Merchant-paid
Your business absorbs the processing expense. The customer sees one price with no payment-method adjustment.
Customer sees: one price
Payment-method pricing
Different ways to price.
Different guest experiences.
Surcharge, cash discount, and dual pricing work differently. Understand what guests see before deciding what fits your restaurant.
Compare my optionsSee the differences ↓COMPARE THE OPTIONS
Four approaches. Four different customer experiences.
The names are not interchangeable. The starting price, adjustment, disclosures, and customer experience can differ.
Surcharge
An eligible credit-card transaction may include a disclosed surcharge when the program and transaction qualify.
Customer sees: posted price + eligible surcharge
Cash discount
The posted price reflects the standard amount, with a discount for an eligible cash payment.
Customer sees: discount for cash
Dual pricing
Cash and card prices are displayed separately so the customer can see both before choosing how to pay.
Customer sees: cash price and card price
THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
The pricing choice has to work everywhere the customer sees a price.
If the amount changes by payment method, the setup may affect your POS, menus, checkout, receipts, online ordering, kiosks, and reporting.
01
POS logic
The system needs to calculate the intended price correctly.
02
Menus & displays
Customers should see the right pricing before they choose how to pay.
03
Checkout
The payment choice and final amount should be clear.
04
Receipts
The completed transaction should match what the customer was shown.
05
Online & kiosk
Connected channels may need the same pricing experience.
06
Reporting
Reconciliation should reflect what actually happened at checkout.
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
Use a supported, approved program. Do not improvise.
Availability and requirements can vary by program, technology, merchant, and transaction. Evaluate the customer experience and implementation against applicable law, card-brand rules, sponsor/acquirer requirements, and program approval.
Applicable law
Card-brand rules
Sponsor / acquirer requirements
Approved program implementation
FIND THE RIGHT FIT
Start with what you want to change.
Then confirm the technology, customer experience, economics, and program requirements before choosing a path.
01
Your goal
Lower cost, simpler pricing, a different customer experience, or something else?
Start a payments review →02
Your technology
Can your POS and connected systems support the intended experience?
Explore payment solutions →03
Your economics
Compare the customer-facing approach with the way your merchant account is priced.
Compare pricing models →