Credit card processing and merchant services in Baltimore, MD
Baltimore stores that sell food, drinks, hygiene or health products have had to take cash from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. since October 1, 2026, under a new state law.
If you run a corner store, grocery or pharmacy in Baltimore and stopped taking cash, October 1, 2026 changed your setup. That's when Maryland's cash law for essential consumer goods took effect. On in-person purchases of those goods under $300, made from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., you can't require a card or charge a cash payer more. You can still turn away bills over $20, and online, phone and mail orders are outside the law.
In practice that means a cash drawer, a change fund, and staff who know when the rule applies. It doesn't cover the hours after 10 p.m. or before 6 a.m. Read the exceptions in the enacted text before you change anything, especially if you serve food for on-premises consumption, which the legislature's fiscal note lists as an exception.
Baltimore sales are taxed at Maryland's 6% rate, and alcoholic beverages at 9%, so a bar or liquor store needs both rates in its POS. If you bill for IT or data services, the 3% rate that started July 1, 2025 applies to that work.
Maryland sets no surcharge cap of its own, so the Visa and Mastercard limits explained on our Maryland page are the ones a Baltimore surcharge has to meet. Neither network allows one on debit.
The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate puts Baltimore at 569,997 residents. We work remotely, price on interchange-plus, and give each account a dedicated rep. If you want to know what cards cost your Baltimore business today, send a statement for a free statement review.
Payment services we provide
Guides worth reading next
All guidesFees and pricing
Amex OptBlue: what it is and how its pricing works
Amex OptBlue lets your payment provider sign you up for American Express and set your Amex rate. Who qualifies, how pricing works, and what to ask first.
Surcharging and cash discount
Free credit card processing: what it really costs
Free credit card processing usually means customers pay the card fee through a surcharge or cash discount. See who pays, the legal limits, and the costs.
Fees and pricing
Why small business credit card processing fees run higher
Why small business credit card processing fees take a bigger cut of each sale: volume tiers, flat-rate markups, fixed fees and contracts, with the math.
Common questions
Do Baltimore stores have to accept cash now?
If you sell essential consumer goods such as food, beverages, hygiene or health products in person, yes. Since October 1, 2026, Maryland law bars refusing cash, requiring a card, or charging more for cash on those purchases under $300 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Can I refuse a $50 or $100 bill?
Yes. The Maryland law lets a merchant refuse cash in denominations greater than $20. You still have to take smaller bills for essential goods during the covered hours, and you can't charge a cash payer more than a card payer.
What sales tax rate do I charge in Baltimore?
6%, Maryland's sales and use tax rate. Alcoholic beverages are taxed at 9%, and data or IT services at 3% since July 1, 2025. If you sell in more than one category, set each up as its own tax code.
Can a Baltimore business add a credit card surcharge?
Yes, on credit cards. Maryland has no surcharge statute, so Visa and Mastercard rules apply: at or below your cost, no more than 3% on Visa or 4% on Mastercard, posted at the entrance and checkout, and never on debit or prepaid cards. A card surcharge doesn't change your duty to take cash for essential goods during the covered hours.
Does the cash law apply to delivery and online orders?
No. Phone, mail and internet transactions are excluded, as are vending machine and kiosk sales. The law covers in-person purchases of essential consumer goods under $300.
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
Let's talk about your payments
Tell us about your business and how you take payments now, and a Clearo rep will reach out within one business day.