Every business owner has bills to pay—and delayed payments from customers slow your operations down.
Convenient invoice payment options are necessary to encourage steady cash flows and fast invoice settlements.
One invoice payment method perfect for promoting easier cash flow is credit cards. Letting your customers know how to pay an invoice with credit cards offers attractive benefits to your business.
What Is an Invoice Payment?
Let’s start with the basics of what invoices are.
An invoice is a formal document detailing exactly what services you provided and what a customer owes. It should be an itemized list with costs for each service. After breaking down each fee, add up the total at the bottom. A few crucial invoice details include payment terms, payment methods, and due dates.
People pay invoices using various methods. Some send bank transfers or write checks. With the rise in electronic payments, however, customers or clients might expect to be able to pay with a card or digital wallet. Accepting payment apps or credit cards as payment methods helps your customers pay how they prefer.
For customers to pay an invoice with a credit card, they need somewhere to input their credit card information.
To accept credit cards for invoice payments, you need to work with a compatible payment processor. Research each payment processor’s offerings and fees to determine what works best for your business.
You then need to set up a merchant account to receive funds. Merchant accounts are special business bank accounts that hold the funds for credit card transactions. Often, payment processors help you set up a merchant account when signing up for this service.
Then, embed payment links into your electronic invoices. These links direct customers to a secure portal where they review and pay an invoice. After entering their credit card details, customers pay for your services like any other eCommerce portal. You receive the money into your merchant account.
Pros and Cons of Accepting Credit Cards for Invoices
Although accepting credit card payments for invoices offers positives, they aren’t without potential downsides. Pay attention to the possible risks credit cards bring to your contractor business.
Pros of Credit Card Invoice Payments
Faster Payments
Credit card transactions clear in seconds. You’ll receive the funds within 1–3 business days. This speed is a significant improvement over some traditional payment methods, like checks.
With this increased speed, you’ll improve cash flow. This can help you better cover project costs according to your company’s demands.
Accepting credit cards improves customer relations by offering a hassle-free invoice payment method. Entering a card’s number is easier than writing checks or completing bank transfers. As a perk, some credit card companies offer reward points to entice customers to spend.
Automation and Tracking
Credit card payments linked with invoicing software make it easier to keep tabs on payment history. Since each transaction gets logged in real time, there’s no need for manual data entry. This automated process gives you a clear picture of your income.
Credit cards make it easier to review transactions and manage cash flow. You also need this data to generate financial reports and tax forms.
Cons of Credit Card Invoice Payments
Costs
Accepting credit card payments involves processing and interchange fees. When dealing with a large number of invoices, these fees add up and cut into profit margins. One option, however, is to pass fees to your customers.
Credit cards may bring more money in faster. Just remember to weigh the projected increase against these added costs. Estimate how much you’ll pay in fees to know what to expect.
Risk of Chargebacks
Chargebacks happen when clients ask for a refund from their card issuer. These funds come directly out of your merchant account. You’ll face immediate financial losses whenever this happens. It’s only after a dispute resolves that you have a chance to get back this money.
Even if you manage to win a chargeback case, there are non-refundable chargeback fees. There’s also the potential for reputational damage should chargebacks mount.
Dependence on Technology
Accepting credit card payments means you’ll have to place significant trust in technology. Payment gateways, Internet connection, and invoicing software have to work to receive payments.
If any of these systems experience an outage or connectivity issue, it could delay your cash flow. This dependency also means you have to invest resources into maintaining payment systems.
Although credit card integrations make invoicing convenient, this alone doesn’t guarantee timely payments. Include a few extra strategies in your system to increase the chances of on-time invoices:
Set Clear Terms. Specify due dates, accepted payment methods, and late fees to manage expectations.
Consider Payment Schedules. For larger projects, it helps to break your payment into a few milestones. Offering multi-step payment schedules like “Buy Now, Pay Later” is easier for budgeting. These methods also promote steady cash flow.
Use Professional Formatting. A well-designed invoice reflects your professionalism. Plus, it helps avoid payment delays due to missing or unclear details. Make sure it’s easy to read your contact info, invoice numbers, and totals in your template.
