Dual pricing fails or succeeds on execution. The concept is simple — show a cash price and a card price, let the customer choose — but a sloppy rollout creates confused customers and compliance risk. Here's the setup we run for merchants, start to finish.
Step 1: The program percentage
The card price sits 3–4% above the cash price depending on your card mix. Heavy debit? The lower end works. Lots of AMEX and rewards cards? You'll want the full spread so nothing leaks back into your costs. Your specialist sets this from your actual statement — it's not a guess.
Step 2: Hardware that does the work
The terminal or POS shows both prices on the customer-facing screen and prints receipts with the program disclosed. PAX, Dejavoo and Valor terminals all run dual pricing natively; SkyTab and PAYS bake it into the POS. Nothing is hand-calculated — that's how errors (and complaints) happen.
Step 3: Signage
- Door or entry: a notice that you offer a cash price and a card price
- Register/counter: the same notice at the point of decision
- Menus and shelf tags where practical: both prices, or the program note
We supply compliant signage as part of setup — this is the piece card brands actually check.
Step 4: The receipt
The receipt must show the program clearly — the price paid and the cash/card distinction. Modern terminals format this automatically once the program file is loaded. If a processor tells you to run dual pricing "manually," walk away.
Step 5: The 15-second staff script
Train the counter: "We have two prices — the card price covers the card fee, or you save paying cash." Said plainly, almost nobody pushes back. The mistake is staff apologizing for it — confidence is the whole game.
We handle the terminal file, signage and training as part of onboarding — see Fee Programs or take the quiz to get matched to the right hardware.