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Dual Pricing Savings Calculator

See how much your business keeps with dual pricing, enter your numbers for an instant estimate.

Your dual pricing savings
$17,400
kept every year with ProTech dual pricing
Current monthly fees$1,450
Current annual fees$17,400
With ProTech dual pricing≈ $0
Get my free rate analysis →
Illustrative at the rate you enter. Cash discount / dual pricing is legal in all 50 states, including Texas. Your exact savings depend on your card mix.
The problem

Why businesses overpay on card fees

Every card sale carries interchange, network assessments and your processor’s markup. Once junk fees (batch, statement, gateway) are added, most businesses pay an effective rate of 2.6% to 3.5%. At $50,000 a month that is roughly $17,000 a year leaving your pocket. Dual pricing recovers most of it.

Step by step

How to use this calculator

1

Enter your monthly card volume

The total dollars you run through cards in a typical month.

2

Enter your current effective rate

Your total monthly fees divided by volume. Most businesses sit at 2.6% to 3.5%.

3

See your annual savings

The calculator shows what you pay now versus close to $0 with dual pricing.

Definition

What is dual pricing and how does it work?

Dual pricing is a payment model where every item carries two prices: a lower cash price and a slightly higher card price that includes the cost of card processing. Customers see both prices and choose how to pay. Those who pay with a card cover the processing fee themselves, so your business keeps close to the full ticket on every card sale.

How it works at the register and online

In store, your terminal or point of sale system shows the cash and card price and applies the right one automatically at checkout. Online, your payment gateway and online checkout display the card price up front. The customer is never surprised, because both prices are posted before they pay.

Dual pricing vs cash discount vs surcharging

  • Dual pricing posts a cash price and a card price side by side, the clearest of the three for customers.
  • Cash discount treats the card price as the shelf price and takes an amount off for cash payers.
  • Surcharging adds a separate fee line to credit cards only, capped by the card brands, and cannot be applied to debit.

All three are legal when set up correctly, but most merchants choose dual pricing because customers respond to a price, not a penalty. See the full breakdown on our dual pricing program page.

The math

How your dual pricing savings are calculated

The calculator uses one simple formula. Your current monthly processing cost equals your monthly card volume multiplied by your effective rate. Multiply that by twelve and you have the annual cost. With dual pricing, card-paying customers cover that cost, so your out of pocket drops close to zero.

The formula

  • Monthly cost = card volume × effective rate
  • Annual cost = monthly cost × 12
  • With dual pricing = close to $0

A worked example

A business running $50,000 a month at a 2.9% effective rate pays about $1,450 every month, or $17,400 a year. Under dual pricing, almost all of that stays in the business.

What changes your number

  • Your effective rate, which folds in interchange, assessments and processor markup
  • Your card mix, since debit and credit cost different amounts
  • Your average ticket and monthly volume

For the exact figure on your account, send a recent statement and we will return a free analysis. Request your free rate analysis.

Right for you?

Is dual pricing right for your business?

Dual pricing fits most businesses that accept cards in person or online, and it works best where margins are tight and card volume is high. If processing fees are eating a real share of your revenue, the model pays for itself quickly.

Where it works best

  • Retail and convenience stores
  • Restaurants, cafes and bars
  • Auto, repair and service businesses
  • Professional and B2B services with larger tickets

What your customers experience

Customers see two clearly posted prices and choose freely. Cash payers enjoy the lower price; card payers pay a small amount more for the convenience. With compliant signage and receipts the experience is transparent and familiar. Pair it with the right POS and in-store payments setup and the whole flow is automatic.

Why ProTech

How ProTech Payments helps

Compliant setup

We configure dual pricing to card-brand rules, with the right signage and receipts so you stay compliant.

Keep your equipment

Most businesses switch in 1 to 3 business days and keep the hardware they already use.

Real US support

A real person in Katy, TX for your account, disputes and questions. No call centers.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Everything US merchants ask before switching their online payments to ProTech.

Still have questions?

Talk to a real ProTech specialist, no call centers, no scripts.

Talk to a specialist →
or call (888) 255-0425
Is dual pricing legal?
Yes. Dual pricing is legal in all 50 states when it is set up to the card-brand rules. That means posting a clear cash price and card price, showing both up front, and using compliant signage and receipts. ProTech configures all of this for you so you stay compliant from day one.
How much can I really save with dual pricing?
Most merchants recover 85% to 100% of their card-processing fees, because card-paying customers cover the cost instead of the business. The calculator gives an estimate from your volume and effective rate; a free statement analysis returns your exact number.
Will I lose customers if I switch to dual pricing?
In practice, very few. Customers are used to seeing different prices for cash and card at gas stations and many shops. Because both prices are posted clearly, the choice feels fair and most customers simply pay the card price for convenience.
Do my customers see a fee on the receipt?
No. Instead of a separate fee line, they see two prices, a card price and a lower cash price. This is clearer than a surcharge and easier to keep compliant.
Does dual pricing work online and in store?
Yes. It works at the counter through your terminal or POS, and online through your payment gateway and online checkout. The right price is applied automatically at each channel.
Do I need new equipment to use dual pricing?
Usually not. Most businesses keep the hardware they already use. Where an update helps, ProTech provides compatible POS and terminal options as part of the setup.
Is dual pricing the same as cash discount or surcharging?
They are related but not identical. Cash discount marks the card price as the shelf price and discounts cash; surcharging adds a fee to credit cards only within card-brand caps. Dual pricing simply shows both prices side by side, which customers accept most easily.
How fast can I go live?
Most businesses are approved and live within 1 to 3 business days. You can request a free rate analysis first to see your exact savings before you switch.