Credit card processing in Minnesota
Minnesota's surcharge statute allows up to 5%, but card network rules set a lower ceiling, and the state requires both spoken and posted notice. It is a good example of why state law is only half of the answer.
Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 325G.051) allows a credit card surcharge of up to 5% with oral and posted notice, but Visa's rules set a lower 3% ceiling, so check both before you start.
From North woods outfitters to Twin Cities restaurants: Minnesota's business mix
Minneapolis and Saint Paul hold large corporate headquarters, healthcare systems and a strong restaurant and brewery scene, plus a big shopping destination in Bloomington. Rochester is built around a major medical centre that draws patients from around the world.
Duluth adds port activity and lake tourism, and the north woods run on cabins, outfitters and summer resorts. Winter weather drives demand for online ordering and delivery.
Surcharges, discounts and Minnesota
Minnesota Statutes 325G.051 allow a surcharge of up to 5% of the purchase price. In person you must tell the customer aloud and post a sign; online the surcharge must show at checkout; by phone you must say it aloud. Sellers that issue their own store credit card may not surcharge. Visa's rules cap surcharges at 3%, so the lower limit applies.
| Status | Allowed with conditions |
|---|---|
| Key condition | Up to 5% of the purchase price. In person, tell the customer out loud and post a sign. Online, show the surcharge at checkout. By phone, tell the customer out loud. Sellers that issue their own store credit card may not surcharge. |
| Source | Minn. Stat. 325G.051 |
The state-by-state surcharge table · general guidance only
Which pricing suits Twin Cities restaurants?
Even with a generous statute, the practical ceiling is the card network cap and your real cost. Twin Cities restaurants that surcharge must train staff to give the spoken notice, which some find awkward. Many do better with interchange-plus and tight batching. Healthcare-related businesses in Rochester serve international patients whose cards carry cross-border fees.
POS for Bloomington and suburban retailers, Rochester hotels and services and more
- Twin Cities restaurants
- Surcharge settings for credit only, notice prompts on the terminal, tip adjustment and online ordering.
- Bloomington and suburban retailers
- Contactless lanes, gift cards and inventory synced to online sales.
- Rochester hotels and services
- Folio posting and clear handling of international cards.
- North woods outfitters
- Rental pre-authorizations, deposits and offline mode, set up around how North woods outfitters in Minnesota sell.
Local detail, city by city
Send one statement. Every fee named, back, usually within 4 hours.
It is free, there is nothing to sign and nothing to cancel. We read your current merchant statement line by line, name every fee on it — including the ones buried in the fee schedule — work out your true effective rate, and send the written analysis back, usually within 4 hours. Do not want to wait? Call 1-888-705-7896 and we will read your statement with you on the call in about 5 minutes.
Minnesota communities
Minneapolis · Saint Paul · Rochester · Duluth · Bloomington · Brooklyn Park · Plymouth · Woodbury · Maple Grove · St. Cloud · Eagan · Eden Prairie · Coon Rapids · Burnsville · Blaine · Lakeville · Minnetonka · Apple Valley · Edina · St. Louis Park · Moorhead · Mankato · Shakopee · Maplewood · Cottage Grove · Richfield · Roseville · Inver Grove Heights · Andover · Brooklyn Center · Bemidji · Winona · Stillwater · Hastings · Owatonna
Commercial corridors
Minneapolis
Nicollet Mall · Hennepin Avenue · Lake Street · Lyndale Avenue · Grand Avenue · Central Avenue NE · Washington Avenue · 50th Street
Saint Paul
Grand Avenue · Selby Avenue · University Avenue · West 7th Street · Snelling Avenue
Duluth
Superior Street · Canal Park Drive · Central Entrance
Rochester
Broadway Avenue · 2nd Street SW · Apache Mall area
Common questions in Minnesota
Minn. Stat. 325G.051 allows up to 5%, but Visa's rules cap surcharges at 3% and never above your cost, so the lower limit applies. Notice rules differ for in-person, online and phone sales. For Twin Cities restaurants: Check current rules first.
For in-person sales the statute requires oral notice at the time of sale plus a posted sign. Online and phone sales have their own notice rules.
No. The statute bars sellers who issue their own proprietary credit card from surcharging customers who use it.
All of it, from Bloomington to Maple Grove. For North woods outfitters: Minneapolis and Saint Paul have their own pages here. For North woods outfitters: You deal with us by phone, email or video call, and a named person stays on the account after setup.