A Comprehensive Guide for Restaurant Owners Looking to Keep More of Their Revenue in 2025

Orlando is known for its iconic attractions, vibrant tourism, and booming culinary scene. From the busy brunch spots in Winter Park to the late-night taco joints in Mills 50, restaurants are the lifeblood of this city’s culture and economy.

But there’s a hidden tax that’s quietly eating away at every Orlando restaurant’s bottom line: credit card processing fees.

Whether you’re a family-owned diner, a fast-casual franchise, or a trendy bistro, chances are you’re losing 2% to 3% of every sale to merchant processors. That may not sound like much—until you do the math.

Luckily, Orlando restaurants have found a legal way to eliminate these fees entirely, without hurting the customer experience or breaking card brand rules. And the best part? It’s simple, legal in Florida, and already being used by many savvy restaurant owners across the city.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll walk you through:

• Why credit card fees are such a problem
• The legal solution Florida restaurants are using
• How it works in real life (step-by-step)
• Common misconceptions
• How to implement it safely
• And how the Small Business Help Squad can do it all for you

Let’s dig in.

The Real Cost of Credit Card Fees for Orlando Restaurants

If your restaurant processes $30,000/month in card sales, and you’re paying an average of 3% in fees, that’s $900 every month—or $10,800 per year—gone.

Now imagine you’re doing $100,000/month during tourist season. That’s over $36,000/year in lost profit, just for the convenience of accepting cards.

Most restaurant owners just accept this as “the cost of doing business.” But it doesn’t have to be.

💳 Why Card Processing Fees Are So High

Here’s where that 3% is going:

Fee Type	What It Means
Interchange Fee	Set by Visa, Mastercard – non-negotiable
Assessment Fee	A small percentage kept by the card networks
Processor Markup	What your payment provider charges for managing the transaction
PCI Fees, Batch Fees, Misc. Charges	Added by many providers to boost profits

Even if you negotiate great rates, these fees add up fast—especially if you’re accepting a high volume of small transactions, like most restaurants do.

⚖️ Is It Legal to Pass These Fees to Customers in Florida?

Yes. Absolutely. Florida law allows restaurant owners to recover credit card fees as long as you follow proper guidelines.

There are two ways to do this:

1. Surcharge Programs

• A small fee (usually up to 3%) is added to credit card purchases only.
• Debit cards are excluded by law.
• You must register with the card brands (Visa/Mastercard).
• Clear signage and receipt disclosure are required.

2. Cash Discount & Dual Pricing Programs

• Prices are displayed as the card price.
• If a customer pays with cash or debit, they receive a discount at the register.
• This method is easier to implement and requires no registration.
• It’s the most popular choice among Orlando restaurants.

Both are 100% legal in Florida.

Why Orlando Restaurants Are Choosing Dual Pricing

Let’s face it—surcharge programs can feel like a “penalty” to customers. That’s why most restaurants are going with Dual Pricing.

Here’s how it works:

• Menu prices reflect the card price.
• If the customer pays with cash or debit, the POS system applies a discount.
• The system auto-adjusts prices and prints everything clearly on the receipt.
• You collect 100% of your sale, no matter how they pay.

This method is fully compliant and customer-friendly. Plus, it’s already being used by:

• Cafés in Thornton Park
  
• Pizza spots in Conway
  
• Food trucks downtown
  
• Fine dining in Lake Nona
  

🍽️ Real-World Example: Dual Pricing in Action

Let’s say you sell a burger combo for $12.36 (that’s your card price).

At checkout:

• If a customer pays with a card, they pay $12.36. You keep all of it.
• If they pay with cash or debit, they get a $0.36 discount, paying just $12.00.

✅ No surprise fees
✅ Clear signage and receipt
✅ Total transparency
✅ You keep your margins

And customers? Most don’t even blink. In fact, many appreciate the discount for paying with cash.

What Kind of Savings Are We Talking?

Let’s break it down for an average Orlando restaurant:

Monthly Card Sales	Avg. Fee (3%)	Yearly Cost
$25,000	$750	$9,000
$50,000	$1,500	$18,000
$100,000	$3,000	$36,000

That’s money you could use to:

• Hire an extra line cook
• Pay for social media ads
• Buy better equipment
• Expand to a second location

Dual Pricing gives you that money back—legally and immediately.

🛑 Common Misconceptions (Debunked)

❌ “Customers will be upset.”

