Enabling cost-sharing allows you to share the cost of credit card processing with your clients. This optional program lets you charge a fee on credit card payments as part of the order total.

Click on any of the below links to take you to that specific section:

Cost-Sharing Overview

How To Enable Cost-Sharing

Cost-Sharing Compliance

How To Communicate Cost-Sharing to Customers

Reporting

Cost-sharing (surcharging) is a fee that businesses apply when a customer pays with a credit card, instead of with cash or a debit card. This fee helps offset the processing costs that the business incurs from the credit card company. The cost-sharing fee is based on the subtotal cost and does not include taxes/tips and is only applicable to credit card transactions.

You can apply cost-sharing fees for credit card payments in person, over the phone, and for online transactions. You can implement a fee up to 3% for your credit card payments. Once you enable that, PatientNow will automatically calculate and apply the appropriate fees to credit card transactions.

*Note: This feature is available to clients that utilize Payrix for their merchant processing

To learn more, read our Cost-Sharing Overview article here

To opt into the Cost-Sharing feature, contact our Support Team at 800.436.3150 option 2, or paymentssupport@patientnow.com.

Once the feature has been turned on, navigate to Menu > Company Settings

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From the left menu, choose Credit Card Integration, click the checkbox next to Surcharge, type in the percentage to charge, and press Save Settings in the top right corner.

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Once Surcharging is enabled under Company Settings, we will display the following disclaimer:

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View the Surcharge Agreement AND accept terms (checkbox) to fully enable the feature.

Est. CC Surcharge will autofill based on Surcharge percent configured under Company Settings. Surcharge amount applied will also display on printed / emailed receipts.

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Manage Membership Billing displays Surcharge amount applied to membership and total. This will display for both Client and Company Billing History tabs.

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Displayed on receipt: Total for services (deposit and / or prepay amount combined) and Surcharge amount applied.

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*Note: MasterCard’s notification requirements direct you to use this form 30 days prior to activating a surcharge program. You are responsible for this notification, and adherence to state laws and regulations. Surcharge permissions vary by state, regulatory, or card network rules. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these rules

How To Communicate Cost-Sharing to Customers
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Card network rules require the posting of clear signage declaring the terms of your surcharge program at your business entry and point of sale. You can create your own, or use one of our templates we’ve provided.

Templates for communicating cost-sharing via email to your customers:

“To our valued customers,

Instead of raising our list prices, we’re adding a __% service fee for credit card payments, which helps us cover the rising processing costs.

The good news? You can easily avoid this fee by choosing to pay with cash or a debit card—no extra charges apply!

Thanks so much for your support!”

Hi [Customer's Name],

We wanted to let you know about a small change we're making to keep our prices steady.

Starting [Date], a __% service fee will be applied to all credit card transactions. This helps us cover the rising costs of credit card processing, allowing us to avoid increasing our overall prices.

The good news? You can easily avoid this fee by choosing to pay with cash or a debit card—no extra charges apply!

We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

Thank you,

[Your Business Name]

Reporting

Surcharge transaction details can be found on the following reports (similar to service fees):