Accept Multiple Payment Options. Why stop at offering credit card payments? Make it even more convenient to pay with other popular digital payments. Choices like PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay add enhanced accessibility.
Send reminders. We’re all forgetful at times. That’s why proactive reminders help clients prepare for their payments. A friendly automated notification lowers the odds of overlooking a charge.
Follow Up on Overdue Invoices. If you’re waiting for an unpaid invoice, it’s time to send a reminder. It’s always best practice to remain polite, but this is a time to be firm about your standards. Highlight the overdue status with a copy of the invoice and offer assistance. Remind your client about any applicable late fees.
Enjoy Online & On-Time Invoice Credit Card Payments with Joist
Offer your customers the benefits of online payment options. Create and share your invoices in minutes with our simple mobile invoicing tool. Joist makes it easy to accept credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, and ACH bank transfers for quick and easy transactions. You can also choose to let customers cover processing fees or use “Buy Now, Pay Later.”
Win More Jobs with Joist PaymentsLast year we launched Joist Payments, allowing you to accept online payments from your clients directly through the invoices you send them. We added this feature to the Joist App for 2 big reasons: Customers kept telling us they were losing jobs to competitors who were offering the client fancy online payment options, like credit card and E-Check/Debit Customers kept telling us how much time they were wasting every week chasing down payment from their clients ⌛️ What Are Customers Saying Now? It’s been less than a year and there are already thousands of contractors using Joist Payments every week. Even more exciting is that many of them are now winning up to 30% more of their bids — and getting paid 2x faster— simply by offering the online payment option to clients Here’s why: Commitment to Professionalism: it shows potential clients you take your work seriously and use the latest technology to run your business properly Dedication to Customer Service: offering a more convenient way of paying shows potential clients you care about their experience Credit vs. cash: some clients don’t have the cash on-hand but can still move forward with the job using credit card. Other clients may have the cash but still prefer to pay with credit card for the points Client can Pay Instantly: your client can now pay you online as soon as they receive your invoice, so you don’t have to schedule a meeting just to go collect paymentHow does Joist Payments Work? It’s super easy to use, and once you turn payments on it runs on autopilot. When creating an Invoice make sure the credit card option is switched ON ✅ Send the invoice to your client, and they can pay online using a link in the email/SMS You get notified when they pay, and the automatically flows to your bank account More New Features! We’ve also added a few other features to help you get even more value out of Joist Payments. Markups — You can quickly and easily incorporate credit card fees into your pricing. Simply apply a markup % or $ to your estimate or invoice Guarantees you account for profit + overhead Totally optional on each job, and is only visible to you if you use it Learn more about Markups here or try it out on your next Estimate or Invoice Deposits — You can now request a Deposit when you issue Estimates/Invoices and your client can instantly pay online. Simply add a Deposit % or $ to your estimate or invoice Your client receives a document that clearly shows the exact amount due They can instantly pay online so you get the needed to start the job right away Learn more about Deposits here or try it out on your next Estimate or Invoice Levelling Up in 2018 with Joist Payments Over the past month we’ve started seeing more and more customers getting started with Joist Payments in preparation for the upcoming season. To set themselves up for success in 2018, they’re focusing on Joist Payments as a core tool to help take their businesses to the next level this year. Set yourself up for a more successful and less stressful busy-season by turning Online Payments ON on your next invoice! Or you can head here to learn more about the feature, or give us a shout at 1–800–976–9261 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
Start Your Jobs Faster with Joist Deposits We’ve officially launched our new Deposits feature to help you easily collect the $$$ you need to start your jobs quickly and with peace of mind. To check it out just launch the app and you’ll see the feature under ‘Payment Option’ on the Edit screen. Or if you’re interested in learning more, here’s some info we thought might be helpful.How can Deposits help my business? When issuing an estimate or invoice, Deposits lets you request a specific portion of the job total as either a % or $ amount This makes it crystal clear to your client exactly how much is being requested and why As long as you have the online payment option toggled ON, your client can then send you the immediately so you can start the job How do I use Deposits? Just create a new Estimate or Invoice, and tap the ‘Request a Deposit’ button under ‘Payment Option’ Enter the deposit amount as either a $ or % of the overall project and tap ‘Done’ When you save the document, you’ll see a ‘Deposit Due’ section below the Total with the deposit amount you specified From there just email the document to your client and they can send the funds immediately using the online payment feature How does my client pay? Make sure