A payment gateway with surcharging built in.
Pass eligible credit card costs to the customer, calculated and itemized automatically at checkout. Included in the standard plan, not a paid module.
On in three steps, then it runs itself.
Surcharging is configured in the gateway. There is nothing to add to your checkout code and no third-party service to sign up for.
Set the rate
We enable surcharging on your account and set the rate with you during onboarding. There is nothing to add to your checkout code.
It applies everywhere
One account-level setting covers the hosted payment page, the virtual terminal, invoices, recurring subscriptions, and the API.
Let it calculate
The fee is worked out, disclosed, and itemized at checkout on credit transactions only. Every surcharge lands as its own line in reporting.
The fee handling, done properly.
Set once at the account level
Turn surcharging or a flat convenience fee on for the account. It applies across the hosted payment page, the virtual terminal, invoices, and the API.
Credit cards only, never debit
Surcharging is applied to credit transactions only, which is what the card brand rules require. Debit stays untouched.
State-rule aware
Eligible costs are passed to the customer where state rules allow. Read the guide before switching it on.
Disclosure handled at checkout
Calculation, disclosure, and itemization happen automatically. The customer sees the fee as its own line before they pay.
Convenience fee as an alternative
Add a flat or percentage fee to specific channels or payment methods instead of a card surcharge, which suits government and utility billing.
Included, not an add-on
Surcharging comes with the $20 a month standard plan, alongside the vault, recurring billing, and reporting. There is no separate module to buy.
Where passing the fee actually pays.
Surcharging moves the needle most on large credit tickets, where the card cost is a visible line on the P&L.
B2B and wholesale distributors
Large tickets on commercial cards, where the card cost is a real line on the P&L.
Field service and trades
Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC firms invoicing high-ticket jobs.
Towing and recovery
Thin margins on impound releases and storage. See the towing gateway.
Government and utilities
Convenience fee billing with the disclosure built into the payment page.
Professional services
Firms billing retainers and project fees where a single card sale is large.
Accounts receivable
Closing past-due invoices by phone through the virtual terminal.
Surcharge or convenience fee?
Two ways to stop absorbing the card cost. They work differently and suit different businesses.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Model | What the customer sees | Applies to | Best fit | In CoreGateway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card surcharge | A percentage added to the credit card sale, itemized on its own line at checkout. | Credit cards only. Never debit, even when a debit card is run as credit. | Large-ticket B2B, trades, professional services, accounts receivable. | Included on the standard plan. |
| Convenience fee | A flat or percentage charge tied to a specific payment channel, such as paying online or by phone. | The channel, not the card type. Can apply where a surcharge cannot. | Government, utilities, education, municipal billing. | Included on the standard plan. |
Not sure which one fits? Book a demo and we will model it against your actual card mix, or run the numbers with the pricing calculator.
What passing the card fee is actually worth.
Surcharging is not new revenue. It moves a cost you already pay onto the customer who chose to pay by credit card. Whether that is worth doing comes down to ticket size and card mix.
- Monthly card volume$50,000
- Share running on credit70%, $35,000
- Surcharge rate applied3.0%
- Recovered per month$1,050
- Recovered per year$12,600
Illustration only, not a projection. Your card mix, average ticket, and permitted surcharge rate all change the result, and debit volume is never surcharged.
Where it works
Large credit tickets. A $4,000 distributor invoice, a $2,800 HVAC replacement, a $900 impound release. On those the card cost is a visible line on the P&L, and customers rarely walk over a fee they can avoid by paying another way.
What it does not change
Your underlying processing rates, your chargeback exposure, or your PCI obligations. Surcharging changes who pays the fee, not what the fee is.
Surcharging FAQ.
Does CoreGateway support surcharging?
Can my customers cover the card fee instead of me?
Can I surcharge a debit card?
What is the difference between a surcharge and a convenience fee?
Does surcharging cost extra on top of the $20 a month?
How much can I surcharge?
Does surcharging apply to recurring billing and invoices?
Stop absorbing the card fee.
Book a 30-minute demo. We will check whether surcharging fits your state, your card mix, and your ticket size before you commit to anything.