Skip to main content
Real Merchant Services Hawaii

Dual pricing

Let Customers Choose How They Pay

Dual pricing displays a cash price and a card price, allowing customers to choose their preferred payment method. When appropriately structured and implemented, it may help a business offset a significant portion of card-processing costs.

Cash price

$10.00

A customer paying with cash receives the posted cash price.

Card price

$10.35

A customer paying with a card pays the clearly disclosed card price.

Prices shown are an illustration, not a program quote.

Three different programs

Dual Pricing, Cash Discount, and Surcharging Are Not the Same

  • Dual Pricing

    Two prices are posted for the same item: a cash price and a card price. The customer sees both before they decide how to pay.

  • Cash Discount

    One posted price applies to all customers, and a discount is applied at checkout when a customer pays with cash.

  • Surcharging

    A separate, disclosed fee is added to credit card transactions. It carries its own card-network rules, caps, notice requirements, and state-law restrictions, and it does not apply to debit.

What implementation requires

It Is Not an Undisclosed Fee at Checkout

  • Proper customer-facing signage
  • Clear pricing disclosure
  • Correct terminal or POS configuration
  • Accurate receipts
  • Employee training
  • Compliance with applicable card-network rules and federal, state, and local requirements

Program availability, structure, and potential savings depend on business type, transaction mix, card-network requirements, and applicable law. Real Merchant Services Hawaii will review available options with each merchant. Nothing on this website constitutes legal or tax advice.

Terminology

Payment options — explained simply

These programs are often talked about as if they were the same thing. They are not. Here is what each one actually means.

Dual Pricing

What it is
Two prices are posted for the same item: a cash price and a card price. The customer sees both before deciding how to pay.
Who pays the processing cost?
The customer chooses. Paying cash means the cash price; paying by card means the posted card price.
What does the customer see?
Both prices, side by side, on signage, menus, and the terminal screen.
Best for
Businesses with steady cash activity and simple, posted pricing, such as quick-service food, small retail, and service counters.
Important details
Requires posted signage, both prices shown before the customer commits, correct terminal or POS configuration, accurate receipts, and trained staff. Program availability depends on card-network rules and applicable law.

Cash Discount

What it is
One price is posted for everyone, and a discount is applied at checkout when the customer pays with cash.
Who pays the processing cost?
The customer paying by card pays the posted price; the cash payer receives a discount.
What does the customer see?
One posted price, plus a discount line on the receipt when they pay cash.
Best for
Businesses that prefer a single posted price list.
Important details
The discount must be disclosed and applied consistently. This is a different program from dual pricing and from surcharging.

Surcharging

What it is
A separate, disclosed fee is added to credit card transactions.
Who pays the processing cost?
The credit card customer pays the added fee.
What does the customer see?
A distinct surcharge line on the receipt and required signage.
Best for
Businesses that have confirmed surcharging is permitted for their situation and are prepared to meet the notice requirements.
Important details
Surcharging carries card-network caps, advance-notice requirements, and state-law restrictions, and it cannot be applied to debit cards. Confirm eligibility with your own legal or compliance advisor.

Traditional Processing

What it is
Your business pays the processing fees as usual, and we work on the pricing structure itself.
Who pays the processing cost?
The business.
What does the customer see?
One price. Nothing changes at checkout.
Best for
Businesses that do not want pricing to change for customers, or where a customer-pays program is not a good fit.
Important details
We review your current processing costs and pricing structure and compare it against the options available to you.

Nothing on this page is legal, tax, or compliance advice. Program availability and requirements depend on your business, card-network rules, and applicable law.

Dual pricing FAQ

Common Questions About Dual Pricing

What Hawaii merchants ask before rolling out a cash and card price.

Wondering whether dual pricing suits your customers?

See If Dual Pricing Fits My Business