How and when did Keep The Fees get started?
Believe it or not, never in a million years would I think I would be involved with any kind of processing company. My first experience with a processing company was in 2008, not having enough credit when I first opened my business to have processing. When I was approached by my partners, Peter and Jeff to get involved with processing, I immediately had a bad taste in my mouth. They were telling me what everybody else tells you when talking about processing. How they can save my business money and I would pay less than anybody else ever would be able to offer. As a tattooer, instantly I trust no one and if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. I heard them out anyway. They explained to me how I would be saving, and it made complete sense and I wondered why this wasn’t already presented to our community. Peter and Jeff thought the same thing. Why are the big banks always trying to beat up on the little guys. So, at this meeting in July of 2021, in a sports bar across from the street from my shop, we formed Keep The Fees and became partners.

What is the main objective of Keep The Fees?
First, let me give insight on who I am. I’m a second generation tattooer, my father had to leave tattooing because there wasn’t any profit in it back in the 70s and 80s. In the late 90s, I wanted to get into tattooing so bad I did anything I could to get into a tattoo shop. I found my way in by my mid 20s, just like a lot of other tattooers do. Also, If you would have told me I would become a shop owner, I wouldn’t have believed you. To my disbelief, my shop opened in 2008 and soon come to find out, part of owning a business as a small guy, is you don’t know all the ins and outs of business and you end up spending a lot more money than necessary. Hindsight is always 20/20 and when it comes to business it’s all about math, really.

When you look back on all the money you spend on processing over X number of years of being in business you almost want to kick your own ass for not paying attention to these things. My objective with Keep The Fees (as well as, I believe my partners is) to help people save money and help run a more efficient business.

This is how I want to leave a mark on my industry, by helping other tattooers and shop owners. I believe in the American dream; to me tattooing is the dream and I want everyone I know to be successful.

Yeah, I know we’re all a bunch of pirates and we all like to keep our secrets from each other as far as tattooing goes. Yet, there’s a lot of great shops and great people trying to keep their business open and at the end of the year by using Keep The Fees, we can save thousands of dollars which will come in handy for slow seasons.

What is a cash discount program?
Do you know for years it was illegal to offer a cash discount? How crazy is that? We heard it our whole lives, “What if you pay you with cash?” A lot of people thought they were going to get a deal but really, we were just trying to avoid taking a credit card because we were getting smacked with these stupid fees.

A cash discount is when a merchant offers a discounted price to a customer if they choose to pay with physical cash for an item or service as opposed to a credit card.

How can Keep The Fees benefit the tattoo community?
Our industry is based off percentages, let’s use round numbers, a 50/50 situation. The industry standard is 50% for the shop, 50% to the artist. As the owner of the business, you’ve accepted a credit card because everyone pays in plastic, either the shop eats the 2.5% to 3.7% (And you’re usually getting hit the hardest from Square) or in some cases shops makes the artist eat this cost. Which I think is ridiculous.

Let’s put it this way if you’re an owner/booth renter, you have made $100,000 in credit cards and your percentage rate is 3.7% because they can vary between cards swipes, etc. but we’re going to use round numbers here. You would have paid $3,700 out just in processing fees alone. Now there’s always loopholes when you’re signing on with other processors. If you’re reading this and you’re someone that makes $1,000,000, in transaction fees you’re looking close to paying about $40,000 a year alone. They’ll hit you for a swipe and then depending on a card or card type it can be outrageous when you think about the multitudes of credit cards you take over the life of your business. When going with Keeps The Fees as your processor we make it clean and simple, there’s no hidden fees. We are straight upfront about exactly what you’re going to pay, and you will never pay a processing fee again. It’s a month-to-month contract, you can get out of it at any time. All we ask is you return the merchant processing machine or buy it outright, that’s it.

In which countries does your system work?
Only the ones that use credit cards.

Does Keep The Fees work on existing Credit Card payment processing hardware?
That’s a great part, we’re literally going to give you the equipment, you do not return the equipment and no charge unless you decide to leave our company. We can also integrate into most websites if you’re doing Ecommerce.

