PRICING PROGRAM REVIEW
A pricing program has to work on the statement and at the counter.
Costs and terms depend on the provider, configuration, and transaction profile involved — DATAONE confirms exact pricing with you before you decide whether to move forward.
The label is not the decision. Compare the full cost, customer presentation, equipment, contract and operating requirements before choosing standard processing, a dual-pricing or cash-discount structure, or a surcharge program.
Compare My Payment Pricing Options
HOW THE COST APPEARS
Follow the cost from customer presentation to the monthly statement.
Compare four distinct options: Standard Merchant-Paid Pricing, Interchange-Plus / Pass-Through Pricing, Dual Pricing / Cash Discount, and Compliant Credit-Card Surcharging. Rates, assessments, equipment, software, monthly fees and exception costs need one comparison that uses the same volume and card-mix assumptions.
WHAT MUST NOT BREAKA lower quoted rate should not create a customer-experience problem, a program your team cannot operate, or fees that surface somewhere else.
FOUR PRICING STRUCTURES
Merchant-paid, dual-pricing and surcharge structures change both cost and customer presentation.
Merchant-paid structure
A conventional structure reviewed for transparent total cost, contract terms and operating fit.
Underlying costs plus processor markup
Often worth considering for businesses with meaningful or varied card volume that want greater visibility into processor markup and underlying costs.
Two-price or discount structure
Keep this distinct from compliant credit-card surcharging; presentation, equipment and program requirements need separate review.
Eligible credit-card transactions
Requires card-brand, legal, registration, disclosure, receipt and configuration review before use.
WORKFLOW CHECK
Put every proposal through the same month.
Normalize sales volume, average ticket, card mix, refunds and equipment. Then compare the customer-facing experience and the full statement—not a single quoted rate.
VOLUMESame month and ticket mix
COSTEvery recurring and transaction fee
RULESEligibility and presentation
EXCEPTIONSRefunds, debit, tips and downtime
WHERE THE DECISION BREAKS
Catch the fee, disclosure or receipt mismatch before changing programs.
Comparing only the quoted rate
A lower quoted rate can be offset by network costs, processor markup, monthly fees, equipment, gateway or exception charges elsewhere.
Confusing the pricing models
Flat pricing, interchange-plus, dual pricing, cash discount and surcharge differ; confirm business cost, customer view and rules.
Checkout-to-statement gap
Customer price, displayed price, receipt, settlement and statement should agree; a mismatch can create confusion or reveal an operating or disclosure problem.
WHAT A REVIEW COVERS
Put one month under every proposed pricing program.
WHAT YOU PROVIDE
Put one month under every program
Bring the statement, contract, equipment list, average ticket, refund activity and customer presentation.
WHAT WE REVIEW
Compare programs against identical sales facts
Apply the same volume, card mix, equipment, contract and customer experience to every program being compared.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
A comparison with open questions named
You leave with the cost assumptions and eligibility or compliance questions that still need confirmation.
You leave with comparable cost assumptions and the rules that still need review. Savings, eligibility and legal compliance are not promised.
QUESTIONS BEFORE DECISIONS
A fair pricing comparison should explain these six points.
Which pricing structure fits my business?
The right fit depends on your sales volume, average ticket, card mix, customer presentation, equipment, contract and day-to-day operating requirements. Compare those facts across each available structure.
How does interchange-plus pricing work?
Interchange-plus separates underlying network costs from the processor markup. Compare the full statement, recurring fees, equipment and contract—not just the quoted markup.
Are dual pricing, cash discount and surcharge the same?
No. Dual pricing or cash discount changes how prices are presented, while a surcharge applies to eligible credit-card transactions. Their rules and customer experience must be reviewed separately.
Can every business add a surcharge?
No. Card-brand rules, applicable law, registration, disclosures, card type, geography and configuration must be reviewed before use. This page is not legal advice.
What should be compared besides the headline rate?
Compare authorization, assessment, processor, gateway, equipment, software, monthly, exception and contract costs, plus the work required to explain and operate the program.
Will changing pricing guarantee savings?
No. A comparison can show stated assumptions and possible differences, but volume, card mix, fees, customer behavior and provider terms can change the result.
A clear next step
Ready to Compare Your Payment Pricing Options?
Use the same sales facts for every option so the comparison stays clear before you decide.