Pass card fees on with a credit surcharge
Card processing fees add up. If you choose to pass some of that cost to customers who pay by credit card, SeroPOS adds the surcharge for you and keeps it separate from your sales.
Card surcharge in SeroPOS
Credit cards only
The surcharge applies to credit card payments only, never to cash or debit.
Up to 2.00%
Set a Surcharge Percentage between 0 and 2.00% in the till's settings.
Per location
Each business location has its own surcharge setting, synced to its tills.
On the receipt
The surcharge prints as its own line so the customer can see what they paid.
In the daily report
The daily sales report has a Card Surcharge card with the period's total.
Kept apart from sales
Surcharges are recorded separately from item sales, so sales figures are not inflated.
Passing card fees on
Every credit card sale costs the business a processing fee. Some owners absorb it in their prices; others prefer to charge it to the customers who choose to pay by credit. SeroPOS supports the second approach with a card surcharge setting. Once it is on, the till adds the percentage to credit card payments automatically, so staff never have to work it out.
The surcharge is credit only. Cash, debit and other tenders are never surcharged, which keeps the rule simple to explain at the counter. SeroPOS does not offer cash discount or dual pricing; if you want to reward cash, use a manual or automatic discount instead. Either way, the choice to surcharge stays with you and can be turned off at any time.
Setting up the surcharge
Open Settings from the side drawer and turn on the Card Surcharge switch, then tap the gear to set the Surcharge Percentage. Any value from 0 to 2.00% is accepted. The setting belongs to the business location and is synced to the server, so every till at that location uses the same rate.
Each location can have its own rate, or none. A business with a downtown store and a suburban store can surcharge at one and not the other. Changing the rate later is a quick edit in the same screen, and new sales use the new rate after the tills sync.
- Side drawer, Settings
- Turn on Card Surcharge
- Tap the gear
- Enter a Surcharge Percentage from 0 to 2.00%
On the receipt and in reports
When a customer pays by credit card, the surcharge is added and printed on the receipt as a separate line. The customer sees the sale total, the surcharge and what was charged to their card. Because it is its own line, there are no arguments about whether prices were quietly raised.
At the end of the day, the daily sales report shows a Card Surcharge card with the total for the period, next to discounts, tips and delivery charges. Surcharges are recorded apart from item sales, so your sales and product reports reflect what you actually sold. If you use QuickBooks, surcharges post to the account you map for them in the integration settings.
Before you surcharge
Rules on surcharging differ by country, province and state, and card brands have their own requirements, such as telling customers before they pay and capping the amount. Debit cards are treated differently from credit cards in many places. Check the current rules with your card processor before you switch the surcharge on, and follow any notice requirements at your counter and on your receipts.
Tell staff the surcharge is on and how to explain it, and put a clear sign at the till. If customers often ask to avoid it, offer debit or cash. If you want to compare what you pay in processing with other options, send us a recent statement and we will quote a rate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a credit card surcharge in SeroPOS?
Open Settings from the side drawer, turn on Card Surcharge and tap the gear. Enter a Surcharge Percentage between 0 and 2.00% and save. The rate applies to credit card payments at that location and syncs to its tills, so every cashier there charges the same rate.
Does the surcharge apply to debit cards?
No. The SeroPOS card surcharge applies to credit card payments only. Cash, debit and custom tenders are never surcharged. When staff choose Debit on the till or the card is processed as debit, no surcharge is added and the receipt shows no surcharge line.
What is the maximum surcharge I can set?
SeroPOS accepts a surcharge from 0 to 2.00%. Local rules and card brand requirements may set their own limits and conditions, so check with your card processor about what applies to your business before you choose a rate and turn it on.
Will customers see the surcharge?
Yes. The surcharge prints as its own line on the receipt, separate from the sale total. Many regions and card brands require you to tell customers before they pay, so a sign at the counter is a good idea as well.
Can I use cash discount or dual pricing instead?
SeroPOS does not offer cash discount or dual pricing programs. It supports a credit card surcharge only. To reward cash payments, you can give a manual discount at the till or set up discount rules in the back office for the items you choose.