How much can a Washington business save with dual pricing?
Across 36 recent statements from Washington businesses that switched to dual pricing or a surcharge program, the average shop kept over $1,000 a month that used to go to card fees. That is not a projection; it is what showed up on the next statement once the program was set up correctly. Your number depends on your card mix, ticket size, and which program fits your business, and dual pricing is the one that reaches every card including debit.
What drives the savings
Two things set the number for a given business: card mix and ticket size. A shop with heavier card volume, especially debit, has more fee exposure sitting on the table, and dual pricing is the model that reaches all of it, debit included. Ticket size matters too. Because the card price absorbs the cost as a percentage, businesses with higher average tickets tend to see a bigger monthly dollar figure even when the percentage is the same as a lower-ticket business.
That is why the average from 36 recent statements — businesses that switched to dual pricing or a surcharge program — is a starting point, not a promise. See what Washington businesses pay to accept cards for the baseline costs dual pricing is designed to offset, and how those rates are actually calculated if you want the mechanics.
A worked example
Take a counter-service business running $40,000 a month in card volume with a typical mixed-card cost around 2.5%, roughly $1,000 a month going to processing fees before any change. Under dual pricing, that cost shifts onto the posted card price instead of coming out of the business's margin. The cash-paying customers keep the lower price, the card-paying customers see the card price up front, and the business keeps what used to go to fees. That is the same pattern behind the $1,000-a-month average across the 36 Washington statements we've reviewed from businesses that switched to dual pricing or a surcharge program: it is not a single big win, it is the fee that was already being paid every month, redirected.
How to get your real number
Send one recent statement
We read your actual card mix, volume, and current rates line by line. No estimate, no sales pitch based on averages.
We tell you the number before you switch
You see what dual pricing would have saved you last month, using your real numbers, before you commit to anything.
The setup ships done
Terminal configuration, signage, and receipt language come set up correctly the first time, which is the part that trips up a DIY switch.
Not sure dual pricing is the right fit?
Read dual pricing vs cash discount vs surcharge to see how the three compare, or look at what card fees actually run for Federal Way businesses. Either way, a free rate analysis settles it against your real statement.
Fair questions
How much does dual pricing actually save?
Across 36 recent statements from Washington businesses we've reviewed that switched to dual pricing or a surcharge program, the average business kept over $1,000 a month. That figure comes from real statements, not a projection, but it moves with your card mix, ticket size, and program, which is why we read your specific statement before quoting a number.
What drives the size of the savings?
Two things mostly: card mix and ticket size. A business with more card volume relative to cash has more fee exposure to offset, so the dollar savings tend to be larger. Ticket size matters too, because dual pricing shifts the percentage-based cost onto the card price at the point of sale, so higher-ticket businesses often see a bigger monthly number even at the same percentage.
Does dual pricing cover debit cards too?
Yes. Dual pricing posts a cash price and a card price before the sale, so it applies to every card type including debit, unlike surcharging, which network rules ban on debit and prepaid cards entirely. That is part of why businesses with heavy debit traffic tend to see strong results with dual pricing specifically.
Can you tell me my number without seeing my statement?
Not accurately. The $1,000-a-month average is real across businesses that switched to dual pricing or a surcharge program, but averages hide a wide range, and your card mix is what actually sets the number. A free rate analysis reads your real statement line by line and gives you your actual figure, not the average.
Is dual pricing legal in Washington?
Yes. It is legal nationwide, including Washington, when the two prices are posted clearly before the sale. See the Washington surcharge rules page for how dual pricing compares to surcharging and cash discount under the current rules.
How fast does the switch happen?
Once you send a statement, we tell you the number, set the terminal, and ship the required signage in the box. Most Washington businesses are running the new pricing within days, not weeks.
Send one statement. Plain-English answer in 24 hours.