We constantly see headlines about all the technology driving people away from stores and onto their computers to buy everything. It almost seems like, in the near future, we’ll be getting everything online, with physical stores becoming a thing of the past. Although, anyone who loves to shop can testify that nothing beats the thrill of a good day out shopping…
Ecommerce and physical stores aren’t opposites, or enemies; on the contrary, both have benefits and drawbacks, and both provide different information for the types of products being shopped. If you have an online store in addition to your brick-and-mortar shop, you’re in a great position to benefit from a productive strategy called web-to-store, or ROBO (research online, buy offline). And if you’re looking for a credit card processing solution for small business, you’ll want a service provider who can do both.
Clothing, specialty items, hardware—basically any store where interacting with a product before buying can make a difference—benefit from ROBO shopping. Online shopping, despite how convenient and on-the-rise it is, can never fully replace in-store shopping (don’t quote me on that in 2100…), and if you own a shop, a good way to begin is by accentuating the benefits of the in-person experience.
Step 1: Good eCommerce.
To begin, you’re going to need an effective ecommerce website to start crafting a ROBO strategy. You’ll want a variety of effective calls to action to allow visitors multiple opportunities to interact with you and your product. You’ll also want to make your website a useful place to do research about your product, as fast and easily as possible. Luckily, Moolah integrates beautifully with Wix, Shopify, and other applications that are able to help you design the perfect ecommerce experience for your customers.
Step 2: Give customers what they can’t get online.
The ultimate call to action is the one that gets the customer away from the screen and into your store. One particularly artful way to do just that is to offer appointments. This move can really up the perceived value of your product or service, with not much added effort on your part. Additionally, you’ll be building customer loyalty, while connecting with your customer on a deeper level.
Appointments are natural for hair stylists, but what if you sell a product, not a service? In this situation, appointments can become a way of creating value for your customers, and giving you a dramatic advantage over the competition. Are you a specialty wine, cheese, or spice store? Allow customers to schedule a free tasting appointment & consultation. Clothing or beauty products? Appointments can be a styling consultation or intro to new products. By using your website to start an interaction with your customers that ends in your store, you and your customer will benefit from the connection.
Step 3: A payment solution that makes everything possible.
With ecommerce and in-store sales, it will be important to get a credit card processing solution for small business that can take you all the way. Moolah is a great solution for businesses that sell online, in addition to their brick-and-mortar store. That’s because we work diligently to supply you with everything you need, whether that’s a beautiful Poynt POS terminal, the necessary tools to make a killer eCommerce site, and a dedicated merchant account that handles everything. Doing both is not only possible, it’s powerful! And Moolah is there to help.
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A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.
No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.
Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.
Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.
Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.
No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.
Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.
Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.
Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.
If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.
This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.
If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.
Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.
Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.
Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.
Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.
Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.
In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.
If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.
Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.
Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.
Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.
By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.