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Dual Pricing and card processing: plain answers
Empire Payment Solutions offers Dual Pricing that costs the merchant $0: no processing cost and no monthly fee. We serve brick-and-mortar businesses nationwide from our base in Gouverneur, NY 13642. Here are straight answers to the questions owners ask us most.
New to Dual Pricing? Start with our Dual Pricing explainer.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers first. Call us if you want the long version.
What is Dual Pricing?
Dual Pricing means every item has two posted prices: a card price and a cash price. Customers who pay by card pay the posted card price. Customers who pay with cash get the lower cash price. Both prices are shown before checkout, so nobody is surprised at the register.
Does Dual Pricing cost my business anything?
No. Empire Dual Pricing costs the merchant $0: no processing cost and no monthly fee. The posted card price covers the cost of taking cards, so you keep what you ring up.
What if I don't want Dual Pricing?
That's fine. Our fallback is interchange-plus at 0.20% + 5¢ per transaction. You pay the card networks' wholesale interchange cost plus that one clear Empire margin, itemized on your statement.
Is Dual Pricing legal in my state?
Dual pricing and cash discount rules vary by state, and we set it up the compliant way for each one. New York is a good example. Under New York General Business Law §518, both the card price and the cash price must be posted before checkout. So in New York we post both prices (on shelf tags, menus, or price lists), and the total at the register matches the posted price. We never add a surprise fee at the end of the sale. This is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your own business, talk with your attorney.
Do you only work in New York?
No. We serve brick-and-mortar businesses nationwide. We're based in Gouverneur, NY 13642, and we work with stores, shops, and restaurants across the United States by phone, email, and remote support.
Is there a free terminal or POS?
Yes. Free terminal. Full POS systems are quoted for each store.
How do I get started?
Call (888) 991-7729, or leave your name and number in the call back form on this page. We'll call you and explain how Dual Pricing works for your business. It takes about 5 minutes.
What kinds of businesses do you work with?
Brick-and-mortar businesses that take cards in person, including liquor stores, gas stations and convenience stores, restaurants, auto repair shops, lumber yards and hardware stores, smoke shops, delis, grocery, and general retail. We also work with gyms, landlords, nonprofits, and contractors.
Is Dual Pricing the same as a surcharge?
No. A surcharge is a fee added on top of the price at the register. With Dual Pricing, the card price and the cash price are both posted up front, and the customer pays the price shown for how they choose to pay.
Do I need to send anything before we talk?
No. Just a quick call. We'll explain how Dual Pricing works for your business and answer your questions. There's no paperwork to send before we talk.
Will my customers know the card price before they pay?
Yes. Both prices are posted where customers shop, and the total on the terminal matches the posted price for the way they pay. We help set up your shelf tags, menus, or signs before Dual Pricing goes live.
Do you offer support after setup?
Yes. You get a real person by phone at (888) 991-7729, not a call center, and Empire Remote Support for the point of sale systems we install.
Answers on this page are general information about how we set up Dual Pricing. They are not legal advice. Dual pricing and cash discount rules vary by state.
Dual Pricing by industry
How it works on your counter, with answers for your kind of shop.
Get a free call back
Leave your name and number and we'll call you to explain how Dual Pricing or interchange-plus would work for your business. About 5 minutes, nothing to send beforehand. Free statement review on the call.