Overview
Credit card fees add up and reduce your margins over time. Boulevard Offset helps you manage those costs by applying a small, transparent fee when clients choose to pay with a credit card.
How Offset changes your processing costs
Businesses typically pay around 2.65%–3.65% in credit card processing fees. With Offset, your effective share is reduced to around 1% in most cases.
Here’s how:
A 3% fee is applied to the subtotal when a client pays by credit card
That fee is included in the total transaction amount
Boulevard charges a 4% processing fee on the total, replacing your standard processing rate
This shifts the cost of credit card usage to the clients who choose it, rather than your business absorbing it.
Many businesses use this approach to manage card fees without raising prices.
Note: The 4% fee is applied to the full transaction total (including the fee and taxes), while the 3% fee is applied only to the subtotal, so your effective cost is typically slightly above 1%.
How Offset savings are applied to your account
The fee is incorporated directly into each payment, and your reduced cost is reflected immediately in your payouts. Offset does not provide rebates or reimbursements after the transaction.
How Offset appears at checkout
The Credit Fee appears at checkout, in online booking flows, and on client receipts.
For clients
When a client chooses to pay with a credit card:
The Credit Fee is shown clearly before checkout is completed
The total is updated in real time
The client can choose how they want to pay
The Credit Fee cannot be waived on individual transactions.
Debit card transactions remain at your original processing rate.
This approach helps keep pricing consistent while clearly communicating card fees to clients.
For staff
At checkout:
Boulevard automatically detects whether a card is credit or debit
The Credit Fee is applied when a credit card is used
The updated total is visible before completing the transaction
No additional training or workflow changes are required for your team
Checkout example:
Client receipt example:
Tracking your Offset savings
You can track the impact of Offset in your reporting.
In the Detailed Line Item Report, filter by the “Fee” sale type to view Credit Fee revenue.
In the Sales Summary Report, the “Fee” sale type allows you to compare fee revenue against processing costs.
In the Merchant Activity Report, Offset Sales are shown for each transaction.
This makes it easy to understand how Offset is affecting your overall processing costs.
Compliance and requirements
Offset applies to credit card payments only, in accordance with card network requirements.
Surcharge permissions vary by state, regulatory, and card network rules. Before enabling Offset, you should review and ensure compliance with:
Applicable state, local, and federal laws. For more information, refer to the Offset State-by-State Compliance Guide.
Card network rules (e.g., Visa, Mastercard). We recommend reviewing Mastercard’s latest requirements. While the notification form is not currently required, you should stay up to date with their guidance.
Required disclosures, including signage and client communication. Clear signage disclosing your surcharge program is required at both your point of entry and point of sale.
Boulevard Offset Acknowledgement
By enabling Boulevard Offset, you acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for complying with all applicable regulations and guidelines; state, local, and federal laws; and applicable guidelines published by the card brand networks related to your use of a surcharge program like Offset.
To learn more about compliance in your state, refer to the Surcharge Compliance by State Guide. You should also consult a tax professional, legal advisor, or your local government to confirm whether surcharges are permitted in your area.
How to enable Offset
To opt into Offset:
Go to Settings → Business Details
Toggle Offset on for the locations where you’d like to enable it
Click Save
You can disable Offset at any time for each location if it doesn’t fit your business.
FAQs
Can I turn Offset off?
Yes. You can disable Offset at any time for each location in Settings → Business Details.
When disabled:
Clients will no longer be charged a Credit Fee
Your processing rates will return to your previous rates
When does Offset apply?
Offset applies to all credit card transactions, including:
In-person payments
Card-on-file payments
Online deposits and purchases
Debit transactions are not subject to Offset.
Does it matter if the card is present or not?
No. The Credit Fee and processing fee under Offset remain the same for both card-present and not-present transactions.
How does Offset work with partial payments?
Offset applies proportionally to partial payments.
If a credit card is used for a partial payment, the amount charged will include the corresponding Credit Fee, with tax applied after the fee.
Does Offset apply to online purchases and deposits?
Yes. Offset applies to credit card payments made through your online booking flows, including:
Deposits
Packages
Memberships
Gift cards
When a credit card is selected, the Credit Fee is applied and shown before checkout is completed.
What happens to the Credit Fee when a payment is refunded?
If a credit card payment is refunded, the Credit Fee is automatically refunded in proportion to the refund amount.
For example, if 50% of a payment is refunded, 50% of the Credit Fee will also be refunded.