How do I add a surcharge based on payment method in Zoho Billing?

Zoho Billing does not treat payment method surcharges as a simple built-in rule in every edition. Depending on your region and gateway, you may see a convenience fee option in the online payment settings. If not, the usual approach is a one-time add-on or a separate charge line for card payments. Before you charge anything, check the surcharge rules of your card networks and your country or state.

Start by checking the online payment settings for your gateway in Zoho Billing. Some regions and gateways offer a fee you can pass on to the customer when they pay online. If that option is there, it is the cleanest route because it is applied at payment time. Zoho changes these settings from time to time, so check the current help page for your edition rather than relying on old forum posts.

If there is no built-in option, create an add-on called something like card processing fee and attach it to subscriptions or invoices for customers who pay by card. Some teams use a custom function or workflow to add the charge automatically when the payment method on the customer record is a card. This needs testing, because subscriptions renew on their own and you do not want the fee applied twice.

Surcharging is regulated. Card networks have their own rules, and some countries and US states limit or ban surcharges on certain cards. Many businesses avoid the problem by offering a discount for bank transfer instead. Whatever you choose, show the fee clearly on the invoice and in your terms.

Written by Flowpeak, a Zoho implementation partner. Zoho pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the official Zoho site. Free checklists | Ask us a question