Can you please explain a surcharge vs. a cash discount?
Surcharge- fees that a retailer adds to the cost of a purchase when a customer uses a charge/credit card. A surcharge is a percentage of the value of the sale. For example, if a cardholder purchases $100 in office supplies, a merchant may add a surcharge of 3% to the total purchase.

Cash discount – A cash discount is when a merchant offers a discounted price to a customer if they choose to pay with physical cash for an item or service as opposed to a credit card.

For example, how much would an average Tattoo Shop save monthly by using Keep The Fees?
That all depends on how profitable the shop is, the more you make the more you save, right? After speaking to other people who are using Keep The Fees, they’re saving thousands.

How much does it cost to start using Keep The Fees?
It costs nothing but your time. Depending on how organized you are and how fast you are when filling out the application. That’s a joke and then they take 5 minutes to do the pre-app and then some signing up paperwork once you’ve sent in all the necessary documents.

Could Keep The Fees be used at tattoo conventions?
Yes, you can use this at tattoo conventions. As long as you have Wi-Fi or a phone that you can use a hot spot from, you can use that terminal but let me tell you this, we also have a solution where you can take payments and send invoices from your phone including taking credit cards with a small device that you can carry that syncs to your phone without said Wi-Fi. All still receiving next day funding.

Do you have any plans to visit any tattoo conventions in the near future?
Yes, we are starting with Villain Arts Tattoo conventions. In my experience, it’s the most well-organized convention. We are looking forward to venturing out and seeing other conventions as well. The great part is if you see us at one of the conventions, we will be giving Goodie bags filled with ink aftercare and other swag if you sign up at the tattoo convention with us.

What’s the long-term vision for Keep The Fees within the tattoo industry?
Now my partners are probably going to ring my neck about this … we are also in the process of making the ultimate shop management system. Not a just a POS system. When I say I want to leave a mark on this industry, it’s not just in saving with processing, it’s about helping everyone do business smarter and more profitable.

We’ve been developing this over the past six years, the management system. It is designed for both those who are just opening a shop tomorrow or you’ve had a shop for years, this is going to save you hours of your life, every week. It’s not just the POS system that you think of, it’s a full management system. We’re not set on a date for release because we’re still dialing it in but like I said, we’ve been working on this for about six years and with the help of Peter and Jeff we’re going to get this done this year and that’s truly what’s going to change this industry.

We are also going to be launching a marketing platform with Keep The Fees as well. This marketing platform has already been developed and I’m using it presently. I’ve doubled my business every year for the past four years. We might be offering this platform as soon as June 2022.

Anything else you would like to say to our readers?
Yes of course, it might be out of character for an older tattooer from the old school to give help to tattooers that he doesn’t even know or even the guy across the street from him, but we live in a different era now. Tattooing has been growing artistically at a rapid speed. A lot of people are saying it’s because of the tools that the younger generation has the work with. I’ve always been a person that likes to fix and tinker with things, I get that from my father. That’s also what has made me a good businessman. I was once asked by my mentor, “Why are you going to be any different than any other tattooer out there?” I think what he was really asking me is how am I going to make a mark in this industry and that’s always sat in my stomach. See, I’ve taught a few people how to tattoo and they’ve become successful with their careers, and it made me feel great inside. If you’re a shop owner, you have guys working for you or with you it’s a real pride in being able to provide someone means to be able to raise a family or support themselves or support their family. What I’m trying to do now is help the industry where it needs to be fixed. It was sad to watch my father be forced to leave something he loved so much because there wasn’t enough money to be made back in the day. I see a similar situation now, great artists, great shop owners, good people struggling with their craft or how to run a business. I never want to leave this industry. I also think it’s time for me to give back what was given to me. When you want to talk more in person, you can always follow me on my Instagram and give me a shout, let’s talk shop. Lastly, thank you deeply for giving me the opportunity to tell you a little bit about Keep The Fees. Thank you.