Pass your credit card processing fees to customers with automatic card-type detection and surcharging for maximum savings.
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Choose a topic to explore each requirement and see how ODoF helps your business handle it.
Showing all 6 program rules
| Program requirement | How ODoF helps |
|---|---|
SetupRegister with the major card brands The merchant account must complete the required surcharge registration before the program is activated. | Registration supportODoF and Elavon coordinate the registration We help submit the necessary card-brand registration as part of onboarding. |
Before activation Your merchant account and processing configuration must be approved for surcharging. What ODoF handles Onboarding guidance, processor configuration, and required card-brand registration support. | |
Customer noticeDisclose the surcharge before payment Customers must be informed clearly when a surcharge applies to a credit-card transaction. | Signage providedClear in-store and receipt messaging We provide compliant signage and help display the surcharge during checkout. |
Sample disclosure “A surcharge of up to 3% may be added to eligible credit-card transactions. It does not apply to cash, check, debit, or prepaid-card payments.” Placement Display notice at the point of entry and point of sale, and show the fee clearly on the customer receipt. | |
Fee limitDo not charge more than the permitted amount The surcharge cannot exceed the applicable legal or card-brand limit, or the merchant’s cost of acceptance. | Configured pricingEligible credit transactions are capped at the approved rate The standard ODoF surcharge configuration uses a maximum 3% credit-card fee where permitted. |
No profit from the fee The surcharge is intended to recover eligible credit-card acceptance costs, not create additional revenue. Lower limits can apply Your approved rate may be below 3% because of state rules, card-brand rules, or your actual cost of acceptance. | |
ReceiptProcess the purchase and surcharge together The receipt must identify the credit-card surcharge as a separate line item. | Automatic itemizationThe terminal adds the fee during checkout Eligible credit-card fees are calculated automatically and displayed separately on the receipt. |
One transaction The base purchase and surcharge are processed together rather than as separate payments. Clear record Itemization gives the customer and merchant a transparent record of the fee. | |
Card typesNever surcharge debit or prepaid cards Debit, prepaid, and eligible debit-type FSA/HSA transactions cannot receive a credit-card surcharge. | Automatic detectionThe terminal identifies credit versus debit Debit transactions receive no surcharge; the merchant pays the applicable 1.00% + 25¢ debit rate. |
Customer choice Customers can avoid the credit-card surcharge by paying with debit, cash, or check. Automatic routing The system uses card-type information to prevent a surcharge from being added to debit and prepaid transactions. | |
State accessConfirm availability for the merchant’s location State laws, processor support, and surcharge limits vary and can change. | Eligibility reviewWe review state availability during onboarding Current program restrictions and reduced-rate states are confirmed before activation. |
Program currently unavailable ConnecticutMaineMassachusettsNew York Reduced maximum shown in current program guidance Colorado · max 2%Oklahoma · max 2% | |
iThis section provides general program guidance, not legal advice. Surcharge rules and processor availability can change; confirm current state and card-brand requirements before launch.
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*Receive a $200 credit toward total order of wholesale purchases or rental payments, ONLY eligible for accounts processing over $30,000 monthly after 3 months, then recheck every quarter. Minimum $10,000 monthly processing to qualify for low rate program.
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A credit card surcharge is an added fee that businesses sometimes apply to customers who choose to pay with a credit card. Its primary purpose is to offset the processing costs that the merchant incurs from card transactions. Typically, this surcharge is calculated as a percentage of the purchase total, matching the merchant’s own credit card processing rate.
Across most of the United States, credit card surcharges cannot exceed 3%. The main exception is Colorado, where the upper limit is 2%. That said, the actual cap on surcharges depends on the specific processing fee a merchant pays. In other words, if your negotiated processing rate is 2.5% (as opposed to 3%), then your surcharge cannot surpass 2.5%.
It’s also important to distinguish surcharges from convenience fees. Convenience fees are charged for using a specific payment method—like phone or online transactions—rather than simply for using a credit card. Surcharges, on the other hand, are strictly meant to recoup the costs of credit card processing.
