Surcharging with Lightspeed Payments
The smarter way to handle transaction fees.
Recover Costs
Recover revenue lost to credit card fees and reinvest it into your store, whether it’s refreshing displays, upgrading shelving, or restocking bestsellers.
Stay Competitive
Keep your prices sharp across the board by using surcharging to offset fees, without adding costs for customers who choose to pay with cash or debit.
Be Transparent
Create a clear and compliant checkout experience. Fees are automatically shown on the terminal and itemized on receipts, building customer trust.
FAQs
How do I enable Surcharging in my account?
Navigate to Finance > Terminals tab. To the right of the location name, click Settings. On the terminal settings page, toggle on Surcharging. (Optional) To change the surcharge, click Customize surcharges. Enter a new per-transaction percentage, then click Done. Click Save at the bottom of the page. Ensure your Checkout app version is 9.1.0 or higher, then restart your payment terminal to update your surcharging settings.
What will my customers see during checkout?
When a credit card is used, the terminal automatically calculates and applies the fee. You can choose to have a “Surcharge confirmation” step where the terminal displays the total amount including the surcharge and prompts the customer to accept or decline before payment.
Is surcharging legal and are there rules I have to follow?
Yes, but it is strictly regulated. While surcharging is permitted in most regions, you are responsible for complying with local laws and card brand rules (Visa, Mastercard, etc.). Key rules include:
Clear Notification: You must inform customers about the surcharge with clear signage at your store’s entrance and at the point of sale.
Fee Limits: The surcharge amount cannot exceed the actual processing rate you are charged.
Credit Cards Only: Surcharges can only be applied to credit card transactions, not debit or prepaid cards.
Customer Choice: The customer must be able to cancel the transaction without penalty after the surcharge is disclosed.
