Dual pricing: show a cash price and a card price
Post two prices on every item, menu line or service: one for cash, one for card. Card sales help cover the cost of processing, and customers always know both prices before they pay.
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How dual pricing works
With dual pricing, every price your customer sees comes in pairs. A burger might read $11.95 cash / $12.37 card. Your POS or terminal shows both at checkout and prints the price the customer chose on the receipt. Because the card price builds in the cost of acceptance, card sales help cover the processing fee instead of coming out of your margin.
Dual pricing works best where you already control the price display, such as a menu board, a printed menu, shelf tags or a service price list. It's popular with restaurants, cafes, auto repair shops, convenience stores and anyone whose margins are thin enough that a 3% card fee matters.
What we set up for a dual pricing program
The details are what keep a program clear for customers and on the right side of card-brand rules.
POS and terminal programming
Both prices displayed at checkout, the chosen price on the receipt, and tips calculated correctly.
Signage
Entrance and register signs stating that prices differ for cash and card.
Menu and price lists
Guidance on showing both prices on menus, shelf tags and quotes.
Debit handled correctly
Configured the way your program requires for debit and prepaid cards.
Staff script
A one-line explanation your team can give when a customer asks.
Ongoing reviews
A check-in after go-live to make sure displays and receipts stay consistent.
Dual pricing vs. cash discount
Both reward cash payment and both are different from a surcharge. With dual pricing, both prices are displayed everywhere. With a cash discount program, you post one regular price and apply a discount at checkout when the customer pays cash. Which suits you depends mostly on how you display prices today.
Read the full comparison: dual pricing vs. cash discount vs. surcharge.
Three ways to price card processing
There's no single best model. We'll show you each one priced against your real numbers, then you choose.
Flat rate
One percentage plus a per-sale fee on every card. Easy to read, but you pay the same rate on a cheap debit card as on a premium rewards card.
- Predictable
- Simple statements
- Often costs more as volume grows
Fits: low volume, seasonal or brand-new sellers
Interchange-plus
You pay the card networks' wholesale cost (interchange and assessments) plus a fixed, disclosed markup. Every layer shows on your statement.
- Most transparent
- Markup stays fixed
- Usually lowest cost at higher volume
Fits: established businesses, larger tickets, B2B
Cash discount / dual pricing
Your posted prices account for card costs, and customers paying cash get a lower price. Card sales help cover processing instead of your margin.
- Offsets much of your processing cost
- Clear signage and receipts
- Not a surcharge
Fits: restaurants, auto, retail, service shops
Not sure which fits? Get a free statement analysis or read pricing explained.
Why business owners work with Cedarline
We're a small, independent agent. That means fewer layers between you and the person who set up your account.
One person who answers
You work with Tony directly, from the first statement review to go-live and after. No call-center queue to start.
Pricing you can read
Every quote shows the rate, per-item fee, monthly fees and any equipment terms in writing before you sign.
Options, not one platform
We compare programs from several partner processors and POS platforms, so the setup fits your business instead of the other way around.
Set up correctly
Cash discount signage, receipt settings, tip and tax settings, and test transactions are handled before you go live.
Get set up in three steps
From first call to first sale, without the guesswork.
Send a statement or tell us your plans
Existing business? Send one recent processing statement. Opening soon? Tell us what you'll sell and when.
Compare your options
You get a side-by-side of pricing models, equipment and terms, priced against your numbers.
Go live, tested
Approval, equipment programming, signage and test transactions, done before you rely on it.
Approval timing depends on the processor's underwriting. Most complete applications get a decision in a few business days.
Frequently asked questions
Is dual pricing legal in Texas?
Offering customers a discount for paying cash is expressly permitted under Texas law, and properly disclosed dual pricing is structured as a cash price and a card price rather than a surcharge. Rules can change, and card networks have their own requirements, so we set programs up with clear signage and receipts. This isn't legal advice; check with your attorney if you have specific concerns.
Does dual pricing eliminate my processing fees?
Not exactly. You still pay processing fees on card sales, but the card price is set so those sales help cover the cost. How much is offset depends on your price difference, your program's rate and your cash/card mix. Our dual pricing calculator shows the math.
Will customers be upset?
Most customers are used to seeing cash prices at gas stations. Clear signage and a friendly explanation help. Some businesses choose a cash discount layout instead because it shows a single regular price.
Can I switch back later?
Yes. If dual pricing doesn't suit your customers, the POS can be reconfigured to standard pricing. Ask about program terms before you start.
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Not sure what you're paying, or what you'll need?
Send a recent statement or tell us about the business you're opening. You'll get a plain-English breakdown and options, with no cost or obligation.