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's the difference between a surcharge and a cash discount?

A surcharge adds a fee to credit card transactions; a cash discount posts card-inclusive prices and discounts them for cash payers. Both legally shift processing costs away from the merchant — Centurion will recommend the right one for your business and state rules.

Will my Boca Raton customers get upset about a surcharge?

In our experience across South Florida, pushback is minimal when the fee is disclosed clearly at the entrance and point of sale. Customers see surcharges everywhere now — from gas stations to city permit offices.

How much does it cost to switch to Centurion?

Nothing. Setup, equipment reprogramming, compliant signage, and training are free. Many merchants also qualify for free terminal placement and a contract buyout.

Can I lower fees without changing how customers pay?

Yes — moving to interchange-plus pricing and eliminating junk fees typically saves 20–30% with zero change to the customer experience.

Boca Raton - Lower Processing Fees

Seven proven strategies Boca Raton merchants use to slash processing costs — from interchange optimization to zero-fee surcharge programs.

You're Probably Overpaying — Here's Why

Across Boca Raton and South Florida, we analyze hundreds of merchant statements every month. More than 9 out of 10 show unnecessary markups: padded interchange, monthly "statement fees," PCI non-compliance penalties, batch fees, and annual fees that serve no purpose other than profit for the processor.

Businesses running upscale retail, professional services, medical practices, and fine dining along Mizner Park and Glades Road are especially vulnerable, because busy owners rarely have time to audit a 12-page statement written in industry jargon.

7 Ways to Cut Your Processing Costs

1. Switch from flat-rate to interchange-plus pricing. 2. Enroll in a compliant surcharge program and pass fees to card users. 3. Offer a cash discount to reward cash and debit payments. 4. Make sure you're PCI compliant to avoid monthly penalty fees. 5. Batch out daily to avoid downgrade surcharges. 6. Use address verification (AVS) on keyed transactions. 7. Get Level 2/3 data optimization if you sell B2B.

Any one of these can save real money. Combined, Boca Raton merchants routinely cut total processing costs 20–40% — and surcharge-program merchants effectively pay nothing at all.

Stop overpaying on processing fees.

Free rate analysis for Boca Raton businesses — response within 1 hour.

Get Free Quote

The Zero-Fee Option: Surcharge & Cash Discount

The single most powerful lever is a surcharge or cash discount program. Instead of your business absorbing 3% on every card sale, the fee is transparently passed to customers who choose to pay by credit card. It's legal in Florida, customers have adapted to it nationwide, and merchants report virtually no pushback when it's disclosed correctly.

Centurion sets up the entire program — compliant signage, receipt language, terminal programming, and card-brand notifications — at no cost to you.

Get a Free Statement Analysis

The fastest path to lower fees is knowing exactly what you pay today. Upload or email one recent statement and a Centurion analyst will produce a line-by-line breakdown showing your true effective rate and projected savings. Call (561) 221-2273 or request your free rate analysis below — most Boca Raton merchants hear back within one business hour.