Guide · Getting paid
How to get paid faster as a contractor
Chasing the check is the most common complaint in the trades. These eight habits cut it down.
Contractors get paid faster when they invoice before leaving the job, make paying a single tap, take a deposit on larger work, and write the due date on the invoice. A payment link that takes card, Apple Pay or bank transfer removes the usual excuses: "I'll mail a check" and "I'll pay when I'm home".
Eight things that work
1. Invoice before you leave
The longer an invoice waits, the longer it takes to get paid. If the work is done and the customer is happy, send it from the driveway.
2. Make paying one tap
Every step between "I got your invoice" and "I paid it" costs you days. A link that opens a payment page, with no account to create, is the shortest path. Customers can pay by card, Apple Pay or bank transfer.
3. Take a deposit on bigger jobs
A deposit pays for materials and signals the customer is committed. Put the amount on the estimate so it's agreed up front.
4. Write the due date on the invoice
"Due on receipt" or "Net 14" removes any doubt. An invoice with no due date gets paid when the customer gets around to it.
5. Itemize
Customers who understand what they're paying for question it less. Separate labor and materials, and show quantities.
6. Know when they've seen it
If the customer hasn't opened the invoice, a short text nudge is polite. If they've opened it and haven't paid, you know to follow up. Settle shows "Viewed" next to the job when the customer opens it.
7. Offer bank transfer on large invoices
Card fees add up on large invoices. Stripe's bank transfer rate is 0.8% with a $5 maximum, against 2.9% + 30¢ for cards, so a large invoice costs you far less by bank. Some customers prefer it too.
8. Choose a payment setup you control
A payment that lands in an account in your own name, with a dashboard you can log in to, is one you can follow up on. Read why invoice apps hold your money before you commit to one.
What to do when a customer doesn't pay
- Send a polite reminder by text the day after the due date, with the payment link.
- Keep the signed estimate, photos of the finished work and the invoice together.
- Check your state's rules for late fees and lien rights before you escalate. They vary a lot.
Questions
How can a contractor get paid faster?
Send the invoice before leaving the job, include a payment link, write a due date on it, and take a deposit on larger jobs.
Should I take a deposit?
On larger jobs, yes: it covers materials and commits the customer. Settle shows the deposit amount on the estimate the customer approves; to collect it, send an invoice for the deposit with a pay link.
Can a contractor get paid the same day?
The customer can pay the same day if you send the invoice with a pay link before you leave. When the money reaches your bank depends on your payment processor's payout schedule; with Stripe, payouts follow Stripe's schedule for your account, and a brand-new account waits several days for its first payout.
How do I add payment options to a quote?
Say on the estimate how you accept payment (card, bank transfer, check) and when the balance is due. When you invoice, include a pay link so card and bank payments take one tap. In Settle, invoices go out with a link the customer pays from by card, Apple Pay or bank.
What is the cheapest way for a customer to pay me?
Bank transfer. Stripe's bank-transfer rate is 0.8% with a $5 maximum, compared with 2.9% + 30¢ for a card.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.
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