What is a merchant surcharge program?

A merchant surcharge program allows businesses to pass credit card processing fees (up to 3%) directly to customers who pay with credit cards. This is fully legal in 47+ states and can save merchants $20,000–$60,000 per year in processing fees.

What is a cash discount program?

A cash discount program offers customers a discount for paying with cash or debit, while customers who pay with credit cards pay the posted price which includes a service fee. This effectively eliminates credit card processing costs for the merchant.

How does Centurion compare to Square, Stripe, and Clover?

Centurion Payment Services consistently beats Square (2.6%+10¢), Stripe (2.9%+30¢), Clover (2.3-2.6%), and Heartland on effective rates. With our interchange-plus or surcharge programs, most merchants save 20-40% over their current processor.

Do you work with high-risk merchants?

Yes. Centurion specializes in high-risk merchant accounts including CBD, firearms, nutraceuticals, vape, adult content, travel, gaming, and more. We have dedicated high-risk banking relationships and fast approval times.

How quickly can I get set up with Centurion?

Most merchants go live within 48 hours of approval. We handle the entire setup process including equipment programming, gateway integration, and staff training.

What credit card processing rates does Centurion offer?

Centurion offers interchange-plus pricing, flat-rate pricing, and zero-fee/surcharge programs. Rates are customized based on your industry, volume, and processing history. We guarantee to beat your current rate or we'll pay you $500.

Is the merchant surcharge program legal?

Yes. Credit card surcharging is legal in 47+ US states. It is currently prohibited only in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Centurion ensures full compliance with state laws and Visa/Mastercard regulations.

What types of businesses do you work with?

Centurion works with all business types: restaurants, retail stores, medical practices, law firms, auto dealers, salons, hotels, e-commerce, contractors, healthcare, dental offices, veterinarians, gyms, nightclubs, dispensaries, and more.

What is Centurion Payment Services?

Centurion Payment Services helps you organize, track, and share your work in 1 unified workspace. Built for teams and solo users who want clarity and speed.

What is the average credit card processing fee in Tampa?

Most Tampa businesses pay an effective rate between 2.5% and 3.5% of card volume with processors like Square, Stripe, or their bank. With interchange-plus pricing or a surcharge program from Centurion, that effective cost typically drops 20–40% — or to zero.

How fast can I switch processors in Tampa?

Most merchants are approved and processing with Centurion within 48 hours. We handle equipment reprogramming, gateway migration, and staff training at no charge.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

No. Centurion offers month-to-month agreements with no early termination fees. We keep your business by earning it, not by locking you in.

Is credit card surcharging legal in Florida?

Yes — surcharging is legal in Florida when disclosed properly and capped at the cost of acceptance (up to 3%). Centurion handles all signage, receipt disclosures, and card-brand registration for full compliance.

What if Centurion can't beat my current rate?

We'll pay you $500. That's our lowest-rate guarantee — send us a statement and we'll prove the savings before you commit to anything.

Tampa - Card Processing Guide

Everything Tampa business owners need to know about credit card processing rates, hidden fees, equipment, and how to guarantee the lowest rate in Florida.

Why Credit Card Processing Rates Matter for Tampa Businesses

Tampa is home to a thriving mix of fast-growing hospitality, healthcare systems, breweries, and professional services. Whatever your industry, one thing is universal: if you accept credit cards, processing fees are quietly eating 2–4% of every sale. For a business processing $50,000 a month, that can mean $1,500 or more disappearing every single month — $18,000+ per year.

The problem is that most Tampa merchants have no idea what they're actually paying. Statements from processors like Square, Stripe, Clover, and the big banks are intentionally confusing, blending interchange costs, markups, and junk fees into one opaque number.

Understanding the Three Pricing Models

There are three main ways processors price credit card acceptance: flat-rate (like Square's 2.6% + 10¢), tiered pricing (qualified / mid-qualified / non-qualified buckets), and interchange-plus. For nearly every established business in Tampa, interchange-plus is the most transparent and least expensive — you pay the true card-network cost plus a small, disclosed markup.

Better yet, surcharge and cash discount programs can reduce your effective processing cost to zero by passing the fee to card-paying customers — fully legal in Florida and compliant with Visa and Mastercard rules when set up correctly.

Stop overpaying on processing fees.

Free rate analysis for Tampa businesses — response within 1 hour.

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What Tampa Merchants Should Look For in a Processor

Look for: no long-term contracts or early termination fees, next-day funding, transparent interchange-plus or zero-fee pricing, free equipment placement, and a real human you can call. Centurion Payment Services checks every one of those boxes — and we guarantee to beat your current rate or pay you $500.

We serve businesses throughout Tampa and Florida, with most merchants live and processing within 48 hours of approval.

How Much Can You Save?

Typical savings when switching to Centurion range from 20% to 40% of total processing costs. On our surcharge program, many Tampa merchants eliminate processing fees entirely — recovering $20,000 to $60,000 a year that goes straight back to the bottom line.

The fastest way to find out is a free statement analysis. Send us one recent processing statement and we'll show you, line by line, exactly what you're overpaying — no obligation, no pressure.