Why merchants love it
- Keeps far more of every sale
- Cash customers actually save money
- Transparent — both prices are shown up front
This page is about pricing the merchant — not your pay. Your personal compensation lives in your own Schedule A, kept separately. The goal is to match or beat the merchant's current rate — you must receive their statement to analyze the cost. As a rule of thumb, dual pricing & cash discount typically run 3–4% and surcharge is typically 3%. Merchant asking what a line item is? Open the Merchant Account Fee FAQ.
Dual Pricing
Most popularThe merchant posts two prices on every item — a lower cash price and a slightly higher card price. Customers who pay by card cover the processing cost; cash customers pay less. It's the simplest way to take a merchant's effective processing cost close to zero while staying compliant and customer-friendly.
Keep in mind
- Both prices must be clearly posted
- Needs a POS/terminal that supports it (most do)
- Card price: typically 3–4%
- Match or beat their current rate — analyze the statement
What to say: "You keep more of every sale — the card price covers your processing, and your cash customers actually pay less. Most owners go from paying thousands a year in fees to nearly nothing."
Cash Discount
PopularThe merchant's posted price is the card price, and they give a discount to anyone who pays with cash. Same idea as dual pricing, framed as a reward for paying cash.
Best for
- Merchants who want a "reward cash" message
- Offsetting most of their card costs
Keep in mind
- The cash discount must be disclosed at the register
- Cash discount: typically 3–4%
- Match or beat their current rate — analyze the statement
What to say: "Your shelf price covers card fees, and you reward anyone paying cash with a discount — so the processing cost stops coming out of your pocket."
Surcharge
Check the rulesA small fee added only to credit-card transactions to pass on the credit cost. Debit cards can never be surcharged, the fee is capped by the card brands, and a few states don't allow it.
Best for
- Merchants who want to pass only the credit cost
Keep in mind
- Credit only — debit cannot be surcharged
- Capped by the card brands; signage + registration required
- Not allowed in some states — confirm before quoting
- Surcharge: typically 3% on credit
What to say: "Customers who choose credit cover the credit fee. Debit stays free for them, and you stay compliant with the card brands and your state."
Interchange-Plus (IC+)
TransparentThe merchant pays the true interchange cost (set by the card networks) plus a small, fixed markup. The most honest traditional pricing — the merchant can see exactly what's cost and what's markup.
Best for
- Larger/established merchants who want transparency
- Owners who don't want a fee program but want the lowest true cost
Keep in mind
- Cost varies by card type, so the statement shows line items
- Match or beat the current rate — must receive a statement to analyze the cost
What to say: "You see the real cost and exactly what we add — no hidden tiers, no padding. It's the most transparent way to price."
Flat Rate
SimpleOne predictable rate (a percentage, sometimes plus a few cents) on every card. Dead simple — the merchant always knows what they'll pay.
Best for
- Smaller or newer merchants who value simplicity
- Lower-volume accounts
Keep in mind
- Simple, but usually not the cheapest at higher volume
- Match or beat the current rate — must receive a statement to analyze the cost
What to say: "One simple rate, no surprises — you'll always know exactly what you pay on every sale."
Quick comparison
| Program | Merchant's net cost | Best for | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual Pricing | Near $0 | Most retail, restaurants, services | Post both prices |
| Cash Discount | Near $0 | "Reward cash" framing | Disclose discount at register |
| Surcharge | Low (credit cost passed) | Pass only credit cost | Credit only; capped; state rules |
| Interchange-Plus | Low & transparent | Larger merchants wanting clarity | Varies by card type |
| Flat Rate | Predictable, higher | Small/newer merchants | Pricier at volume |
Gateway pricing
Gateway fees by provider. Billing routes either directly from the gateway or through Solutions in Payments (who then assesses the bill to agents or merchants).
| Gateway | Set-up fee | Monthly fee | Per-transaction | Batch fee | Billed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorize.net | $0.00 | $12.00 | $0.05 | $0.05 | Bills the merchant directly |
| FluidPay | $0.00 | $10.00 | $0.05 | $0.05 | Bills SIP → assessed to agents/merchants |
| NMI | $0.00 | $10.00 | $0.05 | $0.05 | Bills SIP → assessed to agents/merchants |
| SwipeSimple | $5.95 | $11.95 | $0.05 | $0.05 | Bills SIP → assessed to agents/merchants |
| Valor Virtual Terminal | $0.00 | $10.00 | $0.05 | $0.05 | Bills SIP → assessed to agents/merchants |
| iPOSPays | $0.00 | $6.95 | $0.05 | $0.05 | Bills SIP → assessed to agents/merchants |
Have a statement? Run it through the Statement Rate Analyzer to show the merchant their current effective rate, then build a proposal to beat or match it with the right program above.