You’ve got a business. Depending on what that business is, you’re probably obsessed with how to maximize the value part of your value chain, while keeping costs down. The typical way that the concept of value chain was formulated by Michael Porter goes like this: Inbound Logistics, Operations, Outbound Logistics, Sales and Marketing, Service. At any of these points along the process, you the owner and operator can make tweaks and additions to increase value to the consumer, keep costs down, or both.
When you weigh the decision to get a new point of sale device, you may think that the only place your decision affects your value chain is toward the end, if at all—you might think that a better checkout experience helps you offer slightly better customer service. As a result, you probably shouldn’t throw a lot of money at getting a new POS. Actually, getting an up-to-date POS device with integrated payment abilities can open you up to value improvements at practically every stage of the game.
While it is true that the actual payment processing doesn’t have a big effect on your sales, the way you approach your store experience can be re-envisioned from the ground up if you introduce new point of sale technology. The perfect example is found in the Poynt Smart Terminal. With its cordless design, you can actually go untethered to meet your customer right where they dithering about whether or not to buy and answer their questions, make recommendations, if applicable, and possibly up-sell or cross-sell products that they might not know about. Where service meets sales, a modern POS like Poynt can be a game changer.
The reality of small businesses is such that operations tend to grow up organically from need. This is what it is, and isn’t a bad thing in and of itself, but with a big upgrade, such as to a new payment processor, with a new point of sale, additional changes, upgrades, and efficiencies become possible. Inbound and outbound logistics—specifically for the warehousing, shipping, and inventory procedures can actually integrate with third-party apps that draw information directly from your point of sale, even if you have more than one sales channel, and you can set automatic thresholds where products are re-ordered. Wow! Both the Poynt Smart Terminal and Moolah value integrations, and can open you up to efficient tools to make your business succeed.
Overall, the success of your business is directly tied to how much value your products and services can deliver to your customers. Getting a new POS like the Poynt Smart Terminal can set you down a path to improved value at every step of the way.
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A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.
No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.
Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.
Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.
Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.
No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.
Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.
Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.
Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.
If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.
This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.
If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.
Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.
Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.
Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.
Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.
Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.
In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.
If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.
Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.
Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.
Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.
By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.