When a credit card is used to make a purchase, there are usually transaction fees. In most cases, the merchant or the business is responsible for paying the transaction fees, which can include the interchange fee, assessment fee, and payment processing fee. The fees are paid to the merchant’s bank, card associate, and the processing company. The percentage of the charges depends on several factors, including the arrangement with the bank and state laws. These extra charges eat into the merchant’s profit margin. A solution to this problem is using a zero-fee processing system.
What Is Zero-Fee Processing?
Zero-fee processing is a solution where the credit card processing charges are passed to the customers. This can be done through cash discount programs, surcharging programs, or dual pricing.
Cash Discount Program
A zero fee processing | cash discount program works by incentivizing customers to use cash instead of credit in exchange for a reduction in price. This helps avoid credit card charges. The merchant protects their profit margins, while the customer enjoys a discounted price. In most cases, the merchant sets the discount as the same amount as the credit card processing fee.
A key advantage of a cash discount program is that it provides a positive impression of the business to the customer. For example, the reduced price can make them loyal customers, helping the merchant boost sales.
Surcharge Program
A surcharge program has a similar objective of offsetting the credit card charges but uses a different method. With a surcharge program, a small fee is added to the purchase. This helps cover the extra charges of using a credit card for the transaction. While the surcharge program does increase the price of the purchase, customers who want the convenience of using a credit card usually don’t mind paying the small fee. Of course, customers can always choose to use cash to avoid any such charges.
Dual Pricing
Dual pricing is another type of zero-fee processing system. With a dual pricing model, the customer gets to choose from two different prices — cash price and the credit card price. The cash price is lower as there are no processing fees charged when cash is used, while the credit card fee is higher to cover the additional processing costs. Customers appreciate the transparency offered by the dual pricing system so they have the freedom to choose which type of payment they want to make.
A zero-fee processing system is not only beneficial for the merchants and the customers, but it can also help the economy. The extra savings for the customers and the customers help encourage spending, which helps stimulate the economy. Businesses can reinvest the money in their operations. Credit card default is a serious threat to the economy, and zero processing fees help encourage customers to use cash instead of credit cards. This helps the economy by reducing reliance on debt and minimizing credit risk.