Australia's Card Surcharge Ban: What It Means for Your Venue

What's happening

Card surcharges ended on 1 October 2026 for eftpos, Mastercard and Visa card payments, under the card networks' own rules. For the detail, see the Reserve Bank of Australia and the ACCC.

What it means in dollars

If your venue was adding a card surcharge, the money it collected from customers to cover processing fees now comes out of your margin instead — unless you adjust your pricing.

Three realistic options

1. Absorb the cost: Accept the hit to margin. This works if your processing rate is low and your margins are healthy.
2. Increase menu prices: Build the card cost into your menu pricing, based on your card rate quoted from your statement.
3. Reduce your processing fees: Switch to a lower-cost payment provider, so the cost you're absorbing is smaller to begin with.

How to model your exposure

1. Pull your monthly card processing volume from your current POS or bank statements
2. Multiply by your current effective rate (total fees ÷ card volume)
3. That's your annual cost if you absorb it — compare it to a menu price increase scenario

Example: Work out your monthly card fees from your statement, then compare them with what a small menu price increase brings in on the same sales.

What Payflo customers can do now

Payflo's integrated payment reporting shows your total processing cost by month, so you can model the exact impact on your venue. If you're on a bank EFTPOS terminal, get a card rate quoted from your statement and compare it with what you pay now.

Cash-only is not the answer

Most Australian transactions are now card or digital. Cash-only hurts table turn times, increases handling errors, and reduces average spend. The math doesn't work for most venues.

Act now

The venues least affected will be those with low processing rates and menu prices that reflect true costs. Audit your rates now, model the impact, and adjust your pricing.

Plans from $39/month ex GST with no lock-in. Competitive card rates with Payflo Payments, tailored to your venue. Bring your statement and we'll show you what you'd pay.