Frequently Asked Questions

Traditional Processing: The business owner absorbs 100% of the credit card processing fees, sacrificing a percentage of revenue on every card transaction.

Dual Pricing: Under strict Visa compliance rules, Dual Pricing means you explicitly present two different prices for every single item—a Cash Price and a Card Price. Rule to Remember: Both prices must be clearly advertised at the product level (on your shelves, menus, tags, and invoices). The terminal then simply acts as an extension of your advertised prices. You keep 100% of the sale price regardless of how the customer pays.

They are similar in goal but fundamentally different in compliance execution. Cash Discounting means pricing all your items at the higher "card price" on your shelf or menu. That is the advertised list price. When a customer reaches the register and chooses to pay with cash, a discount (e.g., 3-4%) is applied to their total.

Visa rules require clear signage at the door and register stating you offer a cash discount, and receipts must show the original price, the discount amount, and the final price paid.

Surcharging! involves setting a base price and adding a checkout fee specifically to credit card transactions. Unlike Cash Discounting and Dual Pricing, Surcharging is heavily regulated.

• Credit Cards ONLY: It is strictly forbidden by Visa to surcharge debit cards, even if they are run as "credit." If a customer uses a debit card, the business absorbs the fee.
• The 3% Cap: Visa restricts surcharges to your actual processing cost or a maximum of 3%, whichever is lower.
• Notification: You must notify your acquirer (processor) at least 30 days before starting a surcharge program.

Due to these strict rules, many merchants prefer Dual Pricing or Cash Discounting, which legally cover all card types, including debit.

It depends entirely on your industry, average ticket size, and customer base.

• Restaurants & Retail: Dual Pricing is currently the most popular choice. Because both prices are advertised upfront (e.g., on the menu), there is zero friction at checkout.
• B2B & High-Ticket Services: Surcharging is commonly used here because businesses are accustomed to paying a convenience fee on massive invoices if they choose credit over an ACH transfer.

Customers appreciate transparency. Train your staff using these simple, pre-approved scripts to avoid confusion and project confidence.

• If utilizing Cash Discount:
  Customer: "Is there a fee to use my card?"
  Response: "Our posted prices actually include the cost of processing, but we reward our cash-paying customers with a [X]% discount!"
• If utilizing Dual Pricing:
  Customer: "Why are there two totals?"
  Response: "The terminal shows our standard card price and our lower cash price. You get to choose whichever payment method you prefer today."
• If utilizing Surcharging:
  Customer: "Do you charge a fee for cards?"
  Response: "Just so you know, there is a small [X]% convenience fee for credit cards to cover processing costs. However, debit cards and cash have absolutely no fee—whichever you prefer!"
• If they ask "Why do you do this?":
  Response: "This helps us cover the large processing fees charged by card companies. It allows us to keep our base prices fair for everyone while still supporting our local business. Thank you for understanding!"