Question 1

Am I allowed to pass credit card fees to customers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In Germany and the EU, passing on payment fees as a transparent service charge (transaction surcharge) is permitted, provided it is clearly displayed at checkout. The EU Directive 2015/2366 (PSD2) only prohibits hidden surcharges — an openly communicated fee is perfectly legal. The transaction surcharge is fully integrated into the Gastro Master POS system.

Question 2

How does a transaction surcharge work in a restaurant?

Accepted Answer

When a customer pays (e.g. via PayPal), the applicable fee (e.g. 2.99% + €0.39) is automatically added as a separate line item to the order total and transparently displayed at checkout. The restaurant owner receives the full net amount — without deductions. The feature is directly integrated into the Gastro Master order shop.

Question 3

How much does PayPal cost restaurants per transaction?

Accepted Answer

PayPal charges 2.99% of the transaction amount plus €0.39 per transaction for online payments in Germany (source: paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/merchant-fees). At 300 orders with an average value of €30, this amounts to approximately €386 per month — fees that are fully passed on to customers with the transaction surcharge. The add-on is especially worthwhile for restaurant owners starting their own delivery service.

Question 4

Is the transaction surcharge for credit cards legal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Credit card fees may be passed on as a transparent surcharge, as long as they are clearly visible during the ordering process. The Gastro Master platform automatically displays the fee at checkout, meeting all legal requirements. All prices and add-on conditions can be found in the full pricing overview.

Question 5

Which payment methods can be surcharged?

Accepted Answer

All common payment methods are covered: PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Klarna. You can choose which methods to activate — the surcharge only applies to those. Setup is done directly in your Gastro Master order shop or your custom ordering app.

Question 6

Does the transaction surcharge work across multiple locations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The transaction surcharge can be set up across locations. Each location can be linked to its own payment accounts (PayPal Business, Stripe) — the surcharge is then automatically applied to all activated locations. Learn more on the franchise page.

Question 7

Do I need my own PayPal and Stripe accounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Payments go directly to your own PayPal Business and/or Stripe account — no middleman, no delays. This is a key advantage over third-party platforms: you always have access to your money. If you need help with setup, our team is happy to assist — just reach out via the contact form.

Transaction Surcharge – Pass Payment Fees Transparently