A convenience fee is a charge that businesses add when a customer pays through a method that is different from the merchant’s standard form of payment. For example, if a brick-and-mortar store typically accepts in-person cash or card transactions, it might charge a convenience fee for payments made online or by phone. This fee typically covers the additional costs associated with processing these alternative payment methods.
Unlike credit card surcharges—which are calculated as a percentage—convenience fees are usually structured as a flat amount. They often appear for more substantial payments, such as mortgage bills, property taxes, college tuition, and other large transactions. However, they can also be applied to everyday purchases in certain cases.
Not exactly. For years, many small businesses in the U.S. have offered lower prices to customers who pay with cash. Surcharging simply means passing on the cost of accepting credit cards to the customer. Your customers can always choose to pay with a debit card to avoid the credit card surcharge.
Yes, as of 2025, only in 46 states. Businesses must display a sign at the point of sale informing customers of the 3% fee on credit card transactions, which they can avoid by paying with a debit card. We provide this signage for you.
For 2025, generally, yes, you can impose a surcharge on credit card transactions. At the federal level, there is a limit of 4% on credit card surcharges. Debit card surcharges, however, are prohibited in every state.
That said, the following states do not allow credit card surcharges:
Other states permit surcharging but have specific rules:
In the remaining 45 states, surcharging appears to be allowed under most circumstances. However, make sure to consult legal counsel and verify state-specific regulations.
Credit card companies charge a fee for each credit or debit card payment processed. Typically, this fee is paid by the business owner. With ODoF Merchant Services, you get compliant signage and equipment to accept credit cards without paying any fees. If a customer uses a debit card, our system will charge you a flat fee of 1% + 25¢ per transaction. Otherwise, Cash is entirely free.
Absolutely. Your daily savings will be significant and your monthly statement will only include debit card processing fees.
Businesses using the surcharge model have NOT reported a drop in sales. Customers have more payment options and can avoid surcharges by using cash or debit cards. With proper marketing, a surcharge program can help increase your annual revenue while reducing expenses.
FSA/HSA cards are treated like regulated debit cards, meaning you cannot add a surcharge to them. Our surcharge-compatible terminal automatically detects the card type from the card number.
If it’s a credit-type FSA/HSA card (Rare), you may add up to a 3% surcharge (as long as you follow all card brand requirements).
If it’s a debit/prepaid FSA/HSA card, no surcharge is allowed, and it will be processed as a debit transaction, with you paying the 1% fee.
If the card is an FSA/HSA card and the cardholder doesn’t know their PIN, our POS terminal will give the option to run the transaction without the cardholder surcharge as a credit transaction (Visa/MasterCard Debit). You will still pay the 1% debit fee.
Please note that not all FSA/HSA debit cards are the same; some banks require a PIN. If that’s the case, have the patient call the number on the back of the card to set it up prior to use. In the worst-case scenario, you can always provide an itemized statement for them to self-submit on their own.
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The massive saving were all very true! Highly recommended! I got an effective rate of 1.78% compared to my old 6.32%. Saving of $56,000 per year was amazing!
Great experience all the way around! I thought it had to be too good to be true, but it’s not. We even started invoicing though the Poynt system and are able to text a paylink to patients. Also, wonderful/prompt customer service. Effective rate was 1.92% compared to my old 4.58%. Savings of $23,751 annually
I was sick of negotiating every month with my old processor. Been with ODs on Finance Merchant Services since October and the rate has been as low as 1.95%, and never over 2.03%. Highly Recommended!!
I have been using them since the beginning of the year and am impressed. Previously I had an integrated merchant service with my EHR but was paying base fees of at least $200 per month and my effective rate was around 11%. With the switch my rate is close to 2% and I have saved thousands.
I switched over at the beginning of the year as well. Previously had chase merchant service with a good rate but I had issues with Chase being down 3 times last year. I have the Poynt terminal, easy to use and no issues. They are upfront and great communication which I appreciate. My current effective rate of 1.65%.
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