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Can contractors charge a credit card fee in Canada?
Contractors can charge a credit card fee in Canada outside Quebec, up to 2.4% and never more than the card costs them, on credit cards only, with notice. In Quebec it's prohibited. Most trades simply build the cost into their price.
What the rules say
Visa and Mastercard have allowed surcharges on credit cards in Canada since October 2022, after a class-action settlement. The surcharge is capped at what the card actually costs you, and at no more than 2.4%. It can't be added to debit cards.
Not in Quebec. Quebec's Consumer Protection Act prohibits adding this kind of fee, so if you work in Quebec, the price you advertise has to be the price they pay.
You also have to tell Visa or Mastercard and your payment provider in advance, usually 30 days before you start, and tell customers before they pay.
The simpler option: build it into your price
Card fees are a cost of doing business, like gas or insurance. On a $360 job the fee is about ten dollars. Pricing that in means nobody meets a surprise at the end, and you stay clear of the rules above.
In Knockround
Knockround has no surcharge setting. Your customer pays the amount on the invoice, you pay Stripe's fee of 2.9% + 30¢ for a Canadian card, and Knockround adds nothing to it. See what you'd keep with the card fee calculator.
This is general information and not legal advice. Rules were read on 8 November 2026.
Questions
Can I charge a fee on debit cards?
No. Surcharges apply to credit cards only.
Should I offer a cash discount instead?
You can, where it's allowed, and it's often easier to explain than a fee. Show it clearly before the customer pays.
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