Dual pricing offsets the cost of card acceptance so you pay one flat monthly fee — not a percentage of everything you sell. Here's exactly how it works, and what it could mean for your business.
Your terminal shows a cash price and a card price automatically. Customers see both and choose how they want to pay.
When a customer pays by card, the cost of acceptance is built into the card price — not pulled out of your margin.
Instead of a percentage of every sale, you pay a single predictable monthly program fee. The rest stays with you.
These terms get mixed up constantly. The differences matter for compliance and for your customers.
| Feature | Dual Pricing | Surcharging | Cash Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both prices shown up front | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Applies to all card types | Yes | Credit only | Yes |
| Network fee caps apply | No | Yes (capped) | No |
| Customer chooses at checkout | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Business pays flat monthly fee | Yes | Varies | Varies |
The right structure depends on your state, card mix, and how your customers pay. We'll help you choose the compliant option that fits.
Plug in your monthly volume and current rate. No obligation — just the math.
Use your real monthly volume and current rate for the closest estimate.
Estimate only. Actual savings depend on your card mix, ticket size, and program terms. Under a dual pricing program, the card-acceptance cost is offset to the cardholder and the business pays a flat monthly program fee. We make no guarantees for merchant account approvals or specific savings amounts.
Dual pricing displays two prices — one for cash and one for card. The card price reflects the cost of card acceptance, so you pay a flat monthly program fee instead of a percentage of every sale.
Yes, when set up correctly. It's compliant when both prices are clearly displayed and the program follows card-network rules and applicable state laws. We configure each program to be compliant from day one.
Surcharging adds a fee on top of the listed price for credit card use and is subject to network caps and state rules. Dual pricing shows both the cash and card price up front, so the customer chooses before paying.
Most customers already see cash and card pricing at businesses they visit. With clear signage and a transparent card price, the vast majority keep paying the way they always have.
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