Reality: Most customers are already familiar with it. Gas stations, government offices, even utility companies use dual pricing or surcharge models.

Your customers want good food, fast service, and fair pricing. They’ll appreciate honesty and the option to pay less with cash.

❌ “Isn’t this just a surcharge in disguise?”

Nope. Dual pricing is different:

• You’re showing two prices: one for card, one for cash.
• There’s no “extra fee” added after the fact.
• Customers make the choice at the register.

It’s the most compliant and transparent way to recover fees.

❌ “It sounds complicated to set up.”

That’s what Small Business Help Squad is here for.

We handle:

• POS setup and training
• Menu price configuration
• Receipt formatting
• Legal signage
• Compliance with Visa/Mastercard rules

You just keep serving great food—we handle the rest.

🔧 How to Set It Up: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Work with a Trusted Provider

Generic processors won’t offer compliant dual pricing. You need a team that specializes in restaurants and knows Florida’s laws.

That’s where Small Business Help Squad comes in.

We’ve helped dozens of Orlando restaurants make the switch—saving thousands a month in fees.

Step 2: Install a Dual Pricing POS System

We’ll supply:

• A fully compliant POS terminal or register
• Menu configuration for card/cash pricing
• Auto-adjustments at checkout
• Staff training and tech support

All terminals are:

• EMV compliant
• Tap-to-pay enabled
• Apple Pay / Google Pay friendly

And the best part? Most restaurant owners get their terminal free when they switch.

Step 3: Display Signage and Train Your Team

We provide:

• Entryway signs
  
• Countertop signs
  
• Menu disclaimers (if needed)
  
• Receipt customization to show both prices clearly

We also train your staff to explain the policy with ease.

Example script:
“We offer a cash discount! You’ll save a bit if you pay with cash or debit—otherwise, the card price is listed.”

Step 4: Start Saving on Every Transaction

Once the system is live:

• No more fees on card transactions
• No hidden charges
• No surprises
• Just savings

From your very first day, you’ll notice the difference.

🏆 Restaurants We’ve Helped in Orlando (Real-World Success)

🍳 East Colonial Breakfast Spot

Was paying $1,100/month in processing fees.
Now pays $0 with dual pricing.
Owner reports “no complaints from customers” and reinvested savings in patio seating.

🍕 Pizza Shop Near UCF

High student foot traffic, mostly card users.
Switched to dual pricing and saved $14,000+ in a year.
Used savings to launch delivery via their own app.

🌮 Latin Eatery in Kissimmee

Was stuck in a high-fee processor contract.
We negotiated a free terminal and terminated the old contract with no penalties.
Now saving over $800/month.

🤝 Why Choose Small Business Help Squad?

We’re not just another merchant processor—we’re your partner in profit.

Here’s what we bring to the table:

💼 We Specialize in Restaurants

We know your workflow, your peak hours, your tipping needs. Our systems are built for you.

💡 Legal, Transparent Fee Elimination

We help you recover fees legally, ethically, and clearly—with no risk to your reputation.

📦 Free POS Hardware

Modern, fast, tap-to-pay terminals with dual pricing built-in. No leases. No tricks.

🧾 No Contracts or Gotchas

Month-to-month agreements. Full transparency. You’re in control.

📍 Local Support in Orlando

We serve Orlando and Central Florida—we understand your customers, your community, and your business challenges.

📞 Ready to Eliminate Credit Card Fees at Your Restaurant?

You’re already paying thousands a year just to accept plastic. You don’t have to anymore.

Visit Small Business Help Squad today to:

✅ Book a FREE Consultation
✅ Get a Savings Analysis
✅ Claim Your Free POS System
✅ Start Saving in 48 Hours

Final Thoughts: Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

Margins are thinner than ever in the restaurant industry.

You’re battling:

• Inflation
• Rising labor costs
• Food price volatility
• Sky-high rent
• Third-party delivery app fees

So why are you still paying 3% to a payment processor?

Dual pricing is a simple, legal, and customer-friendly solution that gives you back control of your revenue.

Orlando restaurants that embrace it aren’t just surviving—they’re thriving. They’re hiring more staff, expanding menus, improving service, and growing their brands.

And so can you.

Don’t wait until fees eat up another $10,000.
Visit Small Business Help Squad and book a free call today.

Let’s help your restaurant do more than stay afloat—let’s help you rise.