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.

Is switching from Square/Stripe disruptive?

No — your existing account keeps working while we set up the new one. Cutover happens when you're ready, usually with zero downtime. Equipment reprogramming and training are free.

What about my online store?

We integrate with all major e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, custom sites) through gateways that cost less than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢.

Do I lose Square's free POS features?

We'll match your feature needs — inventory, invoicing, recurring billing, reporting — with equipment and software we place free for qualified merchants. Tell us what you use and we'll map it before you switch.

Why do Atlanta businesses switch most often?

Three reasons we hear across the Southeast: fees grew with their volume, funds got held with no explanation, and they couldn't reach a human. A dedicated merchant account fixes all three.

Atlanta - Square/Stripe Alternatives

Square and Stripe are easy — and expensive. Here's what Atlanta businesses save by switching to a dedicated merchant account, and how the switch actually works.

The True Cost of Convenience

Square charges 2.6% + 10¢ in person and 2.9% + 30¢ online. Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢. Those flat rates are simple — and heavily marked up. The true wholesale cost (interchange) on a typical card is 1.5–2.2%. The difference is pure margin for the aggregator, and for a Atlanta business doing $40,000/month, it commonly adds up to $300–$600 every month in unnecessary markup.

Add the risk factor: aggregators can freeze funds and terminate accounts by algorithm, with no human to call. Businesses across the Southeast learn this the hard way every week.

What a Dedicated Merchant Account Changes

With Centurion you get true interchange-plus pricing (wholesale cost plus a small disclosed markup), underwritten approval so your account doesn't vanish overnight, next-day funding, a named rep, and free equipment. Or go further with a surcharge/cash discount program and pay effectively nothing.

Typical results when Atlanta merchants switch from Square or Stripe: 20–40% lower total cost, faster funding, and support from humans in the same time zone.

Stop overpaying on processing fees.

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

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Switching Is Easier Than You Think

Approval takes 24–48 hours. We reprogram or replace your equipment free, migrate recurring customers and card-on-file data where supported, and run your first transactions with you. There's no service interruption — you process on the old account until the new one is live.

See Your Exact Numbers First

Don't switch on faith. Send us a Square or Stripe statement (or your dashboard export) and we'll produce a side-by-side comparison showing exactly what you'd save. Call (561) 221-2273 or request your free comparison below — answers within one business hour.