helcim is a good fit and sign up, Rose x Trowel may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
Thank you to all of our clients for your patience as we make this transition. A few minutes of administrative setup this month ensures we can continue delivering top-tier creative work at competitive rates for years to come.
If you have any questions about your account, just reach out!