Overview
Every price you set should cover your costs: labour, materials, overhead, and the small cost of getting paid. The cost to accept a card payment is easy to forget. This article shows how to build it into your prices in Fergus, so your margin holds.
This is normal pricing, not a surcharge. A surcharge is a separate fee added on top of the invoice because a customer pays via a certain payment method (ex. Credit card). Building a cost into your price is standard practice and stays allowed.
⚠️ Agree the price first. Set the price before the customer accepts it. If the customer has already accepted a quote, do not raise the invoice without agreeing the change with them first.
Before you start
These steps use Fergus Web.
The quote, estimate or invoice must still be a draft. You cannot edit an approved invoice. To change a published quote or estimate, create a new version first.
Select at least one line item.
A percentage buffer is an estimate of your payment cost, not exact fee recovery. See "Why the final cost differs" below.
Build the cost into your prices
Use the Adjust prices by % bulk action to add a small buffer across your line items, all at once.
Open your draft quote, estimate or invoice.
Tick the checkbox (☑️) next to each line item you want to change. To select a whole section, tick the checkbox below the section title.
Click the Bulk Actions cog button (⚙️).
Choose Adjust prices by %.
Enter a positive percentage (for example `2`). A positive number lifts prices. A negative number lowers them.
All selected line items update at once.
Check the result, then approve
Confirm that every line you intended to change has changed.
Check the tax-inclusive total. Increasing taxable sell prices also increases the GST or VAT amount.
On a quote with a percentage-based deposit, confirm the new deposit. A fixed dollar deposit stays the same, so the remaining balance changes instead.
Preview the customer copy with the Preview button (eye icon).
If you entered the wrong percentage, restore the original line prices before you approve.
Approve and send only when everything is correct.
Why the final cost differs
A single percentage cannot match your payment cost exactly. Three things cause a gap:
A fixed charge. Card fees include a percentage plus a fixed amount per transaction.
The fee applies to the new total. The processor charges the fee on the higher amount, so a flat 2% buffer leaves a small shortfall.
The payment method varies. Amex and instalment methods cost more. Direct Debit costs less.
Choose one standard buffer that reflects your expected overall payment costs, then review it regularly. If you are not sure, start near your card rate (check it in the Fergus Pay FAQs) and adjust after a quarter. To size it more precisely, divide your total Fergus Pay card fees by your total card payment value over the same period. Find both figures in the Fergus Pay Report or your payout records.
Set it as your default pricing
If you want the buffer built in by default, set it in your price book instead of adjusting each job.
Pricing Tiers lets you set markups on price-book material items. See Creating and Assigning Pricing Tiers.
Pricing Tiers is a Professional plan feature. It covers material prices, so check labour rates and custom line items separately.
A note on card surcharge rules
Building costs into your prices also keeps you clear as card surcharge rules change. Adding a separate card surcharge is treated differently, and the rules differ by region.
Australia: From 1 October 2026, card network rules prohibit surcharges added because a customer pays by card. Building the cost into your prices is the compliant way to cover it.
United Kingdom: You cannot add a consumer card surcharge. Build the cost into your prices.
New Zealand: Online and in-person payments can have different surcharge rules. Check the current Fergus Pay options and regional guidance before you add a separate fee.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current rules for your region and business. Current Fergus Pay rates and available fee settings are listed in the Fergus Pay FAQs.
FAQs
Q - Why did the buffer not match the fee exactly?
Card fees include a fixed charge and apply to the new total, so a flat percentage leaves a small gap. Payment method and rounding also affect the result.
Q - How do I set the buffer if customers pay in different ways?
Choose one standard buffer that reflects your expected overall payment costs, then review it regularly. Do not try to match every payment method on every job.
Q - I cannot see Bulk Actions. Why?
Select at least one line item first. Bulk Actions appears once you tick a line. Confirm you are in Fergus Web on a draft document.
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For help, contact support@fergus.com.