Two Small Changes that Put Real Money Back in Your Pocket

Running a business in Anchorage these days means you've got to keep up with the local economy and the tech that keeps it moving. Lately, I’ve been talking with our partners about two big trends that might seem small but actually make a huge difference in your monthly take-home pay: getting rid of pennies and wiping out those credit card fees.

1. Stop Wasting Time Counting Copper

Let’s be real: the US is basically done with the penny. For a busy shop or restaurant owner, that’s actually a win. Messing with loose cents just slows down your checkout lines and makes closing out the drawer at night a major headache.

The smart move is something called Rounding Logic. We’re helping folks set up their systems to automatically round cash totals down to the nearest nickel. You might lose a couple of cents here and there, but you’ll gain so much speed and save so much on labor that you’ll end up with more money in your pocket at the end of the day.

2. The Magic of Cash Discounting

With card fees constantly climbing, I get asked all the time how to protect profit margins without making customers angry. The secret is a True Cash Discount program, but you have to set it up right to stay compliant and keep your books clean.

Here’s the simple breakdown of how the math works:

• Step 1: Set Your "Regular" Price: You take your real internal price (what you actually want to keep) and add a 3% to 4% markup. This becomes your "Regular Price" that is shown on your menus and shelves.
  

• Step 2: The Automatic Discount: When a neighbor hands over cash, your POS system automatically applies a a corresponding Cash Discount equal to your markup. This brings the total right back down to your real internal price.
  

• Step 3: Covering the Card Fee: If they pay with a card, they pay that higher "Regular Price". That extra 4% stays with you to cover your processing costs, making your monthly bill practically disappear.
  

The best part for you as an owner is that modern systems (like our new Square POS - yes we are local dealers!) handle all the tracking for you. You can see exactly what your "real" sales were versus the padded card prices in your reports, so you’re never guessing about your actual margins. It doesn't feel like you're "charging extra" for cards; it feels like you're giving a "bonus" to the folks paying cash.

The Bottom Line

At Skurla’s, we think your point of sale should be the invisible engine that keeps you growing. Whether it’s cleaning up your cash drawer or getting rid of processing fees with a modern, all-in-one register, we’ve got the "boots on the ground" here in Anchorage to make it happen.

Want to see how the math actually works for your business? Give us a shout. We’ve been helping Anchorage win for 50 years, and we’re just getting started.