you have the credit card and/or e-check option toggled ON Email the estimate or invoice to your client, and when they open the document online they’ll see a Pay Deposit button Once the payment has been made, the invoice total will automatically update so you and your client always knows how much is left to be paid If your client makes a deposit payment on an Estimate, Joist will automatically generate an invoice in your account reflecting that payment! Do I have to use Deposits on all my documents now? Not at all. Deposits is an option that’s there when you need it, and totally invisible to the client if you don’t. Deposits is a great tool to have when you need to request a partial payment upfront to start the job, but for jobs that are paid in full at the end you can send your estimates and invoices the same way you always have. Do I have to pay to enable the Deposits option? NO — Deposits is a new feature that is freely available to all customers! We added it to help you look more professional to your clients, close more jobs, and ultimately make more money! How do I get started? Easy: Step 1: start a new estimate or new invoice, and under the Payment Option section tap ‘Add’ next to ‘Request a Deposit’ Step 2: specify the amount you’d like to request, either as a $ amount or a % of the project Step 3: send that document to your client and ensure the online payment option is toggled ON Step 4: your client sends you the $$$ you need to get started! Get Started Today To get started just launch Joist and follow the 4 steps above, or give us a shout at 1 (800) 976–9261 or [email protected]!
Joist Payments FAQs Our newest feature - Joist Payments - is now live! If you’re ready to get started just go into your Joist App account and follow the Payments prompts on screen. Otherwise, here are a few things we thought you might like to know.How do I use Joist Payments? As with everything we do at Joist, we tried to keep it simple and easy-to-use. Whenever you issue an invoice through Joist, you can switch Joist Payments ON / OFF If it’s ON, your client can pay you online with just a few clicks as soon as they receive your invoice How long does it take for payments to clear? When your client pays you, the money arrives instantly in your free Joist Payments account. It’s then transferred to your bank automatically, in most cases as early as the next day. How much does Joist Payments cost to use? Just 2.9% and 30 cents per credit card transaction. There are absolutely no other fees, and the rest of the Joist app is still FREE! Do I have to use Joist Payments on all my invoices? Absolutely NOT - you’re in complete control. Use Joist Payments as much or as little as you want by switching Payments ON or OFF on each invoice you send through Joist. What forms of Payment are accepted? We accept all four major credit cards: Visa Mastercard American Express Discover How do I get started? Easy: Get Started Today To start accepting payments through Joist, just open the Joist App, turn the Payments switch ON on your next invoice, sit back, and get paid without thinking about it! …or get started on our Web App if you‘re at your computer. You can also give us a shout at 1 (800) 976 9261 or [email protected] and we can help you get set up!.
Joist eCheck FAQs Big news — we just added an eCheck option to our Payments feature, so now you can accept eCheck AND credit cards through Joist. If you’re already familiar with how our Payments feature works, just go into your Joist App account, create or edit an invoice, and you’ll see a Toggle button for eCheck. Otherwise, here’s some additional info we thought you might find helpful.What is eCheck and how will it help my business? Electronic check (or “eCheck”) is a convenient way to have your client pay you online using their banking information, so you can go paperless and avoid unnecessary trips to the jobs site or bank just to get paid Like paper checks, clients pay directly through their bank account using their banking info Transaction fees are just 1.5% up to maximum of $15 per transaction, making eCheck a good option for larger projects How do I use eCheck? eCheck is very similar to our Credit Cards option: Whenever you issue an invoice through Joist, you can switch eCheck ON / OFF If you choose ON, your client can pay you online through eCheck with just a few clicks as soon as they receive your invoice How long does it take for payments to clear? Just like our Credit Card option, when your client pays you the money arrives instantly in your free Joist Payments account. From there, like paper checks, it will take 5–7 business days for the payment to clear and be available in your bank account. Do I have to use Joist Payments on all my invoices? You definitely do NOT — you have complete control here. Just like our Credit Cards option, you can use our eCheck option as much or as little as you want by switching the eCheck toggle ON or OFF on each invoice. Many of our users like the eCheck option for larger projects and Credit Card option for smaller projects, but it’s totally up to you! How do I get started? Easy: Step 1: create an invoice, and on the Edit Invoice screen switch the eCheck option to ON Step 2: send that invoice to your client Step 3: your client clicks a “Pay Now” button on the invoice, and pays online using their banking info Step 4: check your email to connect your bank account and receive the funds Get Started Today To start accepting eCheck payments through Joist, just open the Joist App, create or edit an invoice, and follow the prompts on screen for eCheck. You can also give us a shout at 1 (800) 976 9261 or [email protected] and we can help you get set up!
