Look at the menu or shelf tags
Two prices next to each item, a cash price and a card price, is dual pricing. One price per item is either a cash discount (that price is the card price) or a surcharge (a fee comes on top for card).
The difference, side by side
Dual pricing vs cash discount vs surcharging
All three ways of handling card costs change what a customer pays depending on how they pay. The difference is what the customer sees, and when. Dual pricing shows two prices, cash and card, and the customer chooses. A cash discount shows one price, the card price, and takes a discount off for cash at checkout. A surcharge adds a separate fee at checkout when a customer pays by card.
SIDE BY SIDE
The three, at a glance
Same item, same customer, three different checkouts. Read across a row to compare, or down a column to see one method on its own.
| What to compare | Dual pricing | Cash discount | Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prices posted | Both a cash price and a card price | Only the card price | One price |
| When the difference appears | Before the customer chooses | At checkout, if the customer pays cash | At checkout, if the customer pays by card |
| What the customer sees | Two prices side by side | A discount taken off for cash | A separate fee added for card |
| A quick test | “Which price do you want to pay?” | “Paying cash? Here is your discount.” | “There is a fee for using a card.” |
EACH ONE, IN A PARAGRAPH
What each one means
Most merchants who ask us about card costs are choosing between dual pricing and a cash discount, so those two get the most space here.
01
Dual pricing
A business posts both a cash price and a card price for every item. The customer sees both before reaching the register and chooses how to pay. They pay the price for the choice they made, and nothing is added afterwards. Read how dual pricing works.
02
Cash discount
A business posts only the card price for everything it sells. A customer who pays with cash gets a discount at checkout. The end result is similar to dual pricing, but the discount is applied at the register instead of being shown as a second price up front. Read how a cash discount program works.
03
Surcharge
A surcharge is a separate fee added to the bill when a customer pays by card. The posted price stays the same, and the extra amount appears at checkout, often as its own line on the receipt. Rules on surcharges differ by card brand and by state, and they change, so check them before using one. We explain it here so you can tell the three apart.
HOW TO TELL
How to tell which one a business is using
Three places to look the next time you pay somewhere, or to check your own setup.
Look at the sign at the register
A sign saying cash customers get a discount points to a cash discount program. A sign saying a fee applies to card payments points to a surcharge. A sign showing both prices points to dual pricing.
Look at the receipt
A discount line for cash is a cash discount. A separate fee line for card is a surcharge. A receipt that records the price the customer chose, cash or card, is dual pricing.
WHICH FITS YOUR BUSINESS
The right one depends on your counter.
There is no single best choice. It depends on how your customers pay, how your team talks about prices, and the rules for your state and card mix. Tell us how you take payments today and we will say which fits, and which does not.
Talk it through →Dual pricing tends to suit
- Businesses that want both prices visible before checkout
- Menus, shelf tags and websites that can show two prices
A cash discount tends to suit
- Businesses that prefer one posted price
- Counters where the discount is explained at the register
QUESTIONS
Dual pricing, cash discount and surcharging, answered
Prefer a fixed monthly number instead? Flat fee credit card processing keeps the cost with your business at one flat subscription.
Is dual pricing the same as a surcharge?
No. With dual pricing, both a cash price and a card price are posted, and the customer sees both before choosing how to pay. A surcharge is a separate fee added at checkout when a customer pays by card. How dual pricing works →
Is a cash discount the same as dual pricing?
They give a similar result by different routes. A cash discount posts only the card price for everything and takes a discount off at checkout when the customer pays cash. Dual pricing posts both the cash price and the card price, and the customer chooses at checkout. How a cash discount program works →
Is a cash discount the same as a surcharge?
No. A cash discount starts from the card price and lowers the price for cash. A surcharge starts from one price and adds a fee when a customer pays by card.
Which one is easier to explain to customers?
It depends on your business and your customers. Dual pricing shows both prices up front, so the choice is visible before the register. A cash discount keeps one posted price and explains the discount at checkout. We talk through which fits your counter, your team and your customers.
Are these legal?
Rules for pricing cash and card payments are set by the card brands and by each state, and they change. SMPL confirms a compliant setup with you during onboarding. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Last reviewed: November 2026. General information, not legal advice.
THE PROGRAMDual pricingHow two prices work at checkout, what you need to run it, and when it is not the right fit.See how dual pricing works →THE PROGRAMCash discount programOne posted price, the card price, and a discount taken off at checkout when the customer pays cash.See how a cash discount works →THE EXPLAINERZero fee credit card processingWhat zero fee processing means, what the card brands allow, and where it is the wrong answer.See how zero fee works →
GET STARTED
Not sure which one fits? Ask us.
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Send us a recent processing statement and tell us how your customers pay. We will show you what each option would look like for your business. No card required, and no obligation.