Retail Merchant Services
Retail cost follows in-store volume, debit mix, and average sale size. CMS helps you compare Flat Rate, Surcharge, and Cash Discount for brick-and-mortar checkout—in plain language.
What usually changes what you pay
In retail, ticket size, how customers pay, and debit versus credit mix can move your real cost more than a advertised “flat” plan admits. Use the points below as a checklist when you compare options.
- In-store card payments
- Debit vs credit mix
- Average sale size
- One store vs many locations
Good to know
These notes are written for business owners. They explain what CMS looks at before recommending Flat Rate, Surcharge, or Cash Discount for this industry.
- Swiping or tapping in store usually costs less at the network level than typing a card online.
- If many customers pay debit, Surcharge (credit only) or a competitive Flat Rate can be clearer than a high all-card percentage.
- Cash Discount keeps card as the listed price and rewards cash/check—legal nationwide when posted clearly.
- CMS confirms your operating state once, then applies the right program rules.
Flat Rate · Surcharge · Cash Discount
Online seller rates are a poor fit for a store checkout. CMS prices from how customers pay in your aisles and steers toward Flat Rate, Surcharge, or Cash Discount with modest savings.
- CMS Flat Rate
- CMS Surcharge Program
- CMS Cash Discount Program
Verified public processor rates are shown only when official sources confirm plan, fee, and channel. CMS targets a fair comparison, not a cherry-picked percentage.
Pricing only. CMS does not recommend a terminal, POS, gateway, or partner platform on this page.
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