A client offered to pay a $14,500 invoice by credit card. You accepted it, then discovered the processing fee ate $362 off the top — money you did not budget for.
Payment method choice affects your effective margin more than most contractors realize. On a season with $800,000 in revenue, the difference between a credit-card-heavy mix and an ACH-heavy mix can be $12,000–$20,000 in processing fees. That is real money. Here is what each method actually costs you and when to use each one.
ACH Bank Transfer
ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a direct bank-to-bank transfer. The client enters their routing and account numbers, authorizes the payment, and the funds move electronically. Settlement takes 1–3 business days.
Cost: Most platforms charge $0.25–$1.00 per transaction or a flat monthly fee for unlimited ACH. Some charge nothing. Compared to credit card processing at 2.5–3%, ACH is nearly free. On a $14,500 payment, ACH costs you roughly $0.25–$1.00 vs. $362–$435 for a credit card.
Drawback: ACH can be reversed for up to 60 days if a client disputes the charge with their bank. For large payments, wait for the funds to fully clear before ordering materials for the next phase.
Best for: Any payment over $2,000. Deposits, draw payments, final invoices. Make this your default.
Check
Paper check is free to receive — no processing fee. The client writes a check, mails it or drops it off, and you deposit it. Funds clear in 2–5 business days after deposit, depending on your bank and the check amount.
The problem is friction and delay. A client who needs to find a checkbook, write it out, and mail it will not do that today. They will do it tomorrow. Or next week. That delay adds 7–14 days to your average collection time compared to digital payment methods.
Never order materials against an uncleared check. A returned check on a $15,000 deposit leaves you holding material you cannot return and no recourse until the check situation is resolved. Verify funds clear before mobilizing.
Best for: Clients who specifically request it. Accept it, but do not make it the default or the only option.
Credit Card
Credit card processing costs 2.5–3% per transaction, depending on the platform and card type. On a $14,500 invoice, that is $362–$435 in fees. On a $50,000 project paid in full by card, the fee is $1,250–$1,500. That is real margin you are giving to a payment processor.
Credit card has advantages: payment is authorized immediately, funds settle in 1–2 business days, and clients can use rewards cards — which makes it convenient enough that they pay faster. Chargebacks are a risk, but they are rare for landscape work where you have signed contracts and job photos.
The decision to absorb or pass through the credit card fee is yours. Some contractors add a 3% convenience fee for credit card payments — legal in most states but requires disclosure. Others price it into their margin and accept card as an equal option. Either approach works, but be consistent.
Best for: Deposits under $5,000 where immediate authorization matters, and clients who specifically prefer card. Set ACH as the default for larger payments.
"ACH is free. Credit card costs 2.5%. On $800K in annual revenue, that difference is $20,000 a year."
How to Set Up Payment Options on Your Invoices
List your payment options clearly on every invoice: ACH bank transfer (preferred), credit card (3% convenience fee), or check (payable to [company name]). Putting ACH first and labeling it "preferred" signals your preference without removing client choice. Most clients who have a checking account will choose ACH when it is the easiest option listed.
Put the payment link or bank details in the email body — not just in the PDF attachment. Every step you remove between the client and payment reduces your collection time. A link they can click immediately is faster than an attachment they have to open first.
Zelle and Venmo for Business
Some residential clients want to pay via Zelle or Venmo. Zelle is free and instant for personal accounts — some business accounts support it. Venmo for Business charges 1.9% + $0.10, which is lower than credit card but still a fee. The main issue with peer-to-peer apps is documentation — no invoice reference, no automatic reconciliation. Use them with caution on larger payments and always confirm you have a payment record that references the job.
Get paid faster
Ledge invoicing is built for how landscape jobs actually work.
Progress billing, draw schedules, deposit collection, and digital signatures — all in one place. No more chasing paper invoices.
Book a Demo →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charge clients a fee for paying by credit card?
In most states, yes — as of 2026, credit card surcharges are legal in nearly all U.S. states. The surcharge must be disclosed before payment, cannot exceed your actual processing cost (typically 2.5–3%), and must be clearly labeled as a credit card fee. Check your state's current rules, as some states still have restrictions. Include the surcharge in your invoice terms if you plan to charge it.
How long does ACH take to clear?
Standard ACH transfers take 1–3 business days. Some platforms offer same-day ACH for an additional fee. Most business bank accounts receive ACH credits within 1–2 business days. Do not order materials against an ACH payment until you confirm the funds have cleared — ACH can be reversed for up to 60 days if the client disputes it with their bank.
What is the best payment platform for landscape contractors?
The best platform is the one integrated with your invoicing system so payments are automatically recorded against the right job. Standalone options like Stripe, Square, or QuickBooks Payments all support ACH and card. Purpose-built contractor software that ties payment to the invoice, job, and client record eliminates the manual reconciliation step — which is where accounting errors happen.
Should I accept check for large deposits?
Accept it, but wait for the check to clear before ordering materials or scheduling crew. A deposit check that bounces leaves you in a difficult position — you may have already committed to a start date and a material order. For deposits over $5,000, ACH or wire transfer is a safer choice because funds verification is automatic.
Edgar Galindo
Co-founder, Ledge
Edgar built Ledge while running a landscape design-build company in Central Texas. He switched his default payment method to ACH after calculating that credit card fees were costing him over $14,000 annually on the same revenue.