In the pet care world, relationships matter, between dogs and staff, between businesses and their clients, and between you and your payment processor.
Most facility owners don’t think about their processor until something goes wrong—deposits are delayed, fees spike, or reconciling payments suddenly takes twice as long. But the company handling your revenue plays a major role in your daily operations, client experience, and financial health.
So, it’s worth asking: What kind of relationship do you have with your processor?
1. Do You Understand Your Rates?
Many businesses believe they’re getting a great processing rate until the statement arrives. Interchange-plus, tiered pricing, hidden fees, PCI charges, statement fees, and batch fees add up.
A healthy payment partnership should offer:
- Straightforward pricing so you know exactly what you’re paying
- Clear communication when rates change
- No surprise increases that throw off your budget
- Full transparency in every statement
Knowing exactly what you’re paying helps you make smarter business decisions and plan for growth.
2. Is Your Processor Adding Work or Removing It?
Payments shouldn’t feel like another chore squeezed between grooming appointments and daycare pickups.
If your team is:
- Entering payments twice
- Reconciling manually at closing
- Switching screens just to issue a refund
- Calling clients because their card isn’t on file
If so, your processor may slow your business down.
Integrated processing, especially within your scheduling and management software, saves time, prevents errors, and keeps everything in one place.
Pet care is busy enough. Payments shouldn’t add chaos.
3. How Confident Are You in Security?
Pet parents trust you with their furry family members. Their payment information deserves the same level of care.
A secure processor should provide:
- PCI compliance
- Encrypted card storage
- Chargeback protection
- Fraud monitoring
If you’re unsure where or how client card data is stored, that’s a red flag.
4. Does Your Processor Understand the Pet Care Industry?
Pet care payments aren’t like traditional retail.
Facilities need:
- Deposits for boarding
- Prepaid packages or memberships
- Tips for groomers
- Surcharging options
- No-show or late cancellation fees
- High-volume check-in windows
Working with a processor that understands your world makes a meaningful difference.
5. What Happens When You Need Help?
When deposits don’t land or something looks off, timing matters. You need answers fast, and ideally from someone who isn’t reading a script.
Healthy payment relationships feel like:
- Real support, not chatbots
- Fast response times
- Friendly guidance
- Industry-specific expertise
6. Is Your Processor Supporting Growth?
Whether you’re expanding locations, adding grooming services, offering daycare packages, or planning busier seasons, your processor should grow with you.
That means:
- Consistent funding timelines
- Flexible payment tools
- Integration with your software
- Reliable reporting and analytics
A processor shouldn’t just handle transactions; it should help your business thrive.
If Your Processor Isn’t a Good Match, You Have Options
Just like choosing vendors, equipment, or food suppliers, payment processing is a choice, and it should be one that benefits your business, your staff, and your clients.
And many pet care facilities discover that switching to an integrated, purpose-built solution saves time, money, and stress.
Ready to Improve Your Payment Relationship?
Kennel Connection offers fully integrated payment processing designed specifically for pet care facilities, transparent pricing, faster funding, secure stored cards, fewer headaches, and the support of a team that understands your business.
Because payments shouldn’t be complicated, they should just work.
