PaySec + SimplePractice: Keep More of Every Session Fee with Zero Processing Costs
How therapists, counselors, and wellness practitioners using SimplePractice are eliminating credit card processing fees with PaySec's Network Offset Pricing.
SimplePractice is the all-in-one platform for mental health professionals, therapists, counselors, dietitians, and wellness practitioners. It handles scheduling, documentation, telehealth, and billing — everything you need to run a private practice.
But SimplePractice's built-in payment processing charges 2.95% + $0.30 per transaction on every client payment. For a therapist seeing 25+ clients per week, that adds up to thousands per year in processing fees.
PaySec's integration eliminates that cost entirely.
What SimplePractice Payments Cost You
SimplePractice Stripe-based processing: 2.95% + $0.30/transaction
| Practice Size | Sessions/Week | Avg Session Fee | Monthly Collections | Annual Processing Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo (new) | 20 | $150 | $12,000 | $4,604 |
| Solo (full) | 30 | $175 | $21,000 | $7,965 |
| Group (3 clinicians) | 75 | $160 | $48,000 | $18,050 |
| Group (6 clinicians) | 150 | $165 | $99,000 | $37,125 |
A solo therapist with a full caseload loses nearly $8,000/year to processing fees. That's 45+ sessions worth of income going to Stripe instead of staying in your practice.
How PaySec Works with SimplePractice
Autopay and Client Card on File
SimplePractice's autopay feature charges clients after sessions. With PaySec:
- Client stores a card on file as usual
- Each session charge applies Network Offset Pricing
- Client pays $155.58 instead of $150 for a $150 session (card price)
- Or client sets up ACH and pays exactly $150 per session
- Payment syncs to SimplePractice billing records
Client Portal Payments
When clients pay through the SimplePractice client portal:
- Outstanding balance displayed with both options:
- Bank transfer: $150.00
- Card: $155.58
- Client clicks preferred option and completes payment
- Invoice marked paid in SimplePractice
Insurance Copay Collection
For practices accepting insurance:
- Copay amount pulled from appointment/insurance details
- Dual pricing at check-in or via portal
- Example: $30 copay → $30 (bank) or $31.20 (card)
- Posts to client account automatically
The Therapist Perspective
"I Became a Therapist to Help People, Not to Lose Money Processing Cards"
Private practice therapists already navigate complex business realities — liability insurance, office rent, CEUs, supervision costs. Processing fees are one expense that doesn't have to exist.
Session-Level Impact
| Session Fee | Processing Fee Lost | Sessions Lost/Year to Fees |
|---|---|---|
| $125 | $3.99 | 32 sessions |
| $150 | $4.73 | 32 sessions |
| $175 | $5.46 | 31 sessions |
| $200 | $6.20 | 31 sessions |
| $250 | $7.68 | 31 sessions |
You're essentially giving away a full week of sessions every year to your payment processor.
Group Practice Economics
For group practice owners paying clinicians 60-70% of session fees:
| Revenue | Processing Fees | Impact on Practice Profit |
|---|---|---|
| $48,000/mo | $1,504/mo | Fees reduce practice margin by 3%+ |
| With PaySec | $0/mo | Full margin retained |
When your margins are already compressed by clinician compensation, processing fees disproportionately impact practice profit.
Client Communication
Therapists often worry about the therapeutic relationship impact. In practice:
- Most clients don't comment — they're focused on their care
- Many prefer ACH (automatic bank transfer) which costs them less
- Framing matters: "We offer a small discount for bank transfer payments"
- No surprise — both prices shown before any payment occurs
- Clients paying $155 instead of $150 per session rarely consider it significant
SimplePractice Features That Still Work
| Feature | Status with PaySec |
|---|---|
| Client portal | Integrated payment options |
| Autopay | Supported (card + ACH) |
| Superbills | Generated normally |
| Insurance billing | Unaffected |
| Scheduling | No change |
| Telehealth | No change |
| Documentation | No change |
| Client messaging | No change |
| Appointment reminders | No change |
| Cancellation fees | Supported with NOP |
Savings by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Monthly Revenue | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Solo therapist (CBT) | $18,000 | $6,846 |
| Couples/family therapist | $22,000 | $8,360 |
| Group practice (5 clinicians) | $80,000 | $30,104 |
| Multidisciplinary (therapy + nutrition) | $35,000 | $13,244 |
Getting Started
Switching from SimplePractice's built-in processing to PaySec:
- Sign up for PaySec (healthcare/wellness merchant account)
- Connect PaySec to your SimplePractice account
- Configure client payment preferences
- Notify clients of new payment options (template provided)
- First sessions bill through PaySec at zero cost
Transition takes under 30 minutes. PaySec provides a client communication template so you can inform your caseload professionally.
PaySec + SimplePractice: the practice management platform built for clinicians, now with payment processing that respects your margins as much as you respect your clients.