Joist Markups FAQ Big news — we’re officially launching our Markups feature to help ensure you generate the profit you deserve on every job To check it out just launch the app, start a new Estimate or new Invoice, and you’ll see the feature right below the Subtotal line. Or if you’re interested in learning more, here’s some info we thought might be helpful.Why should I use Markups? Markups let’s you add a specific amount of profit/overhead (% or $) to your pricing to ensure your jobs are always profitable It makes it easier to offer online payment options like credit card to your clients by incorporating the fees into your price With literally 2 taps, Markups can guarantee you never undercharge again How do I use Markups? As with everything we do at Joist, we tried to make Markups as simple and easy to use as possible Step 1: When you’re editing an estimate or invoice in Joist, simply tap on the Markup button below the Subtotal line Step 2: Next add your desired markup as either a $ amount or a % of the overall project and hit Done The markup gets added to the Estimate or Invoice total, ensuring you generate the profit you want and never lose money on a job again Can my client see my markup? Definitely NOT. Your markups are your business, and are only visible to you when you’re editing an Estimate or Invoice. Do I have to use Markups all the time or not at all? Absolutely NOT. Using Markups is totally optional at all times, so you can use it as much or as little as you want. Many of our customers like to use Markups to easily account for the fee from the credit card option they offer their clients, but it’s completely up to you! Is Markups free or does it cost money? Markups is totally FREE — we’ve added it to help you make MORE money, not LESS! How do I get started? Easy: Step 1: start a new estimate or new invoice, and on the Edit screen tap the “Markup” button just below the Subtotal Step 2: specify the markup you’d like to add, either as a $ amount or a % of the project Step 3: send that document to your client when it’s ready Step 4: earn a healthy profit, and never lose money on a job again Get Started Today To get started just follow the 4 steps above or give us a shout at 1 (800) 976–9261 or [email protected] and we can help you get set up!
Introducing: Joist Homeowner Financing Our mission at Joist is to make contractors heroes. We do this by providing a tool that helps you: Win jobs Get paid quickly Save time Look professional Winning jobs is hard! Contractors tell us the biggest challenges they face today are: Clients rejecting estimates due to budget Job scope reduction, cutting into profit Clients unable to pay for costly change orders, often causing job delays Homeowners lacking available cash to cover unexpected repairs To help your business succeed in such a competitive industry, it’s important to have the best possible tools at your disposal. Our solution — Joist Homeowner Financing We’re excited to officially launch Joist Homeowner Financing, our latest tool to help your business succeed. Now you can present professional financing options to your clients directly through your Estimates and Invoices! The best part is Joist Homeowner Financing is completely FREE with no registration required. And you’ll never have to worry about a complicated payment process — clients deal directly with the lender, meaning they’ll pay you as if they had the cash up front! We’ve already helped thousands of contractors win more jobs while supporting over $5 million dollars of home improvement loan requests every week! Offering financing is easy How much does it cost? Joist Homeowner Financing is absolutely free for contractors with no hidden fees or registration required. Clients will have access to home improvement loans up to $100,000 with APRs as low as 5.98% and terms ranging from 36–72 months. Best in class lending partners We’re thrilled to be partnering with industry leading companies in the United States: Get started today To start offering Homeowner Financing through Joist, simply open the Joist App, turn the Homeowner Financing switch ON in your next Estimate and be sure to let your clients know about their financing options!Interested in learning more? Read more about financing on our FAQ page or get in touch with us at [email protected]
