Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

njacobson · Veteran Member

Credit card payments

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Yeah I struggle with it myself. I suppose after awhile and with success It becomes a cost of doing business thing. Let's face it, people want their free airline miles (just like we do). It costs me 2.75% using Square. Depending on the workload at the time I either accept the card, tell them no or have them pay the 2.75%.

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have a love hate relationship with credit cards. Giving up any percentage for maybe 2 days max is crazy. Getting paid faster is worth it and there are a good number of jobs each year that we would have not done without credit cards. It's just a cost of doing business. If someone isn't home I send them an invoice by email giving a choice or credit or check. Most do credit on line.

Aselton · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Same here, my customers pay on my website. Hate to pay, but it's instant and you write off fees to Uncle Sam...

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Same as above. I use square and send an invoice when the job is completed. Most pay by credit some pay by check. It is really convenient and you know it will be in your account within 2 days.

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Necessary evil and cost of doing business! we processed well over 100K in CC's in 2105.

Roof Cleaning Virginia · Approved Exterior Cleaner

njacobson wrote:
Who here accepts credit card payments? And my main question is... Can you charge the fee to the customer , legally? I can't wrap my head around the idea of why I should take a hit on my money earned, just to swipe someone's card. When I can just simply not accept them.

Bake the CC fee in to your pricing model, problem solved. That's exactly what retailers do.

Fred W · Guru

SprayWash wrote:
Necessary evil and cost of doing business! we processed well over 100K in CC's in 2105.

LIVING PROOF THAT RAY IS WAYYYYYY AHEAD OF US ALL

I mean the man is processing payments for jobs in 2105.......croly hap!

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Is this now the time to bow down to Ray...? :)

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Seriously, I am glad this has been visited again.

In the past, we have passed the cost of credit card processing to the customer if they want to pay by Credit Card. Some do, but some just say they will write a check.

We have wrestled with this too, but now I know we will build it into our model of business.

Most of our customers pay by check, but some do ask so we will revisit this. It may also allow us to tap into some business we may have not been getting.

Have some who offer credit found it has pushed the customer to get the service now, versus waiting until later when they have the money?

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Most state and federal government use purchasing cards. If you plan on doing any of that kind of work you will need to accept credit cards.

tjteed · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Once you start charging more than $2000 per month then it makes sense to look for a credit card processor. We use metro Merchant Services. Just build into cost of business. It also makes you look like a professional business.

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have the ability to accept C/C but dont do it often. I have it in case i need to get a payment from someone looking to get away w/o paying. or someone who is out of town alot.

Maverick Contracting · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Does anyone use Flint? Sounds good and having a cc processor is a good backup for some customers who may be problematic I would think.

Also like Erik said some customers are out of town much or put off "sending the check" b/c your not the most important payment to be made.
Bull, whip out your phone, take a pic, they sign. Done. One less thing to worry about. Worth the $15 on a $500 transaction which I would build into my price anyway.

As for legality gas stations do it every day.

-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Monday 2nd of May 2016 05:14:40 PM

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

We charge the .0275 for square.

njacobson · Veteran Member

THANK YOU FOR AL THE REPLIES. IVE BEEN USING SQUARE. 2.75% PER TRANSACTION AND VERY CONVIENENT. I CAN SEND AN INVOICE WITH W PAY NOW BUTTON. THEY RECEIVE THE INVOICE VIA EMAIL. CLICK THE LINK AND PAY. I HAVE MY MONEY, MINUS THE FEE THE NEXT DAY

Chris Mozick · Approved Exteior Cleaner

We charge 3% fee but always inform customers that it will be cheaper to pay cash. Most go for the cash and a few of the larger companies pay credit card.

All Kleen Softwash Systems · Exterior Cleaner

We take cc because we are on the beach and most owners are out of state.

Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Ted Saunders

Founder, American-ProTech