General information, not legal advice. Check with a Missouri attorney before you change how you price or add any fee.
Missouri's card fee rules
No surcharge-specific statute
We didn't find a Missouri statute that bans or caps credit card surcharges for private businesses, and the National Conference of State Legislatures' state table lists Missouri as having none. Card-network rules set the limits on the surcharge itself.
The Merchandising Practices Act: RSMo § 407.020
Missouri's main consumer protection law makes it unlawful to use any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation, unfair practice, or concealment, suppression, or omission of a material fact in connection with the sale or advertisement of merchandise. The statute says this applies whether it happens before, during, or after the sale. For card fees, the practical rules are:
- disclose a card fee before the customer pays, both in the store and online;
- describe it accurately, as your fee and not a government or network charge;
- make sure a fee described as cost recovery isn't more than your actual cost;
- keep "cash discount" language honest, so the cash price is genuinely lower than the posted card price.
The 1.5% fee-cap initiative didn't make the ballot
In October 2025, the Attorney General approved the ballot summary for initiative petition 2026-128, a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap combined card processing fees at 1.5% of a sale and prohibit hidden surcharges. The AG's letter notes that approving the summary isn't an endorsement. Ballotpedia lists the measure as not on the ballot for November 3, 2026, so nothing changes for now.
Card-network rules
Under Visa's U.S. rules, a surcharge applies to credit cards only, never debit or prepaid cards, even if a debit card is run as "credit." It's capped at your merchant discount rate for that card or 3%, whichever is lower. You must notify your processor 30 days before you start and disclose the surcharge at the point of entry, the point of sale, and on the receipt. Visa describes a proper cash discount as posting either the card price alone or the card and cash prices side by side. A pending Visa/Mastercard settlement, with a fairness hearing set for November 16, 2026, may change some network rules if it's approved.
Surcharging vs. dual pricing
- Surcharging adds a percentage at checkout for credit cards only. If the terminal applies it to every card, debit customers get charged a fee the networks don't allow.
- Dual pricing shows a cash price and a card price everywhere prices appear, so customers see both before they choose.
Many Missouri merchants choose dual pricing because it avoids the debit problem, but either works only when it's posted clearly.
What Missouri businesses ask about
- Barbecue joints and restaurants in Kansas City and St. Louis want menu wording that shows both prices and tip screens that calculate correctly.
- Branson and Lake of the Ozarks businesses see big seasonal swings and lots of out-of-state rewards cards, which changes whether flat-rate or interchange-plus fits better.
- Auto shops and contractors want card and ACH on the same invoice and a virtual terminal for phone payments.
- Ag suppliers and feed stores take large keyed-in and business-card payments, which are priced differently from tapped cards.
- Small-town shops with modest volume may be better off staying on Square, and we'll say so.
Your options, side by side
- Dual pricing (optional). Two posted prices, with the card and cash totals visible up front.
- Interchange-plus. You pay the network cost plus a disclosed fixed markup.
- Flat-rate. One rate per transaction, easy to plan around.
- Square, if you prefer it. We'll include it in your comparison.
Through our processing partners we offer countertop terminals, POS systems, mobile and Bluetooth readers, and virtual terminals. Results depend on your volume, card mix, and current contract, so we don't promise savings before reviewing a statement.
ATMs in Missouri
Cash still moves at bars, flea markets, county fairs, music theaters, and lake marinas. If you want your own ATM:
- You buy and own the machine. It's a purchase, not a loan.
- You load and run it, including how much cash goes in and when.
- Terms are subject to the partner agreement, and every term is disclosed in writing before you sign.
- We don't promise monitoring, maintenance, or a revenue share. ATM surcharge income isn't guaranteed.
- Machines come through our ATM partner, and card processing comes through our processing partners.
FAQ
Are credit card surcharges legal in Missouri?
We didn't find a Missouri statute that bans or caps them, so card-network limits apply. The Merchandising Practices Act still requires honest, up-front disclosure.
Is Missouri capping card fees at 1.5%?
Not now. A proposed constitutional amendment to cap fees at 1.5% had its ballot summary approved in 2025 but isn't on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Can I surcharge debit cards in Missouri?
No. Card-network rules don't allow surcharges on debit or prepaid cards, even when the customer chooses "credit." Dual pricing is the usual alternative.
Can I offer a cash discount in Missouri?
Yes. Post the real card price and the real cash price so customers see both before they pay.
Do you work with Missouri businesses?
Yes. We're based in Clifton, Tennessee, and serve merchants nationwide by phone and email.
Who owns an ATM I get through you?
You do. You purchase it outright and run it yourself, and the terms, which are subject to the partner agreement, are disclosed in writing first.
Get a no-obligation comparison
- Contact form: Request a comparison
- Email: payments@verturagroup.com
- Call or text: (931) 771-2735 · text us
- Book a time: pick a time on our booking calendar
Send a recent statement and tell us how your customers usually pay. We'll compare a cash discount, interchange-plus, flat-rate, and your current setup for your Missouri business.