Sage Intacct Surcharging: Is There a Better Way to Handle Processing Fees?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Surcharging Dilemma
2. The Problem with Surcharging (and Why Paystand Avoids It)
3. The Compliant and Customer-Friendly Alternative: How Paystand Manages Fees with Sage Intacct
4. Paystand’s Key Benefits for Sage Intacct Users

Key Takeaways

• Surcharging in Sage Intacct may seem like an easy way to pass credit card processing fees to customers, but it carries significant compliance risks and damages customer experience.
• Regulations around compliant surcharging vary widely across states, making it difficult to manage without constant oversight.
• Paystand does not support surcharging; instead, it eliminates fees with a zero-fee bank-to-bank network.
• Through convenience fees, cash discounts, and flexible payment options, Sage Intacct users can reduce costs while strengthening customer trust.
• With Paystand’s Sage-certified integration, businesses gain real-time AR automation, faster cash flow, and automated reconciliation—all without applying a fee to customers.

The Surcharging Dilemma

If you use Sage Intacct to manage your financial operations, you’ve likely faced the challenge of credit card payments and the processing fees that come with them. Many businesses try to cover the cost by adding surcharges, a practice known as surcharging.

But while surcharging may look like a quick fix, it’s not without problems. From legal restrictions to negative customer experiences, the risks often outweigh the benefits. That’s why Paystand takes a different approach. Instead of relying on risky credit card transactions that pass a fee to customers, Paystand helps Sage Intacct users cut costs and improve payment processes through automation and fee elimination.

For background, see our explainer on what a surcharge really is.

The Problem with Surcharging (and Why Paystand Avoids It)

How Surcharging Works with Sage Intacct

At its core, a surcharge is an extra fee tacked on when customers choose credit card payment methods. Within Sage Intacct, this could mean adding a line item to invoices to offset credit card processing fees.

But here’s the catch:

• Legal Pitfalls: As outlined in our state-by-state guide to passing credit card fees, surcharging is illegal in some U.S. states and heavily regulated in others. Rules shift frequently, and failing to stay compliant can lead to fines and penalties.
• Customer Perception: Customers often see surcharges as unfair, which can damage relationships and cause lost business. Nobody likes feeling penalized for their choice of payment options.
• Operational Burden: Implementing surcharges means constant oversight to ensure compliance with credit card transactions, which adds complexity to your AR workflows.

In short, while you technically can apply surcharges in Sage Intacct, it’s not sustainable or customer-friendly.

The Compliant and Customer-Friendly Alternative: How Paystand Manages Fees with Sage Intacct

The Zero-Fee B2B Network

Rather than shifting costs to customers, Paystand eliminates them altogether. Our Zero-Fee Network allows Sage Intacct users to accept bank-to-bank payments without transaction costs. This flips the conversation from “how to cover the cost” to “how to remove costs entirely.”

Convenience Fees (Done Right)

When customers insist on using higher-cost credit card payment methods, Paystand offers a convenience fee feature built directly into Sage Intacct. Unlike surcharges, this is fully compliant and applied only when customers choose a more expensive option while still having access to a free payment method.

For clarity on this distinction, see our guide on convenience fees and surcharges.

Cash Discounts and Payer Incentives

Instead of penalizing buyers with a fee to customers, Paystand lets you incentivize preferred payment methods. Offering cash discounts or payer incentives encourages customers to use cost-efficient rails like ACH, lowering expenses while strengthening relationships.

Paystand’s Key Benefits for Sage Intacct Users

Seamless Integration & AR Automation

Paystand’s Sage-certified integration supports full Sage AR automation. From invoice delivery to real-time reconciliation, your AR team can operate with greater efficiency and less manual intervention.

Faster Cash Flow

Embedded “Pay Now” links within invoices accelerate payments. By encouraging use of the zero-fee network, businesses cut DSO dramatically without relying on outdated surcharging practices.

Automated Reconciliation

Paystand applies AR automation to reconcile transactions instantly, eliminating the need to manually track every credit card transaction or ACH transfer. This speeds up your month-end close and improves financial visibility.

Enhanced Customer Experience

Instead of leaving customers frustrated by a surcharge, Paystand improves the customer portal experience. Buyers see multiple payment options, including a zero-fee method, building trust and improving long-term loyalty.

For finance leaders evaluating ERP strategies, our guide to Sage ERP shows how integrated automation drives operational success.

While many Sage Intacct users search for “surcharging” as a way to handle processing fees, it’s a strategy filled with compliance risks, poor optics, and negative impacts on the customer experience.

Paystand provides a better path:

• Eliminate credit card processing fees with the Zero-Fee Network.
• Use compliant convenience fees and cash discounts to influence payment methods.
• Improve AR workflows with real-time automation, faster cash flow, and seamless reconciliation.

It’s time to stop applying outdated surcharges and start modernizing your payment strategy. Explore the Paystand Integration for Sage Intacct today.