Beyond the Surcharge: The Revenue Conversation Every Salon Should Be Having
Since 1 October 2026, Australian salons and clinics can no longer add a surcharge to EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale), Visa or Mastercard payments. The Reserve Bank of Australia confirmed the change in March 2026. Card acceptance costs must now be recovered through pricing, retention and efficiency rather than a checkout fee. With surcharging gone, opportunities remain to strengthen revenue strategy.
Key Information
- The Reserve Bank of Australia published the conclusions of its review of merchant card payment costs and surcharging on 31 March 2026*.
- Surcharging on EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard payments in Australia ends on 1 October 2026, and lower interchange caps on domestic card transactions take effect the same day.*
- The ban removes the surcharge but not the cost of accepting cards, so Australian salons and clinics must absorb merchant service fees or recover them through pricing.
- Salon and clinic owners should review any booking or point-of-sale settings that automatically add a card surcharge and make sure they are switched off.**
- An integrated payment system can help offset payment processing fees by eliminating hidden costs like manual reconciliation, disconnected platforms, and human error.
What does the surcharge ban mean for salon and clinic owners?
Australian salon and clinic owners can no longer pass card processing costs directly to clients, as of 1st October 2026. For many small businesses, surcharging offset the cost of accepting cards, so the natural question is what happens to margins when that option disappears.
The most profitable beauty businesses have never relied on a surcharge alone to protect profit. They have built revenue models that maximise every appointment, strengthen client loyalty and create predictable income beyond the treatment room. The ban puts a spotlight on those fundamentals.
How can a salon protect revenue without a surcharge?
A salon protects revenue by strengthening the levers within the owner’s control: reducing no-shows, increasing average spend per visit, driving rebooking and building recurring income. Profit is protected long before a client reaches the checkout.
| Profit lever | Where revenue leaks | What protects it |
| No-shows and late cancellations | Empty chair time that cannot be recovered | Deposits and clear cancellation policies |
| Consultations | Missed treatment, retail and upgrade opportunities | Structured consultations with personalised recommendations |
| Rebooking | Clients who leave without a next appointment | Consistent rebooking at checkout |
| Pricing | Prices that reflect costs absorbed rather than value delivered | Regular pricing reviews based on margin data |
| Recurring revenue | Unpredictable month-to-month income | Memberships and treatment plans |
Salons and clinics that control all five levers are less exposed to changes in card processing costs. Salons that rely on a single lever, such as a checkout fee, carry more risk than salons with a diversified revenue model.
What hidden costs affect salon profitability?
Hidden administrative costs often exceed the card transaction fee itself. They rarely appear on a merchant statement. Hours spent reconciling payments, manually updating reports, switching between disconnected systems, and correcting human error all reduce profitability. These costs are hard to quantify, so businesses often overlook them when reviewing payment arrangements.
Why does integrated payments matter for salons and clinics?
Integrated payments connect card payments directly to the booking, client, and reporting system, so each transaction is recorded once and in the right place. Payments then support online bookings, deposits, memberships, digital consultations, reporting, and client retention in a single workflow rather than functioning as a standalone financial transaction.
Connected payments reduce admin and reconciliation because takings automatically match appointments and sales. Keeping payment data alongside client and appointment data also lets an owner see which services, team members, and client groups drive revenue. Salons achieving the strongest results increasingly treat payments as part of business strategy rather than an isolated operational task.
How should a salon review its pricing after surcharging ends?
A salon should review pricing by comparing the cost and margin of every service against the price charged. Four inputs matter most: the most profitable services, average client spend, labour and product costs, and overall business margin. Pricing set on this data reflects the value delivered rather than the costs absorbed.
What can PhorestPay do beyond taking card payments?
PhorestPay is the integrated payments solution built into Phorest salon software. Beyond processing card payments, it supports growth and cash flow through:
- Deposits and securely stored cards: Salons can collect deposits during online booking and securely store payment details, helping to protect revenue from no-shows and enabling a smoother checkout experience.
- Fast, predictable payouts: Funds are typically transferred to the salon’s bank account within two business days, with payment and payout details available in the PhorestPay section of Phorest Manager.
- Automatic reconciliation and reporting: Terminal transactions sync directly with Phorest, reducing manual entry and reconciliation while providing transaction-level visibility through the PhorestPay dashboard.
What doesn’t integrated payments do?
Integrated payments do not remove card processing fees or set a business’s prices. Merchant service fees still apply after 1 October 2026. Phorest does not replace pricing strategy, and salons using another salon management system can apply the same principles: focus on controllable revenue drivers, build systems that save time and improve visibility, and create experiences that bring clients back.
Card surcharge ban: quick answers
Are card surcharges banned in Australia?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026, businesses cannot add surcharges to EFTPOS, Visa or Mastercard payments. The rule is enforced through card scheme rules rather than a new statute, so a business that continues to surcharge risks breaching its payment provider’s terms.
Do salons still pay card processing fees after 1 October 2026?
Yes. Merchant service fees continue, although lower interchange caps on domestic cards apply from the same date. The ban removes the ability to pass those fees on as a separate charge.
Does the ban automatically switch off surcharges in salon software?
Not always. Some payment providers switch surcharging off automatically, but you should check and manually disable surcharges added through a booking system or point-of-sale.
Sources:
* RBA, Review of Retail Payments Regulation, Phase 3: Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging, Conclusions Paper, March 2026
** Australian Government, business.gov.au, Card payment surcharge changes are coming, 2026.
