Surcharge & Cash Discount Sign Generator
Enter your business name and program details to get a print-ready sign and matching menu and receipt wording that agree with each other. Rules vary by card brand and by state, so confirm them before you launch.
Your sign preview
Surcharge and cash discount rules vary by card brand and by state. Confirm with the card brands and your state before launching. This tool does not determine whether a practice is permitted where you operate.
Estimates are based on published industry averages and are not a quote. Actual rates depend on card mix, ticket size, industry, and underwriting.
Your program kit
A specialist can check whether your POS or terminal can apply the program and print it on receipts the way your signs describe.
How this generator works
Card-fee offset programs usually take one of two forms. A surcharge adds a percentage to the bill when a customer pays by credit card: the posted price is the base price, and the surcharge shows as its own line on the receipt. A cash discount program posts the card price and gives customers who pay cash a discount; dual pricing shows both the cash and card price for each item. Your signs should describe what your POS actually charges, so this generator writes different text for each program type and keeps the door sign, menu, checkout, and receipt consistent.
The math affects the wording. If your card price is 4% above your cash price, the discount a cash customer gets off the posted card price is not 4%; it is 4 divided by 1.04, about 3.85%. The tool calculates that equivalent so every notice matches. If you enter monthly card volume, it multiplies that volume by an estimated industry average effective rate for your business type to show roughly what monthly fee the program is meant to offset. That rate is an assumption, not your actual cost; divide total fees by total card volume on your own statement for a real number.
Signs are one step in a launch. Rules vary by card brand and by state and can cover advance notice, maximum amounts, which card types are included, where notices must appear, and how charges show on receipts. Before printing, confirm the rules with the card brands and your state, and confirm with your processor that your POS or terminal can apply the program and print it correctly.
Assumptions used in the numbers
Common questions
What is the difference between a surcharge and a cash discount?
A surcharge adds a percentage to credit card payments on top of the posted price. A cash discount posts the card price and reduces the total for customers who pay cash. Dual pricing shows both prices. Each needs different sign and receipt wording, and the rules for each vary by card brand and by state.
Why is the cash discount on my sign different from the percentage I entered?
If the card price is 4% higher than the cash price, the discount off the card price is 4 / 1.04, about 3.85%. Cash discount signs show the discount-off-posted-price figure so the sign matches what the customer actually saves.
Is a surcharge or cash discount allowed where I operate?
This tool does not determine that. Rules vary by card brand and by state and change over time. Confirm with the card brands and your state before launching, and ask your processor what they require.
Where do I need to post notices?
Common placements are the entrance, the point of sale, menus, online checkout before payment, and receipts. The specific requirements come from card brand and state rules, so confirm them. The full kit includes a matching notice for each placement.
Is the fee estimate my actual processing cost?
No. It uses an estimated industry average effective rate for your business type, labeled as an assumption. For your real rate, divide total processing fees by total card volume from a recent monthly statement.
Can my current POS or terminal apply the program?
It depends on the system and how it is configured. Many setups need changes to calculate the amount, print it on the receipt, and handle tips and refunds. Run a test transaction and check the receipt before launch.