A cash discount program, set up the right way
Post your regular price, and give customers who pay cash a discount at checkout. It's a straightforward way for card sales to help cover processing costs, and it's the approach Texas law expressly allows.
- Free statement analysis
- Month-to-month options
- $0 upfront equipment with qualifying agreement
- Local to Fort Bend & Houston
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Tony replies within 1 business day. No obligation.
How a cash discount program works
Your posted prices are your regular prices. When a customer pays with cash, the terminal or POS applies a discount and shows it on the receipt. Card customers pay the posted price. Because the posted price accounts for the cost of card acceptance, you keep more of each sale than you would at standard pricing.
This is different from a surcharge, which adds a fee on top of the posted price for paying by credit card. In Texas, we only set up cash discount and dual pricing programs. Signage at the door and register, and a receipt that clearly shows the discount, are part of every setup.
What's included
A cash discount program is only as good as its disclosure.
Door and register signs
Clear wording that the posted price is the regular price and a discount applies for cash.
Terminal or POS setup
Discount applied automatically when the cash tender is selected, shown on the receipt.
Price review
Help deciding whether to adjust posted prices and by how much.
Card brand rules
Configured to your program's requirements for how prices and discounts are displayed.
Team training
How to explain it in a sentence, and how to handle the occasional question.
Fast start
Often live within days of approval, with equipment at no upfront cost on qualifying programs.
Cash discount vs. surcharge
A surcharge adds a fee to a card sale on top of the posted price. A cash discount lowers the posted price for cash. The customer experience can look similar, but legally they are treated differently, especially in Texas. We set up the discount, never a Texas surcharge.
Three ways to price card processing
There's no single best model. We'll show you each one priced against your real numbers, then you choose.
Flat rate
One percentage plus a per-sale fee on every card. Easy to read, but you pay the same rate on a cheap debit card as on a premium rewards card.
- Predictable
- Simple statements
- Often costs more as volume grows
Fits: low volume, seasonal or brand-new sellers
Interchange-plus
You pay the card networks' wholesale cost (interchange and assessments) plus a fixed, disclosed markup. Every layer shows on your statement.
- Most transparent
- Markup stays fixed
- Usually lowest cost at higher volume
Fits: established businesses, larger tickets, B2B
Cash discount / dual pricing
Your posted prices account for card costs, and customers paying cash get a lower price. Card sales help cover processing instead of your margin.
- Offsets much of your processing cost
- Clear signage and receipts
- Not a surcharge
Fits: restaurants, auto, retail, service shops
Not sure which fits? Get a free statement analysis or read pricing explained.
Why business owners work with Cedarline
We're a small, independent agent. That means fewer layers between you and the person who set up your account.
One person who answers
You work with Tony directly, from the first statement review to go-live and after. No call-center queue to start.
Pricing you can read
Every quote shows the rate, per-item fee, monthly fees and any equipment terms in writing before you sign.
Options, not one platform
We compare programs from several partner processors and POS platforms, so the setup fits your business instead of the other way around.
Set up correctly
Cash discount signage, receipt settings, tip and tax settings, and test transactions are handled before you go live.
Get set up in three steps
From first call to first sale, without the guesswork.
Send a statement or tell us your plans
Existing business? Send one recent processing statement. Opening soon? Tell us what you'll sell and when.
Compare your options
You get a side-by-side of pricing models, equipment and terms, priced against your numbers.
Go live, tested
Approval, equipment programming, signage and test transactions, done before you rely on it.
Approval timing depends on the processor's underwriting. Most complete applications get a decision in a few business days.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a cash discount and dual pricing?
With a cash discount, you post one regular price and discount it for cash at checkout. With dual pricing, both a cash price and a card price are displayed on every item. Both are different from a surcharge.
How big is the discount?
It's set by your program and disclosed on your signs and receipts. Many programs land in the 3% to 4% range. We'll show you the effect on your numbers before you decide.
Is it really $0 processing?
No program is truly free. You still pay processing fees on card sales; the posted price is set so those sales help cover the cost. Depending on your cash/card mix and program, much of the cost can be offset, but results vary.
Do debit cards get the discount?
That depends on how your program is configured and the card networks' current rules. We'll explain the options during setup.
More services
Not sure what you're paying, or what you'll need?
Send a recent statement or tell us about the business you're opening. You'll get a plain-English breakdown and options, with no cost or obligation.