Is Your Business Ready for Australia’s
Card Surcharge Ban?
1 October will be here before you know it.
If your business currently displays signs that say “Card Surcharge Applies” or mentions payment surcharges on menus, posters, flyers or price lists, now is the perfect time to start planning an update.
Making a few changes before the deadline can help you avoid customer confusion, keep your business looking professional and ensure your information stays accurate.
The good news? It’s also a great opportunity to give your printed marketing materials a fresh new look.
Why Do You Need to Update Your Printed Materials?
From 1 October 2026, businesses across Australia will no longer be able to charge customers an additional fee for paying by Visa, Mastercard or eftpos.
The change is part of new regulations introduced by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), designed to make pricing simpler and more transparent for consumers. Instead of adding a surcharge at the checkout, businesses will need to absorb card processing costs or include them in their regular pricing.
For many businesses, this means existing printed materials will need to be updated.
If your customers can still see surcharge notices after the new rules begin, it could create unnecessary confusion or questions at the counter.
The Good News for Businesses
While businesses will no longer be able to apply card surcharges, the RBA is also reducing the interchange fees that merchants pay when processing eligible card payments.
The cap on these fees will reduce from 0.8% to 0.3%, helping to offset some of the additional costs businesses may absorb.
It’s a practical step designed to make the transition easier, particularly for small businesses.
What Should You Be Checking?
Now is a great time to walk through your business with fresh eyes.
Ask yourself: “Does this mention card surcharges?”
You may find references in places you haven’t thought about for years.
Check items such as:
- Counter signs
- Window decals
- Menus and menu boards
- Flyers
- Posters
- Brochures
- Price lists
- Catalogues
- Point of sale displays
- Pull-up banners
- Exhibition signage
- Promotional material
Don’t forget your digital content too. Your website, online ordering pages, booking confirmations and downloadable PDFs may also need updating.
Why Update Before the Deadline?
Waiting until the last minute often means rushed decisions and unnecessary stress.
Planning ahead gives you time to review your materials, make any design improvements and ensure everything is ready well before 1 October.
Many businesses are already taking this opportunity to refresh branding, update pricing, replace tired signage and modernise older marketing materials at the same time.
Sometimes one small regulatory change becomes the perfect excuse for a business refresh.
How MBE Can Help
At MBE, we help businesses keep their marketing materials current, professional and ready for whatever comes next.
Whether you need one new counter sign or a complete refresh across multiple locations, our team can help with all of your print and delivery requirements. We can also assist with graphic design support, if you’d like to update your artwork at the same time.
We’ll help make sure your printed materials are accurate, professional and ready well before the October deadline.
Don’t Leave It Until the Last Minute
Updating your signage now means one less thing to think about when the new regulations come into effect.
If you’re already replacing a few printed items, why not take the opportunity to give your business a fresh, polished look at the same time?
Our team is here to help make the process easy.
Ready to update your signage, menus or marketing materials? Contact your local MBE Centre today and let’s get your business ready for October.
Learn More About the Changes
For more information about the upcoming changes, visit the Reserve Bank of Australia’s information page on the new payment regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The new rules take effect on 1 October 2026.
The changes apply to Visa, Mastercard and eftpos card payments.
If your signage, menus, flyers or other printed materials mention card surcharges, they should be updated before the new rules begin.
That depends on your pricing strategy. If you choose to adjust your prices to account for payment processing costs, you may wish to update your price lists or menus at the same time.
Check all customer-facing printed materials, including menus, posters, brochures, counter signs, banners, window decals, catalogues and price lists. It’s also worth reviewing your website and other digital content.
The changes are intended to simplify pricing for consumers while reducing payment processing costs through lower interchange fees.
Any business that currently applies surcharges to Visa, Mastercard or eftpos transactions should review how the new rules affect their operations and customer communications.
MBE can help redesign and print updated business materials, from a single sign through to a complete refresh of your marketing collateral, helping your business stay professional and ready before the October deadline.