The basics
Dual pricing shows two prices at the register — a lower "cash price" and a slightly higher "card price." Surcharging shows one price and adds a fee only when a credit card is used. They're close cousins but legally and operationally distinct.
Illinois rules in plain English
Illinois allows both models, with disclosure requirements and card-network caps on surcharge percentages. Debit cards cannot be surcharged, which is one practical reason most Illinois operators prefer dual pricing: it treats cards and cash more neutrally at the counter.
Which one keeps more of the ticket
When the implementation is clean, dual pricing typically nets the business a few cents more per transaction because debit traffic doesn't get special-cased. Either model can get a small business from an effective rate near 3% down to roughly 0% net on card processing — the savings go to the owner's checking account, not the processor's.
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