How Businesses Pass Credit Card Processing Fees…

Businesses that partner with credit card processing services like CashCPR can use innovative programs to offset the cost of processing fees. One common and compliant approach is to adjust pricing for credit card transactions, effectively passing the fees to customers who choose to pay with a card. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how this works:

1. Price Structuring

  • Inclusive Pricing: Businesses set their prices to account for the additional cost of credit card processing. For example, if an item is priced at $100, the listed price might be adjusted to $103, incorporating a 3% processing fee.
  • Transparency: Signs or notices at the point of sale clearly communicate that listed prices include the cost of credit card processing.

2. Cash Discount Programs

CashCPR offers businesses a Cash Discount Program that incentivizes customers to pay with cash by offering a discount equivalent to the processing fee. Here’s how it functions:

  • For Cash Payments: The customer pays the original price without the additional fee (e.g., $100 for an item).
  • For Card Payments: The customer pays the adjusted price, which includes the credit card processing fee (e.g., $103 for the same item).

This program complies with the Durbin Amendment under the Dodd-Frank Act, allowing businesses to offer discounts for cash payments as long as customers are informed.

3. Legal Compliance

  • Surcharge vs. Cash Discount: It’s essential to distinguish between surcharges and cash discounts:
    • Surcharges: Adding an extra fee to card transactions is legal in many areas but is prohibited in some states or for certain types of cards (e.g., debit cards).
    • Cash Discounts: Offering a discount to cash-paying customers is universally allowed in the U.S. if done correctly.
  • Disclosure Requirements: Businesses must clearly disclose the pricing model to customers through signage, receipts, or verbal communication.

4. Customer Experience

  • Education: Customers are informed upfront about the pricing difference for cash and card payments.
  • Ease of Use: The process is automated at the point-of-sale (POS) system, which calculates the total based on the payment method selected by the customer.
  • Fairness: Customers retain the choice to pay via their preferred method, ensuring transparency and avoiding surprise fees.

5. Benefits for the Business

  • Reduced Costs: Passing on processing fees allows businesses to maintain their profit margins without absorbing the cost of credit card transactions.
  • Increased Cash Payments: By incentivizing cash payments, businesses can minimize processing fees entirely.
  • Compliance: Partnering with providers like CashCPR ensures the pricing model adheres to state and federal regulations.

6. Implementation

To implement this option, businesses work with CashCPR to:

  • Upgrade POS Systems: Systems are configured to automatically adjust pricing based on the payment method.
  • Customize Receipts: Receipts clearly display the processing fee or discount applied.
  • Provide Training: Employees are trained to explain the pricing structure to customers.

Example Transaction

  1. A customer buys an item listed at $100.
  2. If paying with cash: The customer receives a $3 discount and pays $97.
  3. If paying with a card: The customer pays the full $100, which includes the processing fee.

Conclusion

The card payment option offered by CashCPR allows businesses to manage credit card processing fees transparently and legally. By adjusting pricing to include these fees and offering cash discounts, businesses can protect their bottom line while maintaining customer satisfaction and choice. CashCPR streamlines the process, ensuring compliance and ease of implementation. Contact CashCPR today to learn how you can optimize your payment processing and reduce costs!